Discovery

A practical process from Tearfund designed to help your church become a transforming influence within your community. 

Written by skilled practitioners who have worked extensively in inner-city communities, Discovery draws on Tearfund's experience of working with churches and community groups in the UK and overseas.  It aims to build on the strengths and aspirations of your church group to help them put their plans into action.

Discovery will help your church to:

• make a difference in your community, transforming lives and offering purpose and hope
• reflect on what the Bible says about meeting the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable people
• build confidence as a team, discover new skills and share experiences.

Discovery resource pack

Discovery offers a complete toolkit for engaging, interactive sessions in six stages.  Everything you need to run each session is included in the pack, including a CD-ROM, facilitator's guide and postcard toolkits. Plus:

• biblical reflection on reaching out to vulnerable people
• inspirational activities to discover the potential of your community
• tools to help you discover and understand your community's needs
• ideas to help your group organise and run a project
• advice on how to plan an event or programme.

Facilitator training

Tearfund suggests sending at least two people on a two-day training course. Once trained, they will then be fully equipped to run the six-stage Discovery sessions.   A Discovery co-ordinator from Tearfund will provide ongoing support and advice.

The cost of training is £90 for the first delegate and £50 for each additional delegate.  Training is over two days and includes a Discovery pack, lunch and refreshments. 

Forthcoming facilitator training

• Tuesday 14th & Wednesday 15th September 2010, venue TBA, Oxford
• Friday 24th & Saturday 25th September, Redeemed Christian Church of God leadership training, Knebworth
  

• Friday 8th & Monday 11th October 2010 at Church House, Truro, Cornwall.
• Monday 25th & Tuesday 26th, 2010, Glasgow.  Please call the Scottish office on 0141 332 3621 for more details
• Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th November 2010, Northern Ireland. Please call the Belfast office on 028 9068 2828 for more details.
• Friday 17th and Saturday 18th June 2011, Church of God Leadership Training College facilitator training day, Luton
  
  

Practical action and taster sessions

Once your church group has completed Discovery they will be confident and skilled to put what they've learnt into action.  The pack is bursting with ideas on how to run projects and events inspired by the course.

Forthcoming taster sessions

Discovering your Community. A Scottish Taster Day

Date & time: Thursday 26th August,  10am-4pm,
Venue: Chryston Prish Church, Main Street, Chryston, Glasgow G69 9LA.  View map.
Cost: £5 incl lunch, payable on the day.
To book: please call 0141 332 3621 to confirm your place or for more information.

The day will begin with thought-provoking teaching from Graeme McMeekin, Vice President and head of Youth & Community Work with Applied Theology at International Christian College. Graeme will be speaking on biblical community, justice and the case for transformation through the local church.  There will then be some hands-on sessions which look at Tearfund’s community mission resources, Just People? and Discovery, to show what it would be like to use these resources within any church.
The aim is that those attending leave not just motivated to have a greater impact on their local community, but with tools to help achieve this.

Other forthcoming taster days

• Friday 10th September 2010, York
• Wednesday 24th November 2010, Liverpool
• Saturday 4th December 2010, AOG London Region Taster day, London.
• Saturday 14th May 2011, SWMTC Curate taster day, Exeter

Want to know more?

• For further details on the events above, or to enquire about taster days or facilitator training in your area, please email discovery@tearfund.org or phone 0845 521 0021, unless otherwise specified.

• Tearfund will be running more ‘taster days’ in the future to explore the theological basis behind integral mission, to share some great case studies and give a taste of our Discovery and Just People course.  These will be organised based on demand so if you would be interested in attending or hosting a ‘taster’ session please email discovery@tearfund.org or phone 0845 521 0021.

• For other Tearfund events visit www.tearfund.org