Face-painting at the Big Bounce, which is one of many Platinum Jubilee events at New Springs Church, Loughborough.,,,
New Springs Church in Loughborough doesn’t tend to do things by halves, so when the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was announced, the church leapt at the chance to mark it.
“We always try to celebrate the Queen, so we’ve got a whole six-month outreach programme leading up to the Jubilee called ‘Love Where You Live’,” says the pastor, Phil Weaver.
The programme kicked off with a course for the church teaching about prayer and other aspects of outreach.
“We have an academy – which is the equivalent standard of first-year Bible college – looking at evangelism in the 21st century,” says Phil. “We’re using a J.John resource called ‘Connecting’ and we’re learning how to answer tough questions. We’re holding meetings to reinvigorate the church in prayer too, looking at a different topic each week.”
February half-term provided an opportunity for family fun, along with the chance to promote the church’s Jubilee events.
“We held a Big Bounce where we filled our entire building with inflatables and encouraged families to come, then opened our cafe and promoted everything we’re doing for Love Where You Live. Instead of paying £14-a-head to go to an inflatable centre, families could pay £5 for 90 minutes with us.”
The Big Bounce was an outstanding success, with all sessions sold out and 1,200 people coming through the church doors during a three-day period.
From May, New Springs is going all out to celebrate the Jubilee in Loughborough. Street parties will be held around the town, then on the bank holiday weekend the church is hosting a huge Queen’s Jubilee Garden Party, to which friends, family and neighbours will be invited.
“We’re going to put on a full day of bouncy castles, garden party activities and entertainment to celebrate the Queen. It’s a great opportunity to honour her because she’s amazing,” says Phil.
The church will also take to the market for four days, with a stall offering craft activities, prayer, literature and music from its own station, Radio New Springs.
With plenty of experience creating printed resources up its sleeve, New Springs is planning to write an outreach-focused book about the Jubilee and to publish a newspaper for locals to get the message about the occasion across.
“We’ll also have four nights of power meetings where people can hear the gospel and those who are sick or in need can be prayed for,” says Phil.
“And as we remember the Queen, we will also remember those who have lost loved ones during COVID by holding a memorial service.”
So why go all out to organise six months of Jubilee celebrations?
“It’s too big an occasion not to piggyback,” says Phil. “We always try to celebrate the Queen, but what an opportunity to talk about the King too!
“The Queen has talked so openly about her Christian faith that it’s easy to wrap the two together. It’s a great opportunity for us to tell our town about Jesus.”
From Direction Magazine issue 235
