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> Story 21 - Wendy Ward
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Story 21 - Wendy Ward
Berwick Baptist Church
Berwick Baptist Church, situated on the border between Scotland and England, has recently been exploring the use of the Arts with mental health on their missional adventure which has resulted in the creation of their own Wellbeing Arts Group (WAG).
As Wendy Ward, group co-ordinator of Berwick BC’s WAG, explains in this video, a large part of this calling was confirmed when some of the church leaders attended the NBA’s Re-Imagine programme in early 2018. And, along with others in the church who had been exploring ideas of Arts related ministries and the issues surrounding mental health, the group began in October 2018.
Wendy describes the group as, ‘strictly not evangelistic' partly due to the conditions of the funding the group received for some of their resources and also because of the vulnerable nature of those who attend, where a more overtly Christian group could actually be a barrier. This has in turn contributed to why the group feels a safe place and how trust has been able to develop.
The group itself meets once a week and provides a wide variety of art activities which people can either participate in unaided or with some guidance and support. The kind of activities have ranged from sculpting, rug making, felting, painting and drawing to jewellery making. The diversity of skills required for some of these arts has also provided opportunities to invite in specialists to teach and demonstrate their craft as well.
With an annual exhibition timed to coincide with world mental health week there is a good focus for displaying all that is created as well as inviting in others, leading to a greater contact and awareness with the local community.
Looking ahead it is encouraging to hear how the group is able run independently from Wendy at times as her own her work load has changed, affirming how wider ownership has also been taken of this project. This is also reflected in the effect this group has had on the whole church, encouraging many within the church to grow in their understanding of issues surrounding mental health and even open up about their own struggles.
For those who may be considering a similar venture to this Wendy encourages you to go gently and see how things progress naturally, to put aside concerns about numbers and not to worry if things seem small in the beginning stages.
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One Hundred Stories
missional adventure
Stories
Story 68 - Erica Bowler (Podcast Episode 14)
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 67 - Jesus Our Victory
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 65 - The Garden at the Surgery
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 66 - Kingdom Breakthrough Ministries
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 64 - John Good (Podcast Episode 13)
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 63 - 'Yarn - Bombing'
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 62 - Pioneer Minister-in-training
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 61 - The Wren Bakery
Posted:
01/01/2021
Story 60 - Clayton Baptist Church
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 59 - Seaton Baptist Church
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 58 - The Olive Branch Coffee Shop
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 57 - Crossgates, Leeds
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 56 - Gaynor Hammond (Podcast Episode 12)
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 55 - Connect Church
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 54 - Mindful Church
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 53 - Renewing Stocky
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 52 - Peter Dominey (Podcast Episode 11)
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 51 - Art in Mission
Posted:
01/12/2020
Missional Adventure Stories 51-60
Posted:
01/12/2020
Story 50 - Growth in Lockdown
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 49 - Sean Carter (Podcast Episode 10)
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 48 - Connecting in Leeds
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 47 - Pioneering in the Forest of Dean
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 46 - Renew Cafe
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 45 - Nick Graves (Podcast Episode 9)
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 44 - Genuine Relationships
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01/11/2020
Story 43 - Embracing Adventure in Mission
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 42 - Community Shaped Mission
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 41 - Westbourne Park Baptist Church
Posted:
01/11/2020
Missional Adventure Stories 41-50
Posted:
01/11/2020
Story 39 - Beacon Church Stafford (Podcast Episode 8)
Posted:
01/10/2020
Story 38 - Multi-Congregational Church
Posted:
01/10/2020
Story 37 - Tim Ninnis (Podcast Episode 7)
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01/10/2020
Story 36 - Biglife Ministries
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01/10/2020
Story 35 - Revive, Leeds
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01/10/2020
Story 34 - Church Planting in a New Community
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01/10/2020
Story 33 - Developing a Culture of Change
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01/10/2020
Story 32 - Ian McDonald (Podcast Episode 6)
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01/10/2020
Story 40 - Bread of Life
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01/10/2020
Story 31 - Whitehouse Church
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01/10/2020
Missional Adventure Stories 31-40
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01/10/2020
Story 30 - Creepy Cove Community Church
Posted:
01/09/2020
Story 29 - Missional Communities
Posted:
01/09/2020
Story 28 - Ministry of Presence (Podcast Episode 5)
Posted:
01/09/2020
Story 27 - West Craven Baptist Church
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01/09/2020
Story 26 - Ebenezer's
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01/09/2020
Story 25 - No fear of failure
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01/09/2020
Story 24 - Kings Corner
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01/09/2020
Story 23 - Sam and Suzie Abramian (Podcast Episode 4)
Posted:
01/09/2020
Story 22 - Forest Church Community
Posted:
01/09/2020
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