Designed By Forefront Community Church
Chard
Project Type: Single Church
Project Area: Somerset
Project Address:
Forefront Community Church
42 Fore Street
Chard
Postcode: TA20 1QA
Website: http://www.forefront.org.uk/
Project History & Affiliations:
Forefront Community Church is a vibrant, independent church worshipping and serving God in Chard. We don't have a church building so our Sunday morning service is held in Chard Guildhall.
We are a family of different ages and backgrounds. We meet together to worship God and to explore and apply what the Bible teaches us as followers of Jesus Christ.
We have no formal church membership but we expect Christians to be committed to the local church in accordance with what the Bible teaches. This is summarised in our 'Belonging to Forefront Community Church' document.
We trace our roots back to 1875 when a group of Christians from the Open Brethren began meeting and later built the 'Gospel Hall' in Combe Street. For many years this was known for its work with children and young people.
In the 1990's the growth in numbers meant that the church building was too small and we began meeting in Chard Guildhall. At the same time we rented a shop in Fore Street as a 'drop-in centre', and in 2007 bought the Old Lloyds TSB bank building on Fore Street. This is now known as Forefront Community Centre.
We are members of both the Evangelical Alliance & Partnership UK. Partnership UK is a network of independent churches. It's aim is to provide resources and to encourage growth in local churches and their individual members. Check out their website for more information. The Evangelical Alliance consists of individuals and churches from a wide variety of denominations. It seeks to promote unity and truth, and acts as an evangelical voice to the state, society and the wider church. We have adopted the EA basis of faith. Check out their website for more information.
Structure & Vision of the Project:
The aim of Forefront's youth work can be summed up by the youth team's mission statement which says: "Helping young people become committed followers of Jesus Christ."
We see this as happening at a number of levels:
i) Reaching out to unchurched young people through: social events and inter church events; building relationships; encouraging and equipping young people to reach their friends with the gospel; schools work; summer camps
ii) Communicating the truths of Scripture in a relevant and accessible way
iii) Building mentoring relationships as part of the discipleship process
iv) Helping young people identify and use their God given gifts
v) Encouraging young people to become part of the wider church family
At present there is a youth and children's team which is overseen by Carol Simpson. Each of the different ministries are then run by teams of volunteers who meet each term to plan and pray together.
About the location of the Project:
Nearly all of the ministry will take place in Chard - therefore a car is not essential. There are good bus links to Yeovil and Taunton.
Chard is a small market town of about 12,000. There is a large secondary school in the town and 4 primary schools. The churches in the town work together on a number of levels, one of them being the work amongst the young people.
About the youth work of the Project:
Megamix is an after school club at Manor Court Primary School on Friday afternoons for songs, crafts, bible stories and lots of fun!
180º is for youth of secondary school age. There are Friday night socials such as DIY pizza evenings, film nights and bowling. On Sundays the group meets to talk about God and his relevance to us.
Cell group is a life group for older teens meeting on Sunday evenings. Aiming to enable young people to live as Christians in their daily lives.
Loud Living is a youth event with live worship bands and relevant talks held in St Mary's Church Chard.
Culture Kafé
Culture Kafé is a drop-in held in the youth centre in Chard. It provides a safe, relaxed environment where young people can meet. Check out the website for more info.
Both Culture Kafe and Loud Living are run by a team of inter-church youth workers and are for young people (year 7 and above). Check out what's on? for info on the next event.