Newfrontiers : A Year Like None Other

A Year Like None Other

Paul Johnson is an elder at The Kings Arms Church, Bedford, is married to Emma and they have four energetic children. He has been the course tutor for the Bedford FP Impact base for a number of years, and here shares his insight into the course.

mission trip

“Meeting with God and encountering the Spirit had begun to feel like a chore or hard work, but I really felt released and was excited to meet with God.” This testimony was given by Rachel, a current FP Impact student, after a week’s training at Center Parcs in January 2010, when all the trainees from the five FP Impact bases got together to enjoy fun, food, friendship and outstanding teaching and ministry. The week sums up so much of what FP Impact is about: a year taken out of normal life, work or study to seek God and understand more about the Christian faith.

FP Impact has been running for over 15 years and has been growing and developing during that time. Currently, there are 155 students on the course at five training bases across the country. FP Impact aims to lay solid foundations by encouraging and teaching, envisioning and equipping. Many students start the year sensing God wants them to do FP Impact as the next step but not at all sure what follows afterward, and the course gives them opportunity to explore what God wants next! Most trainees are aged between 18 and 24, but not all – there is always someone who is seeking God for the second phase of their life!

Training

The church-based component of FP Impact is vital in getting students to stretch themselves in a variety of ways. Many are involved in children’s, student and youth work, but increasingly they are also teaching on Alpha courses, setting up church websites, leading worship or working with the disadvantaged. An ideal project seems to work best where a church leader has someone who can initiate or develop a work, but in a context where they have loads of support and encouragement. FP Impacters learn, grow and change a lot during the year; sometimes when things don’t go so well and they need “picking up and dusting down” can be where sensitive church support makes all the difference. It might be years before the fruit is fully seen, but often the church evangelist, youth leader, elder or worship leader at Newday started their leadership journey on FP Impact. FP Impact is an exciting, life-shaping experience but don’t just take my word for it… here are a few stories of those who have done FP Impact over the last ten years.

Hazel

Hazel Surgenor did Frontier Year Project (as it was then known) at King's Church, Eastbourne in 1999-2000. Hazel’s focus for the year was children’s and youth work.

1. What made you decide to do FP Impact?
I really wanted to have a year where I could serve the church full time and receive some great theological training. I felt that it would be a wonderful foundational year for me in my young faith. I also wanted to have an opportunity to experience being part of a different church and see how they ran on a daily basis. I felt God had given me 2 Timothy 1v6 about "fanning into flame" what God had placed in me and that this year would be very significant.

2. How has FP Impact affected your life?
I received a passion for the local church and a deep appreciation for Newfrontiers values. Since doing FYP I have lived in three cities where I have been fortunate to be part of Newfrontiers churches, though all are very different the basic foundation and values are very similar. I also loved getting connected with so many people from different Newfrontiers churches. And, well FYP lived up to its other name (Find Your Partner!) and I met my now husband Oli at the end of the year!

3. How did you fund the year financially?
I had saved very hard before the year so I had some savings and was supported by some family members. I think it also helped that I had just finished High School so had not been used to having much money of my own. I was also very blessed with a very generous church and landlady in Eastbourne!

4. What are you doing now?
Last year (April 09) my husband and I moved from our home for seven years in Canterbury, UK to Fredericton in Canada to be part of The Meeting Place Church. The passion God put in me for the local church has impacted my life! We both have jobs here and are loving being part of this beautiful bride. We are currently expecting our first baby in July, we have been married for over seven years so this baby is sure going to rock our world!

Emma

Emma Curtis is currently doing FP Impact for ChristChurch, London. Her focus is on welcome and integration, which involves trying to ensure that every new person feels welcome and settles into the church quickly.

1. What made you decide to do FP Impact?
I was in a job which was ok but I was getting a bit bored of it and decided that FP Impact would be a good opportunity to take. I really began to think about FP Impact when CCL announced that they still needed someone to serve in Welcome. I thought that Welcome FP would’ve been snapped up (as I love welcome and had been on the welcome team for a year prior to FP Impact) so decided to think and pray about it from that point. I was also excited by the prospect of learning more about God and going deeper in Him through the year.

2. How has FP Impact affected your life?
I think I always saw FP Impact solely as an opportunity to serve and give of your time to the church, which is true, but I’ve discovered it’s also been a year to really receive. The theological training is amazing – before I started I wasn’t really looking forward to the training, but it is brilliant! I have also made some really good friends, who I’m sure will remain solid friends long after the year is over.

3. How are you funding the year financially?
I sent an email around to friends filling them in on what I was going to be doing from September and asking for prayer and financial support. I have been really blessed and haven’t really had a problem surviving this year financially, God has really provided for me.

Information about FP Impact can be found at www.fp-impact.org, including details about the course, training dates and how to apply. The course fee is £1095 (excluding the overseas trip) and runs from early September to early July each year.