New Messy Church project!

We are delighted to announce that BRF Ministries’ Messy Church has been granted funding by the Church of England’s People and Partnerships Board for an innovative research project that embodies our ‘all ages’ vision and commitment. The three-year project focuses on enabling and supporting Messy Churches across the country to grow their engagement with young people, through piloting innovative new approaches both within existing Messy Churches and through new worshipping communities. These will be aimed specifically at young people beyond eleven years old who have grown up through Messy Church, encouraging them, together with their parents and carers, to grow in their Christian faith, deepen their relationship with God and their peers, and use their gifts within the church.

In addition, the three-year funding will enable the Messy Church team to support and mentor 300 Church of England churches, including those in recognised areas of poverty and deprivation.

Why this project? Our February 2024 survey highlighted that Messy Church is hugely successful at attracting young families, many from unchurched backgrounds. However, 50% of Messy Churches in the UK do not have anyone aged 12–16 years old. We are passionate about addressing this challenge. This funding will enable our team to innovate, collaborate and experiment with a variety of new approaches. This will not only benefit the Messy Church movement but, on past evidence, will have profound significance for the mission and discipleship of the wider church

In order to deliver this project, we need your help!

• We are looking to expand the team and are now recruiting three new roles. Could this be the right job for you or someone you know? If so, check out our application pack and job descriptions, and join us to pray for the right people.
• During January and February 2025, we are working with our researchers to visit three Messy Churches around the country to listen to leaders, parents and children (aged eight and over), during a regular Messy Church session. If you have a cohort of older children/tweens or teens in your Messy Church, messychurch@brf.org.uk.
• Over the next six months, we are looking for 25–30 Messy Churches with a cohort of older children (aged nine and over), to pilot new approaches over a two-year period. If you’re interested in taking part in the pilot, please get in touch for more details messychurch@brf.org.uk.

Please pray for the BRF Ministries Messy Church team as we take on this new project, expand our team and discover new ways to continue our connection with young people and their families. We are excited but also daunted by the work ahead, so need to lean into our provider God over the coming years and draw on God’s strength and not just our own.