Thank God for UBM
As a small independent church on the west shore of Llandudno, we have looked forward to the visits of United Beach Missions each summer.
Firstly, their help with our children’s work has been tremendous. For some 10 weeks from June to August we have been able to take our Sunday school to the ‘Holiday Special’ each Sunday afternoon, giving our helpers a much needed break from preparing fresh lessons every week.
Sometimes as many as 30 children come with us to join the fun on the beach; some even joining UBM’s Postal Bible Club afterwards. Others are befriended by team members who continue for months, sometimes years, to correspond with them, and often send Christian literature to help.
During the summer months we receive requests from the Beach Team to follow up contacts made with local people and several of these have since been baptised and come into full church membership.
In 2007, two young men were put in contact with the church and are still a great encouragement. The youngest, now 24, is looking forward to joining a beach mission himself this year.
Serving
The other, only slightly older, is not well enough to go this year but is looking forward to telling others what Christ has done for him when he is well.
Many who come on beach teams preach at our Sunday services or take our mid-week youth group. It is a tremendous opportunity for young believers to learn how to serve in a church. Under the supervision of experienced leaders, it is a safe environment for them to explore the gifts that the Lord may have given to them.
But it is not only team youngsters who benefit. The church receives a blessing in return.
It was about 12 years ago, through UBM’s influence, that we held our first Bible exhibition and this has continued every year since.
With 250-300 children attending, this has opened up other opportunities in local schools. In 2006 we were able to give 220 Bibles to children leaving primary school, with a Bible correspondence course and study notes for each child.
Every one of the schools has invited us back to take assemblies and RE lessons with the help at times of the UBM teams who started it all rolling.
John Parks
