Joshua Collis talks us through his experiences in schools and the ever growing need for Jesus.

Picture the young child lacing their shoes, brushing their teeth, placing on their oversized school blazer...Assuming they're not from a Christian household, they may not question the morals and values which underpin their education, from history to home economics. But we all know that our formal education majorly impacts our worldview, and this is why it is vital for the Church to be involved in local schools.

Evangelism is always a little more challenging on your doorstep. Seeking to befriend your local community can be a daunting task no matter what part of London you are in. 'Community' is defined as sharing something you have in common- be it identity, values or the place you feel connected to. As a church family seeking to love our neighbour and share the good news of Jesus, what place could we connect to that will enable us to effectively love and befriend our community? When looking at where communities once gathered you may have said the pub, cafes or bars. The pandemic has accelerated the decline of many of these places. Alongside churches, schools are one of the remaining places where community continues to gather - whether that’s children from different backgrounds in the classroom or parents at the school gate. Equipping churches to be involved in their local schools – connecting with their local community - is the heart cry of the LCM Schools Team.

With the shifting tide of our post-Christian culture, the chance given to young people to hear the gospel in the capital is a growing need. The only lifeboat without holes for students in London is the local Church shining from the lighthouse of the gospel. Getting involved with local schools for some churches may be very easy but for some they may not have any idea how to get started. To get the ball rolling we first need a heart of prayer for our young people. The best place to start can often be our own churches- supporting, praying for and equipping our own young people! Then progressing outwards, we will be more in tune with the needs that are made apparent by our own youth. Prayer alone, interceding for our local schools, can grow our desire to find ways to be a blessing to them.

Following prayer, here’s a short list of suggestions that might help us in our hope to befriend our schools:

• Could you check through your contact list at church? This can be a great tool to see who in your congregation already has links to the local schools. You may have lots of teachers, support staff (such as dinner ladies, admin or site supervisors) or even headteachers and governors.
• Are you, or do you know, a Christian teacher in London? Perhaps there is an opportunity to start a Christian Union... This is something we'd love to help you with!
• Can you bake or bring a thoughtful gift to the headteacher of your local school? Showing a genuine desire to meet or just thank them is a great way to show that your church would love to be a blessing to their school in some way.
• How about your church offering to deliver a school assembly, RE lesson or host a church visit? Sports, music and homework clubs are also great ways to create an environment where dialogue flows more naturally with young people.

If someone in your church is a Dr John Lennox at mathematics, what a great way to positively affect the way a Christian is perceived, if that someone is there connecting with them in a relevant and personal way?! And don’t worry if you’re reading this list and feel a little overwhelmed - many workplaces are able to offer charity days for employees to take time out to serve their local community. Excitingly, schools-work would come under this remit!

I hope this short insight pulls back the curtain on ways in which the Church can interact with their local school. R.L. Dabney once said “The education of children for God is the most important business done on earth”. I hope you may be encouraged to pray for Monday morning, Period 1. May we earnestly seek to see London schools shaped by education from a Christian worldview. Because London needs Jesus!