As another academic year draws to a close, we have been reflecting on the many ways God has been at work through Engage. It has been a privilege to journey alongside young people as they explore faith, ask big questions, and encounter the love of God, sometimes for the very first time.

There are countless stories we could share, but here are just a few highlights from this year.

Christmas assembly had everything: humour, surprise and of course a true retelling of the first Christmas. WOW! What a success! It was a brilliant production, so massive congrat- ulations and thanks to our fabulous script writer, Ruth, for an amazing script.

Growing Christian Unions

Our Christian Unions at Woking College and Woking High School continue to flourish. Each week, students gather to explore Scripture, support one another, and grow as disciples of Jesus. What has been particularly encouraging is their willingness to engage with challenging questions about faith and life, seeking to understand how the Gospel speaks into the realities they face every day. These groups are only possible because of the faithful commitment of youth workers, clergy, and volunteers from local churches who invest their time, energy, and prayers. Thank you for helping to make this ministry possible.

Encounter: Bringing Young People Together

This year, we hosted two Encounter events in partnership with churches from Woking, bringing together young people from churches across Woking and beyond for an evening of food, fellowship, worship, and teaching. The focus of the evening was how to encounter God’s love, and it was inspiring to see young people engaging so openly with God and each other. Some came forward for prayer; for others it marked the beginning of a new journey of faith. Moments like these remind us why this ministry matters.

Reaching Schools with Faith, Hope, and Love

Our work in schools continues to go from strength to strength. We are creating opportunities for young people to hear the Gospel message and experience God’s love in practical ways, through assemblies, lessons, lunch clubs, mentoring, and pastoral support. Every conversation, every question asked, and every relationship built is another opportunity to sow seeds of faith. We are continually encouraged by the openness of many young people and the doors that God is opening for ministry within schools.

None of this would be possible without your support. Thank You!

Whether you pray for us, volunteer with us, encourage us, or give financially, you are an important part of this ministry. Together we are helping young people encounter Jesus, discover hope, and explore what it means to follow Him. Thank you for partnering with us in this mission. We

look forward with excitement to all that God has in store for the coming academic year. Our ministry is possible because of your continued support and prayer. Please will you pray for us regularly during this coming academic year?

Primary Schools work

Bronwen writes:

This year we have seen fairly stable numbers across our attendances at Prayer Club and record numbers at Noah’s Ark throughout the autumn and spring terms, with a slight drop-off in our lunchtime sessions in the summer term, as expected. My personal highlight was launching a new lunchtime club at Hermitage School. Children from years 3 and 4 were invited to sign up for the spring term and we were overwhelmed by the initial response and enthusiasm. We were delighted to be welcomed into this lovely school and are looking forward to returning in September.

Primary Schools work has changed in the four years I’ve been with Engage: not drastically but changes have been made – new things were tried and some were retained, some were put in a “let’s try that again some other time” file, and some ideas the world was not quite ready for, but hopefully one day it will be! We have tried and tested many of the fabulous Scripture Union resources – I definitely have a soft spot for the Diary of a Disciple series. I have loved watching the children grow in faith, been inspired by their inquisitiveness and thoughtful questions and responses.

It’s with sadness that my time working with Engage has come to an end. It has been a wonderful experience and I would like to thank everyone I’ve worked with for making it such an enjoyable role. My time with the assembly team has been a roller coaster, from “Eek, I’ll never learn my lines!” to polished performances across 33 schools in the Woking area. The schools are always so welcoming and the performances are eagerly anticipated by pupils and staff alike. If you would like to volunteer for one of our clubs, be part of the assembly team, or even fill my role as Primary Schools Worker, please contact Shelley – I can’t recommend it enough!

Bisi writes:

Following the successful launch last year of our Friendship Workshop on Developing and Maintaining Healthy Friendships, we were delighted to continue running the programme this year. The strong response from students encouraged us to keep building on what we started. This six-week programme tackles an area many young people find challenging.

We meet with students once a week to explore topics such as healthy versus unhealthy friendships, how to start conversations, deepening existing friendships, and handling conflict well. Each session blends discussion, practical tools, and opportunities for students to reflect on their own experiences. strengthen their relationships, build self-esteem, and grow in resilience. Many students have told us they now feel more confident approaching new people, navigating tricky situations, and recognising what healthy friendships look like in everyday life.

As we look ahead, we will pause this programme for a season to focus more intentionally on Engage’s core ministry. We remain deeply proud of the impact the workshop has had and look forward to revisiting it when the time is right.

Secondary Schools work