Morley Community Church is one of the more recent churches to affiliate to EFCC. Morley is a former textile town located in the West Yorkshire conurbation. The church was planted in 2000 and affiliated to EFCC in 2005. Its fledgling congregation have found innovative ways to take the gospel to its community where there is little evangelical witness.

Morley Community Church recently organised the Chattabox Holiday Club. They took over a local soft play area (The Wesley Playhouse) and a total of 40 children enjoyed five days of fun with a team of six from the church. They helped to recruit children, organise the programme, supervise children, provide craft activities, make refreshments, play instruments and drive the minibus that provided transport to the Wesley Playhouse.

Children on the Ark

Andrew Devis a former children’s worker with Leeds City Mission led the singing and told a daily bible story. Children were able to make badges, note holders, key rings, boxes, T–Light lantern holders, picture frames and grassheads during their craft activities.

Craft Table

On the final day a Celebration & Prizegiving service was held. Parents, children, volunteers and friends saw children receive their Christian book and DVD prizes from the Deputy Mayor of Morley Councillor Simon Kimberley. He commended the church for working tremendously hard at organising such an innovative week for a wide range of children in Morley.

Lantern Making

Pastor Steve Wright said that the church used a local school for its normal church services as it did not own its own premises. Taking over a soft play area had proved to be an effective way to reach out to children and their families with the gospel.

This is a full version of a news item published in Congregational Concern Magazine, Issue 212, Summer 2014

Photographs published with parental / guardian permission