Gang signs & prayer
Stormzy
Gang signs & prayer shows us who Stormzy is and what he’s about. Based on the title and artwork, a lot of people weren’t too sure what to expect but after listening, I was able to understand the title and concept of the album a whole lot more.
If you follow Stormzy on social media, you’ll see he doesn’t shy away from his Christian faith and upbringing. I was able to relate to being a young Christian growing up in a difficult environment, while still trying to maintain a walk with Christ.
He touches on things he used to do in his past that weren’t great but he’s moved passed them by the grace of God which you can hear in ‘Blinded By Your Grace’ parts one and two. He also makes reference to this in ‘Mr Skeng’.
This album is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time because Stormzy is really transparent with who he is and what he believes in. It shows you don’t have to be perfect before you can walk with Christ.
John Amudeli is a youth worker and music producer based in London.
A welcoming place: Autistic young people in church
Through The Roof
A welcoming place considers the needs of those with autism and offers a range of advice and strategies. It includes some useful theology of disability and many of the recommendations would apply well to those with other disabilities too. It helpfully includes advice on environment and resourcing as well as good practice. While the book focuses on more traditional Sunday school models, it contains many useful and transferable ideas and some good practical activities which help give insight into the world of someone with autism. I can see this being useful as a training resource with groups of leaders as well as individuals. It also signposts other organisations as well as churches that are examples of good practice.
As someone responsible for many aspects of children’s and families work - as well as being a parent of a child with Down’s Syndrome - I think this book would be useful as part of training and equipping our wider team of volunteers. It is accessible and user friendly.
Rachel Hill-Brown is children and families’ missioner in Solihull.
Life hurts: A doctor’s personal journey through anorexia
Dr Elizabeth Mcnaught
No two journeys through an eating disorder are the same but reading other people’s experiences can be useful for both those suffering with the disease and those trying to support them. This book will hopefully encourage young people battling eating disorders but you might want to read it alongside them so you can talk through, pray with or listen to anything that comes up.
Whether or not you know of anyone struggling with an eating disorder, this is a useful book for youth and children’s workers. Life hurts offers helpful insight into some of the signs and symptoms as well as practical advice to care for those who are suffering and valuable guidance for families.
The content of the book is brilliant, as is Lizzie’s style, tone and understanding. The book is small and easy to read and pass on. Its only downside is the print quality of the book and the stereotypically bleak cover which may be unhelpful for those struggling with eating disorders.
Ruth Jackson is deputy editor of Premier Youth and Children’s Work.
Eric says sorry
Dai Hankey
Eric, a young boy, takes an over-enthusiastic penalty kick and has to cover his tracks after discovering the “pulverised pansies” next door. Ultimately, his father graciously offers to help fix the problem, something that Eric did not deserve, and the pair discuss the meaning of grace with reference to the price Jesus paid for our sins.
Although the language feels a little awkward in places, it is clear that the focus is to include child-friendly vocabulary with colloquial phrases to engage young readers.
The story delivers a clear message about owning up to mistakes and putting things right. Although this message could be more nuanced, it introduces the concept of grace in a simple way that children can understand (“underserved kindness when we’ve been bad”). What it might lack in imagination, it makes up for in the wonderfully colourful illustrations.
Despite the overtly didactic nature of the story, it is one most families relate to and could therefore make for interesting bedtime discussion. However, it does feel more like a Sunday school book, which might not be to everyone’s taste.
Katie Baldwin is a primary school teacher in Oxford and a parent of two.
Our Father: The Lord’s Prayer for children
Rainer Oberthür
While it is quite wordy, it explains at length what the Lord’s Prayer is, why we use it and how it teaches us to pray. Younger children may need help reading it, but older children will enjoy reading it for themselves and exploring the Lord’s Prayer.
I think children will be able to come back to this book again and again. The theology expressed within it is deep and will prepare children for faith development in later life. I would certainly use this resource in a number of settings.
Lydia Harrison is a local preacher and Messy Church coordinator in York.
