One of the Sporting Marvels maxims is: “start from where you are and always do the best with what you’ve got”.
Before we can open a new school, we have to be sure of two things - people and finance! While we will always be a faith organisation, faith has to be managed and wisdom is a must. When a school comes to depend on us for a chunk of their timetable, we have to deliver; and that means having a trained-up Marvel (or two) on hand. And that of course requires finance and payroll!
In the November issue, we ran a story about the new and exciting Mighty Marvels Journals and how they’d been received by the kids and by the school staff. After introducing them this last September, we thought we’d wait till now before taking a close look at the Journals and some of the things the kids are writing in them. We know our partners love to hear what the kids themselves are saying, so here’s an opportunity to get up really close and personal!
When Pastor John asked Phil, “What would you try for God if you knew you couldn’t fail?” way back in July 2002, it sparked the idea of Sporting Marvels. But an idea will remain just a thought without a strategy to bring it to life.
The Mighty Marvels programme helps us win the kids and our wide-ranging events programme makes it even more effective. But as the kids grow, as they graduate to the Comps, how do we keep them interested; how do we see them through? Maintaining relationship isn’t easy anyway, but in the ups and downs, trials and tribulations of modern-day teenage life, it can be something of a lottery. Yes, we trust God, but first we must do our bit and then and only then, can we confidently leave the rest to Him.
With the New Year underway, we thought we’d spotlight the newest addition to our Sporting Marvels family of schools: Cwmclydach Primary.
“In September, Cwmclydach became the first school added to our roster in more than two years”, said Team Leader, Lawrie. “Throughout the period, we’d been battling on several fronts – financial, personnel-wise and also, operationally – to dig the kind of foundations that can give us the substance and longevity to see this vision through to fulfilment”.
In the run-up to Christmas, some of our key All-Stars mooted the idea of putting on an event that could bring the wider body of All-Stars together while at the same time raising money for our work in East Africa!
How amazing is that?! Young people in Rhondda fundraising for the work we do in Tanzania!!!
When the Marvels took to the big stage just two short Christmases ago, no-one could have imagined that “Panto Season” could grow into such a big deal within the Sporting Marvels calendar!
