General Archives - King's Arms Church

As I write this, I’ve just signed up for a free online course in children’s mental health. I haven’t felt this excited about a training course for a long time; I really believe this will be eye-opening and so helpful in the work I do supporting children and families.

The sudden decline in children’s happiness has seemed to be slowly creeping up on us and I feel, like many other people who work with children, this is now rapidly approaching a crisis point. There are many reasons educators, psychologists and doctors cite for this ‘recession in children’s happiness’, such as:

The pandemic and cuts to educational budgets
Long NHS waiting times for mental health support
A decline in reading for pleasure (as an avid reader this reason intrigues me so much)
An increase in anxiety and depression that mirrors how much time is spent on screens

If it takes a village to raise our children and young people, how can we ensure that we are playing our part in setting them up well to thrive?

Let’s talk about screen time, social media and raising our children and young people as tech-healthy, happy humans — and modelling this well too!

WHAT DOES JESUS TEACH US ABOUT BALANCING SCREEN TIME?

Even though Jesus didn’t speak directly about technology, His teachings still apply to the dangers of too much screen time:

Guard your heart and mind
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Proverbs 4:23

Too much screen time, especially on social media or video games, can fill our minds with unnecessary distractions, unhealthy comparisons or even sin. Jesus calls us to protect our hearts and focus on what is good.

Seek Him first
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33

If screens are taking up most of our time, are we still seeking God first? Jesus teaches us to prioritise Him over everything else in life.

Prioritise what’s important
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better.”
Luke 10:41-42

Just like Martha was distracted with tasks instead of listening to Jesus, screens can keep us from what really matters — spending time with God and our family and friends.

True rest is found in God
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

Screens can make our minds restless and anxious. Jesus invites us to find true rest in Him, not in endless distractions.

HOW CAN WE SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE?

The message for us and our children is clear: Technology isn’t bad, but it must be used wisely.

So, how can we live this out? What can I do as an aunt to my ‘niblings’ (niece and nephews)? My niblings live on the other side of the country and I rely on texts/FaceTime to communicate with them. I love getting a video call from my 15-year old niece. I love that my nephew nags me when I’ve dropped my Duolingo streak!

Here some practical tips that we can implement for ourselves and our children and young people:

Check in regularly: Ask how they feel about their screen time. Children and young people are super reflective and more aware than we think, they will know when too much scrolling is having a negative effect on them e.g. eye strain, lack of focus or feeling stressed.
Model healthy, balanced tech use: If they see us setting limits with our own screen time, they’ll be more likely to do the same. Also, let them see you enjoying books, outdoor activities and social interactions without screens.
Use parental controls & monitoring: Keep them safe by ensuring your WIFI has filters to protect them from harmful websites. Also, look into using built-in parental control options on devices to set screen time limits, restrict inappropriate content and monitor app usage.
Turn off notifications: Help them reduce distractions by muting unnecessary alerts.
Agree on limits: Instead of dictating rules, collaborate on a balanced screen time plan that works for them.
Introduce screen-free times: Suggest “no-screen” zones like mealtimes, before bed or during family activities.
Encourage hobbies and social activities: Help them explore sports, music, art or other hands-on activities. If they like a certain hobby, do it with them! It will strengthen your connection and make offline time more appealing.

FREE RESOURCE FOR FURTHER LEARNING

Finally, we also need to educate ourselves. Spacemakers, an organisation run by Christian award-winning author and TEDx speaker, Daniel Sih, are offering a free tech course — Raising Teach-Healthy Humans — for those of us who want to learn more about navigating the digital world with wisdom and balance.

This insightful course will address questions like:

When should I give my child a smartphone?
What types of media are better for my young child’s brain?
How do I set a healthy tech-culture at home?
How do I talk about hard stuff such as online pornography?
How can we parent together as a community?

As we navigate the ever-changing digital world, let’s be intentional about guiding our children, and ourselves, toward a healthy, balanced and Christ-centered approach to technology.

Much love,
Kat Wright and the eFocus team

At times, we may be tempted to avoid our difficult emotions and wonder if it’s okay as Christians to express our pain, anger and disappointment. However, when we look at the Bible, we see it is filled with a wide range of emotions. For instance, Jesus expressed deep sorrow at the loss of His friend Lazarus and felt righteous anger at the behaviour He witnessed in the temple. The book of Lamentations is dedicated to lamenting, which is a profound expression of sadness.

Additionally, David provides a powerful example of someone who fully expressed his heart before God, communicating his pain and anger honestly while ultimately returning to a place of truth and faith. Let’s delve into how David used the Psalms to navigate and process these difficult feelings:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4

We might sometimes feel like we are walking through a dark valley, feeling lost, alone, and hopeless. We may be grieving, disappointed, in pain, hurt or angry. Psalm 23 tells us that the Lord is our Shepherd who cares for His flock — He provides, leads, protects, supports and stays close. In our darkest times, it can be a struggle to find God, but the Good Shepherd is always near, guiding us through the valley until we emerge on the other side.

Reflection:
In our dark valleys, let’s hold onto the faith that God is with us even when we are unable to see Him, trusting that He will lead us to wide open spaces and still waters. As our Good Shepherd, He remains steadfastly close to us through every trial.

“Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again — my Saviour and my God.”
“Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you…”
“O God my rock” I cry. “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief? I will praise Him.”
Psalm 42:5-6, 9

Have you ever found yourself swinging between pain and despair, grasping moments of truth only to return to the depths of sorrow? This is quite a normal process when we are grieving or lamenting. What David demonstrates to us here is his honesty with God about what he is feeling — he is very real and raw about the areas of his heart that he is struggling with. His transparency teaches us the power of putting our feelings into words before God in an unfiltered way.

Reflection:
Maybe this is something you may need to do in this season? Do you need to take time with God to honestly pour out your disappointment, pain and anger?
Consider reaching out to a trusted friend who can pray with you and support you through this process of bringing your feelings to God.

“Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:13-14

As Christians, we can sometimes jump to do ‘the right thing’ of declaring truths but in the process avoid looking at our deeper emotions. Yet, ignoring those emotions doesn’t mean that they’ll eventually go away — they won’t. They linger within us, weighing us down and resurfacing unexpectedly when we feel triggered. It’s important to create space to acknowledge and express our emotions. Let’s notice what we can learn from David here: after wrestling with deep pain and despair, he brings himself back to the truth of who God is. He declares that even though it’s hard and he can’t see God right now, he knows that he will see God’s goodness one day. He models patience, bravery and courage — all things we need when we are navigating our dark valleys.

Reflection:
Don’t avoid the difficult emotions. Create intentional time with God to express yourself, putting words to the feelings with physical expressions like crying. If it feels overwhelming, consider doing this with a friend.

Once you’ve poured out your heart, come back to the truth of who God is. Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Tell yourself, “Even if I can’t see God right now I choose to believe that He is with me and I will wait patiently on Him with courage.”

By looking at David’s example in the Psalms, we can find a path to authentically express our deepest emotions while anchoring ourselves in God’s truth. Be encouraged today to pour out your heart before God and to find comfort in His presence, trusting Him to lead you through whatever you are facing right now.

Much love,
Philbe Kellett and the eFocus team

Our vision as a church is to Worship God, Love one another and Multiply disciples, groups and churches everywhere until we see God’s kingdom fill the earth. Last year in spring 2023, we took some time to remember what God is calling us to as a community and, together, rededicated ourselves to be…

Committed to God and each other
Committed to making disciples
Committed to the poor
Committed to the next generation
Committed to the nations

During a time of global mounting pressure and economic uncertainty, we felt God’s call to us to step forward as a people fuelled by hope and joy rather than fear. Your willingness to join us on this journey and to support our vision financially as well has been immensely impactful and we are truly grateful.

Together, we raised an astounding £203,137 during this Vision offering. Thank you so much to everyone who gave so generously!

I am delighted to share with you how these funds have been put to use, making a tangible difference in the lives of many. Through your contributions, we were able to give financially to help those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

Michael Fuelner who leads a Catalyst hub in Turkiye says, “ I would like to express my deep gratitude to the wider Catalyst catalyst family for responding so generously in the wake of this tragedy. Your donations have enabled our churches to help and bless the victims in Turkiye and Syria in a meaningful way.”

We were also able to maintain our support for our missionaries globally and sustain our work in the Middle East. Closer to home, we were able to support those in need in our local community through initiatives such as our Care Fund and our community engagement projects such as FNM, Re-Track and the King’s Arms Project (a Bedford charity supporting the homeless and displaced who we have a long heritage of working alongside). One grateful recipient of one of Re-Track’s Love Christmas box of goodies told our team, “Wow, I am in utter shock at the parcel. I was not expecting anything like this. It brought me to tears […] That parcel came at a time of need and I honestly can’t say thank you enough.”

Some of our Re-Track volunteers singing carols after dropping of Love Christmas boxes at a residential home.

Additionally, your generosity has enabled us to invest in the next generation of leaders by contributing to send our young people to Newday. Enabling them to be equipped and encouraged in their walk with God and to become more influential disciples in their communities and beyond.

Another exciting outcome of your generosity is the launch of our new Blunham location. This fledgling gathering now meets regularly and are actively reaching out into the local community. One of the ways they are doing this is through their playgroup for under 5s, Little Kingdom, which is held every Friday and serves many families from the neighbourhood.

Some of our Blunham launch team: John & Kat Wright and Catherine Kilvert.

Finally, we’ve continued to address important infrastructure needs, such as repairing our flat roof and installing additional solar panels at King’s House helping to ensure this amazing building continues to serve our community and the thousands who use it every year as it is utilised by businesses, charities and other organisations. Mike Oosthuizen who serves on the facilities team says, “There are countless people who ask me about this place, remarking on how much peace they feel. They are shocked when I tell them it’s a church!”

The second batch of 60 solar panels installed last summer 2023.

Overall, the money raised through our Vision offering, has provided us with the vital resources needed to navigate through inflationary increases, sustain our impact in the face of rising costs and to ensure the continued operation and effectiveness of everything we feel God is calling us to.

As we celebrate the many ways in which we were able to pursue our mission and serve our community, our prayer is that God would continue to take all of us on the adventure of radical generosity.

Let us continue to shine and be the light of the world that He called us to be as followers of Christ, to see God’s kingdom fill the earth through multiplying healthy disciples, groups and churches everywhere.

Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication.

Much love,
Simon Holley and the eFocus team

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds all understanding. His peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

There are times when we can feel disconnected or distant from God. We may feel duty-bound to spend time with Him saying to ourselves that we should pray or read our Bible; other times our worries and concerns block us from coming to God.

Rather than providing a formula that fixes anxiety or a list of tasks that need to be achieved in order to feel peace, this scripture gives us guidance on how to reconnect relationally to God in times of feeling anxious; it’s about our relationship and connection to God when we feel anxious.

So, what does that look like? Here are some ways we can do that:

Pray about everything

Often when we’re anxious or worried we can look to other things to help us. This might include things that distract us such as being busy, socialising, spending time on our phones, finding comfort in food or alcohol or looking to escape our reality through TV or the books we read.

Action steps

What difference would it make if you were to talk to God before you reach for one of the above comforts?
What if you could find comfort in your relationship with God?
Try speaking to God like He is a friend. Tell Him the things you are concerned about and be honest, which might look like, “I don’t know where to start God but I’m having a tough time and I need your help.”

Tell God what you need

In order to do this we must take a moment to notice what we do need. Sometimes it’s not always the obvious thing. For example, if it’s a financial concern the obvious need is money but what about community and the encouragement and support of others around us?

Action steps

Have you taken the time to really notice what you need right now?
Take a moment to be quiet before God and notice your emotional, physical, mental, social, financial and spiritual needs. Make a list of what comes to mind and bring those things to God.

Practise thankfulness

Thankfulness is a great practice to help remind us of the good that is around us. It can be easier to focus on the things that are difficult but, even in anxious times, there are still things we can be thankful for. Practising thankfulness can help build our hope levels even when we feel challenged by our circumstances.

Action steps

Take time each day to thank God for 3 things. You could also make a note of them to read through at the end of each week to remind yourself that there is hope.

God’s peace exceeds our understanding

This peace goes beyond something we can work out with our mind. It’s something that we experience — a peace that settles in our soul, in the deepest part of who we are as a person. It’s knowing who God is and what He will do with the expectation and hope of ‘good’ even when times are tough and letting that truth soak into our spirit.

Action steps

Take a moment to receive God’s peace and imagine it soaking into the deepest part of yourself.

God’s peace guards our hearts and minds

God’s peace acts like a protective filter that we view the challenges of life through. It doesn’t mean that we won’t experience anxiety at times or feel low but this peace allows us space to connect with God and to receive hope.

Action steps

We don’t have to wait until we’re struggling to practise receiving God’s peace. Try taking time out in your week to connect with God and be still before Him, take some deep breaths and feel His peace around you and in you.
Why not share that peace with others who may need it?

We understand that January, in particular, can be a challenging month for many due to various reasons. If you find yourself struggling, please know that you are not alone. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help. Please reach out to your church community, family and friends if you need support.

May God’s peace and love surround you today, and may you hold onto His hope. He is with you.

With love,
Philbe Kellett and the eFocus Team

I have a confession to make… please don’t judge me… this year we actually put up the tree and decorated our house on 25th November. I’d like to blame the circumstances, or the kids, but in truth we’re just Christmassy people. We make hot chocolates, put on our favourite family Christmas movie and then spend time enjoying unboxing the tinsel and lights and putting everything up. Of course, there is every chance I’ll be fed up of listening to Michael Bublé and the Pentatonix Christmas albums come Boxing Day, but for now I’m loving it!

Whether Christmas is a big deal in your house or not, I’d argue that most of us want to make the most of the season, so here are some of my top tips for making Christmas significant:

1) Make Memories and Treasure Traditions

Memories don’t have to cost a lot of money; they are an investment into relationships that money can’t buy. For the last five years, we’ve made a tradition out of bundling into the car with hot chocolates and York Fruit sweets and driving around Brickhill to look at Christmas lights. (There are some stunning houses on Kimbolton Road, Falcon Avenue and Swindale.) For us, it’s not about the activity, but more about being together.

We’re planning on making a tradition out of watching the brilliant Charlie Mackesy’s film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”. What’s your thing? Baking cakes? Building a gingerbread house? Having a sing-song? What are your Christmas traditions? If you don’t have any, start some!

2) Christmas is the Season for Giving and Sharing

Look for opportunities to spread love, kindness and generosity; whether through charitable acts, volunteering, or reaching out to those in need. We have the opportunity to embody Christ by sharing His love with others. Remember those around you — neighbours, colleagues or more distant family — who might appreciate someone checking in on them with a phone call or gift.

Invite others into your home. Showing hospitality and asking good questions is a great way of intentionally connecting with others. When asking questions remember to listen well and respond with love and encouragement.

Even among friends and family who don’t follow Jesus, the season presents a fantastic opportunity to offer prayer to people through the coming year. Asking the question, “how can I best be praying for you this Christmas time?” could open a world of opportunity to speak with joy about your faith while looking for a chance for God to break into people’s hearts and circumstances.

3) Someone has to say it, Banish Monopoly!

Actually to be fair, I like Monopoly, but there was once a Christmas occasion when Philippa and I fell out so badly after playing it that we decided to banish it from the house for a few years. However, I would encourage you to think about playing games over this season. We love games and they’re another opportunity to build relationships, over screen time, especially for children and young people.

Wilson family favourites are….
…for bigger groups: Articulate | Chain Reaction
…for kids: Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza | Diamant | Beat that
…for adults: Azul | Spendor
…for hardened gamers: Dominion

Remember, playing games isn’t just about winning! It can be an opportunity, amidst the hustle and bustle, to avoid getting caught up in the material aspects of Christmas as you spend quality time with family and friends.

4) Don’t miss this Roast Potato Hack

Ok, so this might be a bit of a strange one, but if you’re the one cooking Christmas dinner you’ll be glad you read this. Roast potatoes (in my humble opinion) are the best bit on your dinner plate and you can start preparations early. Several days early in fact! Peel and rinse some Maris Pipers potatoes then slow boil them to within an inch of their lives. Just before they’re ready to completely fall apart, drain them and lay them on parchment paper on a baking tray and pop into the freezer. On Christmas day, you can bang them straight into the oven, ideally (if you’re not a vegetarian) into hot goose fat. Give them as long as they need to get super crispy, gently turning every 15 minutes or so. You won’t regret it.

Of course, the dinner table isn’t just the best place for good roast potatoes but for good conversation. Turn off screens and connect with those you’re with. Whether you’re with other Christians or not, you can celebrate things you appreciate about one another or share things you’re thankful for from the past year.

5) Reflect on the True Meaning of Christmas

You knew I was going to make it here eventually right? I’d urge you please, take time amidst the festivities, to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas — the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. You’d be so welcome to attend our Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services, but why not also take some time in personal prayer and reflection to centre your celebrations around the significance of Emmanuel. God with us. There is no deeper sense of joy available than recognising our hearts’ gratitude for the gift of Jesus.

So, Merry Christmas everyone! May this be the best one yet.

With love,
Steve Wilson and the eFocus Team

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on His shoulders.
And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

More than at any other time in my life that I can remember, I find that my prayers keep coming back to peace. With wars, conflict, financial strain, full diaries, deadlines, Christmas gift-buying, and sometimes even the pressures and worries that the coming togetherness can bring, our hearts and minds can be easily distracted and washed with anxiety. Daily, I am putting my hand on my heart, closing my eyes, breathing deeply and focusing on the fact that He IS peace and He IS here. I need to be still. I need to keep God’s face right in front of me.

Advent is a chance to do just that — to look up! To shift our focus to the One who shoulders governments, yet carries us like a Father carries His children. Advent is an invitation to rediscover God in the rhythm of life in this precise moment in history, and to step into a season of anticipation and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth! Whether you light a candle or eat daily chocolate, the invitation is to do it in a way which is mindful of Jesus. He is so worthy.

As we decorate and celebrate,
we do so to mark the memory of Your redemptive movement
into our broken world, O God.

Our glittering ornaments and Christmas trees,
our festive carols, our sumptuous feasts —
By these small tokens we affirm
that something amazing has happened in time and space —
that God, on a particular night, in a particular place, so many years ago,
was born to us, an infant King, our Prince of Peace.

Every Moment Holy, Douglas McKelvey

Isaiah prophesied the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and on the night Jesus was born, the angels heralded His birth saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests!” (Luke 2:14) The Hebrew word for peace is ‘Shalom’, which means more than our English word for peace. Shalom isn’t simply the absence of conflict, but it also points to the presence of something better in its place. It means more than just stopping fighting; it means working together for each other’s benefit. To experience shalom is to be restored to completeness in every area. (The Bible Project) At its very essence, Advent is an invitation to experience Shalom — the deep abiding peace that brings restoration — and to recognise Jesus as the Prince of Peace.

He brings…

Peace in trials.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Jonah 14:27)

Peace as we grow in maturity.
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely…” (1 Thessalonians 5:23a)

Peace in victories.
“The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” (Romans 16:20)

Peace in relationships.
“…endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3).

Peace as the fruit of Him in us.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

So this Advent, consider taking a minute each day to close your eyes, breathe deeply and treasure our Prince of Peace. Remind yourself that He is your Shalom. Ask Him if there is anyone in your life who also needs to know that He is their Prince of Peace and share Him with them.

With love,
Caroline and the eFocus Team

This is a great short video explaining a bit more about Shalom:
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/shalom-peace

It’s that time of year again as summer morphs into autumn; the leaves are turning shades of orange and red, there is a certain crispness in the air and the sun takes on a more golden glow. This shifting of the seasons is often mirrored in our personal lives too, and we may be finding ourselves in a season of change or even uncertainty. For some this looks like children starting university and becoming ‘empty nesters’, for others it looks like starting new jobs, moving houses, going back to school, manoeuvring relationship challenges, and the list goes on…

So, if you are finding yourself in a period of change and unknowing, Psalm 139 is full of Godly wisdom that we can use to find peace, purpose and direction. Let’s take a look!

1 | God knows what you are going through
You are familiar with all my ways. (Verse 3)

Sometimes we can feel like we are the only ones going through a certain situation and it can feel lonely and isolating. But, God knows you intimately and understands your situation, even when you’re uncertain. He truly knows what you are experiencing and remains committed to you and trustworthy through it all.

2 | You are not alone, God’s presence is always with you
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. (Verse 5)

We can take time to become aware of God’s presence through prayer, spending time reading the Bible and worshipping Him. His presence brings comfort and will help you to take the focus of your circumstances and onto our unmovable, unshakable, all-powerful Saviour.

3 | God has a plan, He already knows the outcome (Spoiler Alert: It is good!)
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Verse 16)

Remind yourself that God has a purpose for your life and He has a good plan for you. Make a conscious decision to trust that He is working it all out. You can trust in His wisdom to guide you through this season as you submit your ways to Him.

4 | Remember what God says about you, focus on the truth
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. (Verses 17 + 18)

Don’t allow lies to seep in and take root. Over every other voice that competes for our attention, recognise what God says about you; He has so many amazing thoughts about us that they can’t even be numbered! Let His truth permeate deep into your soul. Many battles are won or lost in our minds — let’s be good gatekeepers of what we allow in!

5 | Ask God to show you the best path through this season
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Verse 24)

God has a purpose for everything that we face. Use this season of uncertainty as an opportunity to reflect and invite God to examine your heart and reveal what He is doing. Know that nothing you go through is wasted. Allow God to use this situation to fulfil its purpose and let Him complete the good work He has started in you (Philippians 1:6).

We hope you feel encouraged on your journey. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus — He has the final say and He’s still on the throne. May He be glorified through everything we face today.

Much love,
Daisy and the eFocus Team