Reaching the 95%: God at WORK in the classroom
Friends, yet another month races by! And it’s my privilege once again to let our praying supporters know just how much God has been doing in our schools. As always, I’ll try and keep it short and in a summary format, but it’s so difficult when there’s so much I want to tell you…..
The biggest news is that we’ve started our series of CAP money workshops in Cheam High to year 10 pupils. This is the first time we’ve entered into this partnership, and the early signs, after 4 classes out of 14, is that we’ve made a real impact. Please pray that this new relationship with Cheam develops into even more opportunities to speak the words of Jesus into the lives of the staff and pupils, and to provide all with the chance to receive real help should they need it.
I also arranged a Grill a Christian session with year 11 at Sutton Grammar, where local church friends joined me in answering a number of challenging questions from the students. Please pray that the answers given will continue to resonate in their spirits, and that we may deliver more of these. I’ve been asked this week by another school to arrange their next one; please pray for even more….
I’ve met with Maisie to discuss our plans for Transit, our year 6 programme, which is fast approaching, and we’ve got lots of schools booked in for this, which seems to suggest schools really like what we do and want more. And it’s a busy month coming up at Cheam High. We’re also delivering GSUS to year 8, and Self-Esteem to year 9. Please pray that these workshops all give the children the chance to respond to the loving words of our Saviour, in whatever
format is appropriate for each one (and don’t forget the staff who are always present in the room!)
I’m also delivering the year 9 Self Esteem to Oaks Park, but all in one day to 10 classes! Please pray for me on May 15th when I present this session in a large hall to 3 classes together, then 2, then 4…. I’m really relying on God for these!!! Our long hoped for CU at Oaks Park still can’t quite get off the ground. We need a room to meet in on Thursday lunchtimes in which the children can eat their lunch. Please pray that the school will be prompted to organise this soon. However, a wonderful development is that another teacher has offered their room at the later time so that a Years 9 to 11 group can be created. We’re now just waiting for the approval of the acting head to get this kick started. Please pray!
And I’m speaking at the lunch club run by St Paul’s Northey, Cheam, on Wednesday 6th May, giving a fuller update and telling some stories of how God is impacting people’s lives and challenging children. If you’re coming along, please say hello and let me know you’re one of our praying friends!
And finally, our Giving of the 5000 campaign is up and running. We’re planning on visiting as many churches as possible to give more detail, but in the meantime, could you speak to your own leadership and let them know about this? In this update we’re providing a link for you to visit our Stewardship page to donate, and we’ve also produced a video giving more details. There’s also a postcard with a QR code to be distributed at your church if you feel this is appropriate. Even more detail is always available on our website, and the video can be viewed there too.
We really need to raise more funds; donations from churches to our work have actually reduced in the last 2 years, and we are genuinely having to contemplate our long term future. Please consider how best we can all contribute to this most vital work. 95% of our young people are not in church on a Sunday morning, but they’re in school the next morning, and we speak to nearly all of them in Sutton. Please continue to help us reach out with the words of our Lord!
Thank you,
Simon
- THANK YOU GOD for the wonderful end to the Y2 CSI Easter workshop bookings for the year. We led this workshop in 16 schools this year and had a brilliant time encouraging the children of Sutton to draw their conclusions on what they think happened to Jesus’ missing body, with the large majority deciding that Jesus did rise from the dead. Please pray for the children and teachers who participated in CSI Easter this year, that they can connect the fun we had in the workshop of being detectives and solving a mystery to what Christians actually believe and how Jesus wants to have a relationship with each and every one of them.
- THANK YOU GOD for the Primary bookings that are already coming in for next year (before we have even sent out any emails asking school to book!) Please pray that the schools that God wants us to deliver specific workshops in next year are nudge to make their bookings. How amazing
would it be to have workshop bookings from unexpected schools simply because it is God moving in their school!
- PLEASE PRAY for the Y1 Creation Treasure Hunters Workshop at Cheam Fields this month. Although it is a month of not many bookings as we leave space to get set for the next academic year and Y6s have their
SATS tests, we pray for this booking and that the staff and pupils present have a joyful time in the workshop space and that they can connect the dots between what we teach that Christians believe and how the very same God who created the universe wants a personal relationship with each and every one of them because they are precious to Him and He loves them so much.
- PLEASE PRAY for the Y6s across the borough of Sutton (and beyond) as they take on their SATs tests on the week beginning Monday 11th May. Please pray for the pupils to feel encouraged to just do their best and for them to feel God’s peace and comfort, regardless of the results. Pray for the Y6 teachers as they do final preparations with the children ahead of SATs week. May God give them good rest and reminders of how much He loves them!
- PLEASE PRAY for the SSW staff and Volunteer team. We are so very aware that God is doing AMAZING things in the schools of Sutton and through the SSW staff and volunteer team. We are also very well aware that there is an enemy who does not like this. Please pray for protection over SSW team (both paid and voluntary) in both their SSW tasks and in their personal lives. Please give all of us strength and boldness to keep showing up in schools with the confidence of God’s Holy Spirit within us. For, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ (Romans 8:31)
- Praise God for a new term and new opportunities to visit the primary schools across Sutton!
We have almost 50 assemblies booked for this half term on the theme of Good Wise Choices. Based on the parable of the wise and foolish builders, we are asking children to think of the people in their lives who help them make wise choices. We are encouraging staff and pupils that God is always with them, loving and caring for them, and guiding them throughout their lives.
The Lord says, “I will teach you and guide you in the way you should live. I will watch over you and be your guide.’ Psalm 32 v 8
- Please pray that everyone we meet would know God’s love and care for them, His guiding wisdom and His constant presence with them.
As the Summer Term is now well underway, we are beginning to look ahead to the next academic year and book in our primary assemblies.
- Please pray for swift responses from our regular schools and for new bookings in schools we haven’t visited for sometime: Hackbridge, Muschamp, Seaton House and Sutton High.
- Please pray for open doors into Beddington Park, Collingwood, Harris Academy and Homefield.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers!
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
- Cheam High – Money workshop to Year 10, Self Esteem to Year 9, GSUS to Year 8 • Oaks Park – Self Esteem to Year 9, and both CUs can get started this term • Nonsuch and Carshalton Boys – teachers will respond to emails
- Carshalton Girls – Date to be arranged for Grill a Christian
- Glenthorne – Meeting with Christian teacher will lead to creation of a brand new CU •
Thank you for your continued support and prayers!
Abby, Maisie & Simon
What a joy Easter Experience 2026 has been so far – and we are not even halfway through yet! We have already completed our run of performances in St Peter’s Church, St Michael’s & All Angels Church and now we are in North Cheam Baptist Church this week, with Carshalton Methodist and Trinity Church Sutton to go. I have been saying to cast members this week how funny it is how I am amazed and almost surprised every time God answers our prayers and is so clearly present for all the performances we have had so far. OF COURSE God answers prayer, and OF COURSE He longs to meet with the children and school staff of Sutton. God is SO in this!
I could say so many examples of how God has already been at work in the children, school staff, cast and SSW staff team over the past week and a half. However, I will mention one particular stand-out moment at St Michael’s & All Angels Church last
Friday. We reached the Q&A section of Easter Experience, where the children can ask the characters in the story questions and WOW, what a Q&A session this was. The children were asking questions that even ‘mature’ and grown-up Christians would ask, and there was no stopping the sea of hands going up asking question after question and digging deeper and deeper into the core of what the Christian faith is all about. God is so patient with us, even when we underestimate Him time and time again! We are called to have a child-like faith (Matthew 18:3) and God has been reminding me that OF COURSE He is in this and that we should all strive to have the curiosity these children had to find out more and dig deeper. God is SO good!
Maisie
MAY 2026 EVENTS
What’s happening this month?
MAY 1st – Assembly – St. Mary’s Catholic Nursery and Infant Schools
MAY 1st – CU – FLAME – Sutton Grammar School
MAY 5th – Assembly – All Saints’ Benhilton C of E Primary
MAY 5th – Assembly – Cheam Common Infants’ Academy
MAY 5th – CU – Overton Grange School, Carshalton High School for Girls
MAY 5th – CU – Cheam High School (Year 12) & (Year 13)
MAY 6th – Assembly – Wallington Primary Academy
MAY 6th – Assembly – Manor Park Primary Academy
MAY 6th – CU – ENGAGE – Carshalton Boys Sports College
MAY 6th – CU – Greenshaw High School (Yr 7/8 and 9/11)
MAY 7th – CU – SPARK (Year 7-8) and IGNITE (Year 9-11) – Cheam High School
MAY 8th – CU – FLAME – Sutton Grammar School
MAY 11th – PRAYER GROUP – Cheam High School
MAY 11th – BLAST (Bible Living And Story Telling) – Brookfield Primary Academy
MAY 12th – Assembly – Holy Trinity C of E Junior School
MAY 12th – CU – Overton Grange School, Carshalton High School for Girls
MAY 12th – CU – Cheam High School (Year 12) & (Year 13)
MAY 13th – CU – ENGAGE – Carshalton Boys Sports College
MAY 13th – CU – Greenshaw High School (Yr 7/8 and 9/11)
MAY 14th – Assembly – Robin Hood Infants School
MAY 14th – CU – SPARK (Year 7-8) and IGNITE (Year 9-11) – Cheam High School
MAY 15th – CU – FLAME – Sutton Grammar School
MAY 18th – Assembly – St. Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School
MAY 18th – Assembly – Foresters Primary School
MAY 18th – Assembly – Cheam Common Infants’ Academy
MAY 18th – PRAYER GROUP – Cheam High School
MAY 18th – BLAST (Bible Living And Story Telling) – Brookfield Primary Academy
MAY 19th – Assembly – Victor Seymour Infants’ School
MAY 19th – Y1 Creation Treasure Hunters – Cheam Fields Primary Academy
MAY 19th – CU – Overton Grange School, Carshalton High School for Girls
MAY 19th – CU – Cheam High School (Year 12) & (Year 13)
MAY 19th – CU – Overton Grange School, Carshalton High School for Girls
MAY 19th – CU – Cheam High School (Year 12) & (Year 13)
MAY 20th – Assembly – Cheam Fields Primary Academy
MAY 20th – CU – ENGAGE – Carshalton Boys Sports College
MAY 20th – CU – Greenshaw High School (Yr 7/8 and 9/11)
MAY 21st – Assembly – Rushy Meadow Primary Academy
MAY 21st – CU – SPARK (Year 7-8) and IGNITE (Year 9-11) – Cheam High School
MAY 22nd – CU – FLAME – Sutton Grammar School
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