Word of Mouth

Martyn Payne

A local BRF supporter had recommended Barnabas to the Head teacher; the RE Coordinator had seen our resources at diocesan events; the local vicar had heard good things about us; and the school was having a special RE week. Result: I found myself at Hampstead Norreys CE Primary School in Berkshire leading one of our Barnabas RE Days for them.

This small village school was extremely welcoming. Everyone knew that I was coming and was prepared for the day. 'I knew it was you from the website picture,' declared the RE coordinator, who later told me that her lively Foundation class had talked at length after the session about the creation story I did with them, debating fiercely where Adam and Eve had come from, as surely everyone needs a mother and father somewhere! Go on, sort that one out for five-year-olds! And the debate about whether we could leave out any part of the gift of this world was equally intense with the next classes: 'We can't get rid of the night', explained one girl, 'because then we wouldn't have any day, would we?' and, 'You can't just get rid of some animals you don't like, because there will always be other people who do like them.' It's always so good to hear children talking about big things like this.

I would cheerfully have got rid of the rain today, however, whether someone else liked it or not! It was not the day for travelling miles by car and I was particularly grateful for people's prayers for safe journeys amid all the spray and the surface water that I encountered.

One comment by the Head teacher at the end of the day stayed with me: 'It's great to hear the children talking about Bible stories like this. Some teachers are afraid of what they might say or ask; but because you do this regularly, you aren't fazed by any of their ideas and suggestions.' I had never thought about that before - interesting!

Later on in their RE week they're off to visit Oxford Cathedral and the day after their RE Day they're working in small groups to create some big artwork based around different Bible stories. When the teachers saw our Barnabas books, and especially the Bible Make and Do series, they were very excited and taken by the ideas there. I suspect a few ideas were quickly 'borrowed' and certainly the books were added to a 'to order' list by this school! When it comes to our publications, maybe 'word of mouth' just isn't quite enough... only 'seeing is purchasing'!

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