Thank you for your ongoing support of our work under the banner of Omega Zone. Mega apologies for the delay in posting this update!
Omega Zone
After a busy year, the summer holidays are a time for a rest and reflection. We are looking forward to visiting Hull and Hampshire next term to lead Omega Zone Training Events, amongst a host of Number Fun bookings.
Over August bank-holiday weekend I will be joining the PowerPack team at the Grapevine conference in Lincolnshire. After many years of leading events, I thought it would be great to simply go and be a volunteer again, and to learn from Nick Jackson and the wonderful PowerPack team.
York
In May we had the last ever Multicoloured Praise Party here in York - thus ending a 13 year association with the York Schools and Youth Trust. I started these events along with a small team of local volunteers in July 1995 whilst I was teaching at Huntington Primary School. The events then became part of my work for YOYO when the charity started and I was employed to establish the schools ministry here in the city.
YOYO's decision to cease the funding for these events provides us with an opportunity in York to birth something new and appropriate to support the many churches and families who attended the MCPPs. Please pray for the ongoing discussions with York Diocese, York One Voice and York Christian Youth Holidays, as we seek to discern where we go from here! Please also thank God for the amazing team who helped make the MCPP a big success for the last 15 years.
Summer
This last academic year has been one of the most exhausting I have experienced. Handing in my MA today (see below) will be a major relief. Writing and publishing the Millions and Billions Collective Worship resource pack took an age. We have therefore kept the summer free in order to catch up and have a rest.
We have a family holiday in Paris booked for the middle of August which we are very much looking forward to. Work wise we are currently working hard on sorting out the Number Fun and Omega Zone online e-commerce sites, which should be live very soon. The summer also contains various planning meetings aimed at exploring new opportunities through next academic year.
Number Fun
The final Number Fun Activity Day for this last academic year was in Wigan. The school have been using Number Fun extensively for the last two years, since my previous visit. It was a very encouraging day, and reminded me again that Number Fun can make a real difference in childrens lives and within the teaching of mathematics. I praise God for the opportunities he continues to give us to serve in school. Please pray that more bookings come in, despite the reduced level of funding within education.
We are still hoping, in conjunction with Jumping Jack Studios, to bring out an excellent iPhone app – although it has taken longer than we hoped to get this ready. I am also thinking through various other options for Number Fun in the future – even the possibility of pitching the concept for television. Please pray for wisdom, new opportunities and clarity of thought as we head into the future.
MA
My MA dissertation will be handed in later today!! I've worked really hard to get this finished on time, and I'm really delighted with the result. The MA is in Educational Improvement, Development and Change at York St Johns University. My dissertation has focussed on a group of teachers who are new to using Number Fun as a teaching tool. The entire degree has been particularly helpful for both my Number Fun and Omega Zone work.
Omega Zone Publishing
Omega Zone Publishing is the name that we currently use as a business name to oversee all the Omega Zone ministry work and the Number Fun work.
I'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone who continues to serve with us in York and who helps support the work we do around the country. Anne, Ann, Joyce and Kay do a great job here in the office, and Sue and Nige are great companions on the road.
Please continue to pray for oodles of guidance and anointing, as we seek to serve God in his church and in schools across the country.
The Diary
- Please continue to pray for Menna, Tim (at Durham Uni), Anna and Esther.
- Please pray for all the activities listed on my diary page (updating soon!) – may Jesus be really honoured in all that we do!!
- Please pray for both Anne, Ann, Joyce and Kay as they seek to keep the show on the road with all their administration and excellent help in so many ways!
- Please continue to pray for the new resources and that God will open up lots of new and big adventures in the future.
Yours in Christ, Dave Godfrey