Reflecting Hope Ystrad Mynach 2024

Sunshine, community fellowship, singing, children activities, feeding families, church united effort, new friendship relationships, new collaborations, reflecting hope and God's love to the local community.

Family Fun Day

On the 6th of May, a sunny Monday bank holiday, Ystrad Mynach church held a Family Fun Day in the local park as part of the Reflecting Hope initiative. 

Many families came out on the day to enjoy a sunny, warm bank holiday and fellowship together. Having sunshine and a lovely weather was surely an answer to prayer, as only the day before, rain had been forecasted. God has surely held back the clouds and rain on that day.

God has also blessed as we had several conversations with people from the community. By God’s grace we’ve been feeding 200 adults and children with a vegetarian BBQ, had many cups of smoothies using the smoothie bike, lots of interactive activities for the children, and 11 children from the community were signed up for the upcoming Holiday Bible School.

Building on our collaboration with Coleg Y Cymoedd College, which began last year, Ystrad Mynach church has worked in partnership with Nantgarw Campus, where college students from the Music department (Ebboney, Jack, Bree and Abbie) have come to sing for the community at the Family Fun Day. We look forward to working together in our future events and initiatives.

The Fun Day was a great united effort where volunteers from other churches (Swansea, Newport, Cardiff Central, Cardiff North) came to help and support the Ystrad Mynach church. When local church members and other churches come together and work together with God’s blessing, great things are being achieved for His praise and glory.

We pray the Lord will continue to bless the work we do as we continue to build on the new relationships and partnerships made, and that many will get to know God through our friendship and service.

New Collaboration with Coleg Y Cymoedd: Walk-in-Wardrobe Initiative

In May, the Ystrad Mynach church started a long-term collaboration with Coleg Y Cymoedd, Ystrad Mynach Campus, and joined their new initiative, Walk-in-Wardrobe, by supporting and donating clothing items for the young learners. This is in response to the challenges faced by some learners who may not have access to suitable clothing due to the current cost of living crisis and personal circumstances.

Donations of Food and Toiletries

At our Harvest Festival in October, the church members have kindly provided a large bounty of food items that have been donated to the College for the students/ learners in need. The Welfare Officer has warmly welcomed us, given us a big hug and said that we have come just in time with the food supplies. The young people were about to go on their half term, and the food was much needed by many of them and their families.

In December, just before their Christmas break, the church kindly donated toiletries to the College for a group of learners. The church was deeply moved by a heartfelt thank-you card from the learners and their teacher, Kerry, expressing gratitude and appreciation for their kindness and donations.

Family Fun Day Guest Visits Ystrad Mynach Church

One Sabbath in June, we had a first-time visit at church from one lady who met us at the Ystrad Mynach Family Fun Day.

She shared with us the story of how she was looking for a church after recently moving to the area. Then it happened that on the May Bank Holiday she walked by the Ystrad Mynach Park and heard the music which the College students were singing/performing, which piqued her interest. Intrigued by the music, she entered the park to see what event was taking place. There she met the church members and loved the warm, friendly atmosphere that motivated her to look for our church. After a few weeks, she asked a work colleague about the church’s location, who happened to attend the same church she was looking for. He gladly showed her the way to the church. It was a blessing to meet her and hear her story.

God uses different means and ways to guide individuals towards Him, to the church and bring people together in fellowship. This reveals the wonderful way God is working all around us.