Following a review of the church's youth work in 2005, Tilehouse Street Baptist Church made the decision to employ a part-time Family Worker early on in 2006. Much hard work and prayer from the whole church went into this project and, by December, we had appointed Sharon Beck, who began her job officially on 1st February 2007. In February 2009 Sharon accepted a full-time post in a similar capacity working for the Hitchin Christian Centre.
As a result, the Church has now recruited Vanessa Rackham as a part-time family worker to continue the valuable work started by Sharon. Vanessa began her work with us on 1st September 2009.
Nessa is a Hertfordshire girl and grew up in Hitchin, attending Christchurch with her family, where she made her own Christian commitment as a teenager. Following secondary education at Hitchin Girls' School, she qualified as a teacher, and more recently she went on to gain a further qualification in working with children with autism. Nessa is married to Jeremy and they have three children: Joe who is 16, Alice 14 and Molly, 9. Since having her children, Nessa has done some supply teaching and has also worked with TRACKS, a charity working with pre-school children with autism. The Rackhams will continue to worship at Christchurch where Nessa helps out with one of the young people's groups on Sunday mornings.
We look forward to the work Nessa will be doing with us, as she builds relationships with families with whom we already have contact, and explores how we as a church can better support families locally. Part of this aspect of the job will involve engaging with external organisations and services aimed at families, perhaps partnering with others to serve our community. Nessa is very much looking forward to meeting our church families with younger children who attend Bright Sparks on Sundays, as well as the families who attend Pre-School, Toddler Group, our Cracker events throughout the year, not to mention Wizz Kids on Monday evenings.
As part of her role, Nessa will attend all age services at Tilehouse Street once a month. Please support Nessa in your prayers for her and her family, and also for her new role with us.
