The team of young adults which helped re-launch The Peverel Flats
“A few years ago, we began to pray and think intentionally about raising up the next generation of leaders—and we realised there weren’t a whole lot of people around to step up.”
It’s not uncommon to hear this sort of intention coming from the mouths of older leaders. But here’s the catch: James Sheat and the team at Riccarton Community Church (RCC) were a group in their mid-20s—all young professionals—at the time they began planning for new leadership:
“We began discussing what it was like for us when we were going through uni and leaving home for the first time,” says James, “we asked ourselves: What was it that made us get through uni with our faith in tact? When many use their uni years as a time to deconstruct their faith, what helped us re-construct it for the long-haul?”
When several members of their group talked about the lasting impact of their time at The Peverel Flats, the group began looking for ways to re-ignite an old ministry.
THE HISTORY OF THE PEVEREL FLATS
In 2004, RCC members Joy and Russell Broughton felt called to start a ministry to serve students moving to Christchurch for their first year of uni. The Broughtons commissioned two purpose-built, six bedroom flats and ran them successfully for eight years, with nearly 100 students benefitting from community life and pastoral care as they adjusted to student life.
After the earthquakes of 2010/11, numbers of students coming to Christchurch dropped off and the ministry drew to a close, with the units being sold off. When James Sheat and his fellow young adults began talking and praying about new leadership, they began exploring the possibility of re-launching a ministry focused on building intentional community. When they approached the new owners of the units they asked about the possibility of allowing a team from RCC to manage the flats and subletting to residents. The new owners agreed!
Three years ago The Peverel Flats re-launched (with enthusiastic support from original leaders Joy and Russell Broughton, and the leadership of RCC). These flats are a uniquely Christian environment for young adults to explore faith, community and life away from home in a supportive environment.
A NEW SEASON
“The re-launch hasn’t been without teething problems; sometimes we’ve needed extra young adults from RCC to fill spare rooms, but overall it has been a success. This year we’ve got one flat of first-years supported by another flat of returning students who are already connected to the community.”
Each resident is mentored by a member of the oversight team: James and Grace Sheat, Caleb and Sophie Meyer, Lauren and Matt Taylor, William and Jessamy Minish. “…And we’re praying about finding an older couple who can provide some regular pastoral support and care.”
Growing young leaders, nurturing students and supporting intentional Christian community is not always easy, but the fruit is always worth praising God for. “I think for many churches and Christians it is about finding the confidence to initiate,” says James, “often I’ll hear people say: ‘Yes, being a student leaving home is a tough time for faith.’ But it will stop at sentiment, it takes confidence to act.” It doesn’t have to be complicated—you don’t have to buy a purpose-built block of flats—it can be as simple as developing a friendship.
“A friend of mine started babysitting for a church family when she was a student. They would host her in their home and just got to know her. Years on, she is now married and having a family of her own and the friendship is still there. Discipleship often looks like sharing life in Christ together in an ordinary, everyday way.”
And it’s this ‘ordinary’ context—a student flat—that provides the space for friendship, discipleship and community at Peverel Flats.
For more info on The Peverel Flats: www.peverelflats.co.nz
Story by Sophia Sinclair
