PAIS Christian movement running a club in local school

[Falloffgirl]

This is my first post, I've no idea if it's in the right place or if I've commited any massive faux pas, sorry, but if yoy read on you'll see why I want this post up.

OK, so we get am email telling us that PAIS is doing a Friday lunchtime MAD club. They've done an assembly already with the kids to tell them about Making-a-Difference club where they'll get to learn about community values and do stuff to help the community.

My initial reaction is, who are these people? so I do some research. I find this: paismovement.com (I'm on my phone and don't know how to make a proper link sorry).

The email attachment says they are a Christian group linked to a local Baptist Church.

I find out that amongst other things they believe in Creationism and, I quote, "missionaries making missionaries". (I've already made the smutty joke about that so you don't need to).

Further investigation found, well, very little else actually, at least nothing negative and no forums posts anywhere like this one. My friend was up in arms and really started digging and has found they have links to strongly evangelical churches with American money.

We have raised concerns with the school etc etc, but basically I'd like to know if anyone here knows anything about them? Are they doing stuff in your kid's school, do you kniw anything about them. Will they shut this post down as it may get negative?

Anything appreciated, cheers.

(sits back and waits for the Simpsons pitchforks and flaming torches mob meme).

[NannyR]

What are your concerns? I've not heard of this particular club but our church is going to be involved in running something similar journey makers in a local school. We already run a sort of mentoring scheme with the same charity and we've had loads of positive feedback from parents.

[Falloffgirl]

I'll be honest our biggest concern was the way it was put to the kids before the parents and that if we don't want our kids to attend, we have to let the office know. Why? I'll just tell my kid not to attend. They don't need to know.

Also, we aren't Christians, we don't believe in God, we believe in evolution. We have chosen to raise our child like that and would rather she was exposed to Christain teachings in our presence.

The school have admitted they actually know very little about the content of the club, or indeed anything about the Christian ethos of the movement which also raised concerns about the openess of the group.

I'm not suggesting all Christian youth groups are like this at all, I know many do great work in a completely non-religious way. I'm asking if anyone knows anything about PAIS in particular, because we can't seem to find any first person, non-PAIS information, and that seems weird.

[picklemepopcorn]

I'll go and look up PAIS, see if it's familiar or I recognise any affiliations.

Just for clarity most Christians, certain,y in the U.K., are not creationist. Most believe in evolution.

[NannyR]

I doubt that there will be any creationism taught; I'm a Christian and I also believe in evolution as do many Christians. Just say to the school that you don't want your child to attend.
I do agree with you though that there is very little information available online about this movement.

[annandale]

Mmmmmm. I'm like you in that I'm suspicious of any organisation that seeks to recruit minors via a school system that is acutely short of cash and staff to provide horizon-widening experiences. I don't deny that some children will benefit from these experiences and maybe that should be enough? It's also possible to find the Pais movement's faith statement quite easily and I applaud that. However, I really do not want my 13 year old getting involved with the straightforward fundamentalism it describes. I use the word deliberately. Pais calls itself 'nondenominational' but any organisation that expresses absolute belief in original sin, the virgin birth, bodily resurrection, the second coming etc is fundamentalist to me. The promotion of a free Christian gap year at least offers a purposeful activity but it sounds like it might essentially be a year of free labour? Great wheeze.

I started a thread about evangelical churches providing prayer spaces in schools. Lots of people said I was wrong to be against them. Clearly lots of people want faith schools or have no objection to them if they 'work'. I don't particularly care for Dawkins atheism either so I can't win. I just want secular schools with people able to take their own children to any faith activity they like. I recognise that secularity is an approach of its own though.

[Falloffgirl]

You've never met some of our local Baptists! We have the full range from open and welcoming, you wouldn't know they were Christians if you didn't know; right to the fire and brimstone, non-drinking, original sin, gays are evil, you're all going to hell, types!

[Falloffgirl]

Oh, and to make it clear. This is a primary school they're going into.

[LyannaStarktheWolfMaid]

This would also boil my piss, I'd make a complaint. Proselytising children without their parents consent is massively out of order.

[MaisyPops]

To me, as long as everything is up front and opportunities would be extended to other groups of faith and none then I dont mind.

We have a few different denominations visit school. They are respectful and tolerant. I know one church is very evangelical but thry always say 'at our church we believe...' and don't present their views as fact.

People can choose what they want their childrrn to be involved in and by secondary our pupils decide.

If anything (& i say this as a christian), those sorts of things dont tend yo make a massive difference. People qho believe still believe, people who don't don't and people who are curoous can ask and make their own mind up either way.
If any religious input in school was an amazing conversion tool then churches would be full and we know thry aren't.

[picklemepopcorn]

This is from the site, and sounds like what will be coming to your school.

Project
A Project team, based at a local church, will empower students in the youth ministry. A typical schedule involves teaching lessons, running clubs, attending extracurricular activities and working with the church youth ministry.
Every apprentice will mentor a minimum of three students bi-weekly and form a bridge between the school and the church.
I think it is about training a new generation of young leaders. Lots of churches are starting to address the gap in provision for young adults. They are setting up young leaders training etc, and this sounds like their training for their young adults. It means churches get help with the youth work they all want to do, and young people get quality mentoring.

[17Willingham]

I’m a Christian and I believe in the Creation. I’ve read plenty on evolution and there are many scientists who do not accept It