We could tell you that we need your help and of course we do.
We could tell you that we will give you coffee, tea and cake, but that goes without saying - although we just did.
When all is said and done, we need you because we simply cannot do this without you.
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me. John 12:26
There are three main areas where we need help and we are certain there is one to suit your needs
THE (ink) WELL - Prayer & Ministry Team The world of a writer can be a rather lonely existence and being a Christian writer can be even more challenging. Most Christian writers are guided by how the Holy Spirit leads them, but doubt and imposter syndrome can distract and even cause a writer to give up. For this reason and many others, we aim to provide the right type of prayer and sensitive ministry time to all participating authors.
We also extend this servant's heart to all visitors to Book Blest. As Christian authors share their own personal stories, often about the struggles that they have faced, our own personal pains are often revealed. If and when that happens, we need to support however best we can and that starts with prayer and understanding. Could you listen to and pray with a person in need?
The prayer and ministry team are an essential ingredient and are needed not just during the festival. We need prayer all year round. As soon as the festival finishes, we are planning the next one. All-year prayer cover ensures we stay on track, listening to where God is leading us on this Book Blest journey. Much of what this team does is unseen, yet without it, the seen would not exist.
REFRESH - Hospitality Team It has been said that an army marches on its stomach and the Book Blest army is no exception. Coffee, tea, cakes and biscuits help to provide a relaxing atmosphere. If you can smile and serve refreshments, then this could be where you might want to help.
In addition, the Hospitality team are waiting on the door the meet and greet visitors and hand them a programme. If you serve on the welcome team at your church or any form of work that involves meeting the general public, this could be for you.
CONNECT - Outreach Team Any festival needs people to visit it. Without any visitors, morale is low. Every person that walks through the door brings joy. We can use various approaches for advertising, but at the end of the day, the best approach is an invite. The Connect team will be out on the streets of Stroud handing out flyers to all that they meet.
We also hope that this team will do the same for a few weekends before the festival. This will stir up more interest and ultimately more footfall for the festival.
If you are outgoing and enjoy connecting with people we would love to hear from you. A small reminder - this is working outdoors during October/November - it can be cold and wet but the REFRESH team will supply you with hot drinks and cake.