Page 10 - link magazine

10 The Link Magazine • June 2005
Gulf War veteran appointed as West's
first church youth worker

A former RAF weapons technician with a taste for adventure has taken up a position as West Swindon's first
full-time church youth worker. Susan White meets Sergeant Dave Davison who has just departed RAF
For the best in Lyneham to start work at Freshbrook Evangelical Church on 1 June.
independent hearing care
As reported on page 8 of this Link, Dave and his wife, Chris, met as the week, but it's not about num-
• Impartial professional advice
the need for better youth services teenagers at church and have been bers. We are committed to long
• Leading hearing aid brands
in Swindon is greater than ever. involved in running several youth term work; we want to build up
• Budget priced, locally produced Freshbrook Church is rising to clubs, Sunday Schools and camps. young people so that if and when
digital aids the challenge. Since moving to West Swindon they move away they are well
• Free home visits "I am really excited about this with his family and joining grounded in their Christian faith."
• Specialised after-care programme job," said Dave, 40. "We want to Freshbrook Church 11 years ago, Dave's 22 year RAF career saw
reach out to the young people of Dave has been a leader of Swindon him travel to many areas of con-
David W Toms R.H.A.D.
Independent Hearing Aid Audiologist West Swindon and find out what Youth for Christ, a charitable trust flict, including the Falklands and
motivates them. Kids are much that runs activities across the town, Sarejevo, working on Phantoms,
Tel: 01793 574604 more aware of the issues in the including the Rock Solid and Chris- Tornados, F15, F16s and of course
world; we want to be a living Bible tian Zone clubs at Greendown the Hercules based at Lyneham.
and show them God's love. School. He relishes a challenge and
Q COUNSELLOR amazed his commanding officer
BACP Registered by actually volunteering to serve
in the Gulf War.
Z "My wife was horrified," admits
CONFIDENTIAL
& PROFESSIONAL Dave. "But I figured my engineer-
ing skills had never really been
J COUNSELLING tested in war."
Action Man Dave's liking for
W Stressed, adventure led to a close brush with
Anxious,
I
II Depressed? death when a mortar round landed
Life Out of Balance'? near his tent whilst on tour in Af-
ghanistan. "I felt the shock wave
Z
Free initial consultation and could smell the bomb. When I
was in Germany it was at the height
D
Charles Miller of IRA terrorism - there were several
0O 01793 554750 bombings and murders nearby. By
[email protected] God's grace I came back."
Dave considers that learning to
respond calmly in crisis situations
has prepared him for working with
Free new patient young people who can be 'unpre-
dictable and demand straight an-
consultation * Applying his told Its to a new challenge. Dave Davison swers.' Although his job was excit-
with youngsters who attend Freshbrook Church ing, Dave is keen not to draw at-
Free Chirocheck
The war veteran plans to make Freshbrook Church minister Rev tention to himself. "I want the kids
always available links with the community through David Earnshaw explained why to find out that it's God who is
schools, social services and the Dave is the ideal choice for the job. really 'cool'."
IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM:
police. "We are here to work with "He is already part of the church Freshbrook Church runs clubs
0 Backache, Leg pain different organisations who have and so doesn't have to spend time and activities throughout the year
O Neck, Shoulder, contact with young people so that getting to know us. He also brings for youngsters from 5 to 18, in-
Arm Pain they get the right kind of support," his experience of life as a family cluding a week-long summer holi-
explained Dave, who will also be man and his work in the RAF. day club.
O Headache studying for the National Certifi- "About 150 young people al- To find out more, contact Dave
& Migraine
cate in Christian Youth Work." ready come to the church during at the church office on 873050.
O Sciatica He's no stranger to some of the
O Sports Injury problems faced by many young-
sters nowadays. His own parents Plan a break from holiday boredom
O Arthritis
divorced when he was ten. Greendown School is again running 'The Great Escape' summer
O Whiplash He also knows how unattractive holiday sports sessions
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER church can appear. That all On offer are two weeks of sport skills to a higher level.
CONSULTING A CHIROPRACTOR changed when a friend invited him which include football, netball, The age range covers 9 to 13
to a church-run summer camp. "I
Shaw Chiropractic had the time of my life. There were hockey, tennis, badminton, volley- years old (school years 5 to 8) and
ball, gymnastics, rounders, cricket,
the cost is £55 a week and payment
Clinic great outdoor games, music and athletics, dance, Danish long ball, by instalment can be arranged.
interesting talks. I realised that tug of war and orienteering. The Great Escape takes place
being a Christian was not about a
SANDRA E. DAVIES D.C. Organised by qualified PE teach- from 25 to 29 July and 1 to 5 Au-
'suit on Sunday' but an exciting
CLARE DUNCAN-HAWES MSc. D.C. ers and leaders, children of any gust, 9.30am to 3pm.
personal relationship with God."
Tel: (01793) 887801 Dave's desire ever since has been ability have the opportunity to For a registration form call
to provide activities that young learn a new sports or develop their Greendown School on 874224.
Members of BCA • Registered with GCC
Members of the College of Chiropractors people enjoy while making Chris-
tianity relevant to them. "The good
*Presentation of this advert will entitle you Menopause support
to a free new patient consultation which will news of the Bible hasn't changed
include orthopaedic and neurological testing but the language and culture have, Women who are either starting or already experiencing the effects of the
together with a confidential report of findings. menopause will meet in a relaxed informal environment on Wednesday
so we have to change the way we
(Treatment will incur a fee. 15 June, 7.30pm at Freshbrook Church, Worsley Road. Refreshment is
Offer excludes insurance claims) deliver the message."
provided. For details call 771487.