Detectives on a mission: children at the Baptist Assembly
Children were invited to step into the role of "Lost and Found Detectives" to explore the mission of Jesus at the Baptist Assembly
Led by Hannah Field and a team from the children’s and youthwork project Echo, the sessions invited the primary school-aged children to go on a quest together to explore what God’s mission means for our lives.
This involved digging deep into the parables of Luke 15: through arts, crafts, and interactive games, the group looked at the stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
To align with the broader Assembly theme of being "united in mission," the team also introduced the framework of "Gather, Grow, and Go." Drawing on Luke 10, the focus of Assembly’s Sunday morning sermon, they explored how gathering for worship, growing in God’s Word, and being sent out to put faith into action forms an ongoing cycle of discipleship.
The children responded well, engaging enthusiastically, comfortable in sharing their own reflections. For Hannah, who is based at Didcot Baptist Church, the most rewarding aspect was the collaborative nature of the sessions.
‘We didn't want this to be just us as leaders imparting knowledge,’ she said. ‘We wanted to model co-discipleship. It was a genuine conversation where we learned from them just as much as they learned from us.
‘That acknowledgement that we are all disciples, we are all learners, and we can be disciples together is something we're really keen to model. We can learn so much from the youngsters, and they so often have an amazing insight.'
She noted too how the children were eager to encourage one another in their faith, despite the age range being from reception to Year 6.
‘No one knew each other beforehand, but they really clicked and got on very well – so much so, they were wanting it to continue into the Sunday afternoon – after the Assembly had finished!’
‘The numbers allowed for much more in-depth conversations and genuine connection,’ Hannah added. ‘It meant we could really get alongside each youngster, helping them with the activities and chatting about what faith looks like in their daily lives.
‘It was really energising —the time flew by. They were a real blessing to spend time with.’
Looking ahead, Hannah and the ECHO team are keen to see children being further integrated into the life of the wider Baptist family.
‘We have a strong desire to see more opportunities for the wider conference to hear from these youngsters,’ Hannah said. ‘They are an essential part of the body of Christ, and we believe they have so much to offer the broader Assembly and the Baptist family as a whole.’
Image | ECHO EXPLORERS is an initiative of ECHO, and an opportunity for primary school youngsters to get active, have fun, and explore life and faith. In the summer they'll be engaging with the 'Lost & Found Detectives' programme first used at the Baptist Assembly.
ECHO, provided by the Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust, is a partnership of local churches, including Didcot Baptist Church, passionate about bringing young people together, to discover, and share, life in all its fullness.
22/05/2026