'Thank you Jesus for the chance to share in our schools these past 40 years'
Wayne Dixon reflects on an 'interesting, exciting, challenging and very memorable journey' making Christian connections in schools
This June marked my 40th year of visiting schools in Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead. Thank you Jesus!
It was on Thursday 12 June 1986 that I was invited by a pupil for an assembly at Upton Grammar School (now called Upton Court Grammar). Heather wanted to start a Christian group at her school; requested permission from the then headteacher and so began my journey.
Following this initial assembly, I was invited back and then two other schools got in touch with visits at Windsor Girls’ and Langley Grammar. Then two years later, Thursday 1 September 1988, I started as a Scripture Union Local Schools’ Worker.
It’s been an interesting, exciting, challenging and very memorable journey. Today I want to take this opportunity to say a HUGE ‘Thank You’ to EVERYONE who has made this happen. Family, countless individuals, local churches, Scripture Union, Christian Connections in Schools (CCiS), and every school that has kindly invited me in; made me very welcome and allowed me to contribute to their school.
“Making Jesus Known to children, young people AND staff in the schools of Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead” has always been what it is about. Interesting because of countless conversations with many staff and pupils in schools at events like music concerts, school productions, sports days, school proms….district sports….inter schools soccer sevens…prize giving / speech days…dance shows etc….
Recently, I was sent this short clip from Instagram which REALLY encouraged me. The speaker highlighted the long term impact of ministry among children.
From time to time former pupils say ‘hi’ and I always find this very moving. This could be in a variety of locations like the High Street, Supermarket, McDonalds, Kwik Fit, the various leisure centres, (Windsor, Magnet, Braywick, Montem) Swanage beach, Wexham Park Hospital (a few years ago I had my tonsils taken out. One of the staff was a former Windsor Girls’ pupil said ‘hello’. That was so helpful as I find hospitals so hard! We chatted and next minute I was out.)
Usually we have a chat and I play ‘Guess the Headteacher’, when they mention the school they were at and what year. Then there are usually mentions of Christmas and Easter presentations, Arsenal,
Zach Rap etc. This is just so ENCOURAGING when a former pupil (staff member) stops to have a chat. I’m deeply moved.
Thank you Jesus for the chance to share something in our schools these past 40 years. Some of these former pupils are now teachers in their 20s…30s…40s and and even 50s.
This happened on Bank Holiday Monday just a couple of weeks ago. I was in Tesco and someone said ‘Hi’. He was a former pupil at Langley Grammar and had seen Zach Rap on YouTube (I’ve been doing the rap for 34 years now). Currently he is working as a quantity surveyor. I mentioned I still visit Langley Grammar and then he said he was involved in the work of the new buildings there.
I was at Spring Harvest Minehead a few weeks ago and a guy came up to me to say ‘hi’. He was a teenager at a Scripture Union Sports Holiday I was on team many years ago. Now here he was outside our youth venue (REDS) with his teenagers! It was at Spring Harvest 1983 which was then held at Prestatyn that had a massive impact on my life which led to me starting on this journey. So Spring Harvest played a huge part in my own story.
One of my favourite Bible verses is: Philippians 1:6 “
…being confident of this that, He who began a good work in you WILL carry it onto completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Take care; God bless and I hope that you will have a good day and weekend. ‘Thank You’ for YOUR key part in making this happen and may God continue to lead, guide and use you as you love and serve Him where He has placed you!
Here’s the Zach Rap and again just before half-term I was in Woodlands Park and one of the authors of the rap (Katie) was in class - that was interesting! Zach Rap was first done in June 1991.
Wayne Dixon, Christian Connections in Schools (CCiS), Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead. Wayne is a member at Slough Baptist Church
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Baptist Times, 30/06/2025