I've been working with schools in the Dacorum area for over 35 years. I'm passionate about telling people about Jesus and how much he loves them.
Hello, I'm Andrew Masters
27 Schools, 5400 children
hearing about Jesus
Discovery started in 1988 with a clear vision to bring the gospel to local schools through assemblies, lessons and giving Bibles.
Each year, we present Children's Bibles to Year 3 students, and Good News Bibles to Year 6 as they prepare for Secondary School. Over 41,000 bibles have been given by Discovery since 2005.
School Assemblies & Lessons
One of the driving thoughts behind the founding of Discovery was: where can you get the whole of the next generation in one place at one time and tell them the Good News of Jesus? The place is the local school!
Discovery is now working in 27 schools in and around Hemel Hempstead through assemblies and lessons. Whether it's an assembly or lesson, each session is planned with the children and their school year in mind - in a way that is fun, engaging, and easy to understand. The children love to take part.
At each assembly we tell Bible stories and sing the song 'God loved the world so much' based on the verse John 3.16. The full verse says 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, so that all who believe in Him may not perish, but have eternal life.' This verse is why we do the work we do. The song has been sung in local schools for the last 25 years and many of the children who are now grown up and have families of their own tell me that they remember me leading this song. I've heard stories of people singing this song to themselves at work or at the hairdressers, and suddenly those around them start joining in. Only in Hemel Hempstead!
It's amazing how songs in assemblies can leave such an impact. James B Partridge is proof of that with his viral 'Primary School Assembly Bangers.' Imagine it, a crowd of thousands singing 'Give me oil in my lamp' at Glastonbury. Do you think they know 'God loved the world so much?'
In lessons we share the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and why He came. Christmas and Easter are great opportunities to share with schools.
In lockdown, Discovery was still able to provide Christian resources and content for schools via YouTube.
Bibles for Children
Discovery has presented Bibles every year since 2005 to the children in Year 3 and Year 6 of Hemel Hempstead. We've counted that a staggering amount, over 40,000, bibles have been given since we started. When you think about parts of the world where it's illegal to be Christian or to even own a Bible, we take for granted how accessible the Bible is in the UK. Every person has the freedom to believe in Jesus or to not believe.
The Bible presentations are the icing on the cake of the work we do, as the children are able to read the Bible stories for themselves. One headteacher commented, "You must be doing something right, parents come in and say their children are reading their Bibles.”
Financial Support for Bibles
Each year Discovery, in partnership with local churches, presents about 1,600
Bibles. This is in association with 'Bibles for Children' who supply all the Bibles at cost price and administer the deliveries and finance for the Bibles. Local Churches and individuals finance the Bibles.
If you wish to support the funding of the Bibles separate from supporting Discovery please contact Andrew Masters.
How you can support Discovery
Become a Prayer Partner
Discovery would not be here without the faithful prayer of our supporters. What is our faith without prayer?
Please join us in praying for the work of Discovery. Sign up to our emails to receive prayer updates.
Become a Volunteer
Discovery works with churches to encourage and facilitate people from the local church to get involved with their local schools in a variety of ways: listening to reading, being a School Governor, supporting Bible presentation lessons,
supporting Discovery assemblies, baking cakes to bless the school staff.
All volunteers represent their own church and will need a DBS check through their church.
Become a Financial Partner
Your regular gift can help Discovery continue to be a Christian presence in local schools and continue to give out Bibles.
To setup a regular gift by Standing Order and to add Gift Aid to your donations, please download, complete and return the Giving Form below.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding and the safety of children is essential to the work of Discovery.
If you need to talk to someone or to report a concern, there are independent organisations you can contact.
- Thirtyone:Eight helpline: 0303 003 1111
- Safe Spaces helpline: 0300 303 1056
In an emergency, especially if someone is in immediate danger of harm, you should always call 999 straight away and ask for the police.
Other Helplines:
- Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours)
- Parent Line: 0808 800 2222
- National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247
(lines free and open 24 hours) - Samaritans Helpline: 116 123 (open 24 hours)
- Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 080 8808 8141
(freephone Monday to Friday 9am-5pm)
Subscribe
Sign up to our Discovery emails, to receive updates on our work and how you can support and pray for us, as well as the school. These reports are usually sent once every half-term.
You can unsubscribe from our emails at any time.
Encouraging comments
“Did you see the excitement of the children when they saw it was you here for assembly?!”
Headteacher
“Thank you for the assembly, they were so engaged and really enjoyed it!”
Teacher
“I love reading my Bible.”
Student
“Your song goes beyond this school. My friend’s niece who came from abroad has learnt it from friends in secondary school.”
School Staff