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All English Language teaching and mission training will take place in Kitts Green Evangelical Church on Kitts Green Road.
Glebe Farm is part of the Yardley and Hodge Hill electoral wards of Birmingham while Kitts Green is part of Shard End ward. For the most part this is a high density housing estate built by local authority funding in the 1930s-1950s, together with some newer developments. A number of homes are now privately owned.
Local amenities include local shops, a small branch library, a community centre, nursery schools, a couple of Parent and Toddler Groups and Day Centres. There is a swimming pool and leisure centre in nearby Stechford. There are some local grass areas and the waters of the River Cole are home to ducks, coots and other wildlife (including kingfishers!).
Kitts Green & Glebe Farm have many social problems. The social, personal and spiritual needs of young people are poorly resourced here. Young people often feel alienated, and turn to crime - in particular drugs, theft, vandalism and vehicle misuse. The River Cole area is sometimes misused by teenagers on stolen motorbikes, or by people dumping rubbish illegally. Litter, air guns and burnt-out cars are also a problem. For several generations, many parents have multiple partners or are left as single parent families. Older residents are now often bewildered and fearful.
Over several generations now, the Glebe has had a culture of implicit white dominant racism and there is a strong culture of occasional violence and oppression as a way of life. Several local families are involved in heavy crime and "control" the area. Firearms and knives are easily available. Drug dealing is widespread, even affecting children not yet in their teenage years.
There are limited educational resources in the area, although there are some good infant and junior schools on three local sites, and two large secondary comprehensives not far away. Educational attainment is generally below national average, and schools across much of East Birmingham have discipline and attendance problems.
There is much unemployment and limited local industry. The likelihood of youngsters finding employment with good prospects is poor. Some youths find employment in local property repair or scrap car firms, often with poor prospects and dubious ethics. Others temp or "moonlight". However, some young people avoid crime and do well.
Up until 1999, The Glebe Pub on Glebe Farm Road was notorious for violence and drug dealing. Following police action the pub was closed down and subsequently demolished. Now the site of the old pub contains 32 new two, three and four bedroom houses managed by a housing association. The developers provided £50,000 towards the refurbishment of the playground at the Glebe Farm Recreation Ground and are also considering funding a youth shelter in the park to keep local youngsters off the streets.
There have been specific prophesies about God breaking down the strongholds in the area, and also about tying up Birmingham's "big strong man". Walmir, a leader at Igreja em Joinville said: "When I was in Birmingham in 1995, one morning we were praying about the Glebe Farm area, and I had a vision :
Kingfisher College believes in working towards the fulfilment of this vision!
Very close to Kitts Green Evangelical Church is Glebe Farm Baptist Church (part of CVC) . The church, which opened in the 1950s, originally grew out of children's work. This group of Christians still meets together as a house church. Whilst at the premises on Farmcote Road, some links were made with the community - notably through Parent and Toddler Groups and children's work. A group of intercessors at Glebe Farm used to meet regularly to pray over the area.
Glebe Farm Baptist Church are seeking to re-use or sell the old church site with a view to redeveloping the site including the corner of land that currently contains dilapidated shops.
Another active and growing CVC church in this area is Kitts Green Evangelical Church, pastored by Stephen Williams, a director of Next Generation.
The Princes Trust has invested circa £3.5m in the area for a Youth Centre built right next door to Kitts Green Evangelical Church. This is clearly a focal point for the local church and an avenue that Kingfisher College student missionaries should seek to explore.
There are also opportunities with Youth for Christ - as Matt Spina is both leader of this organisation in Birmingham and young people's leader at Kitts Green.
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