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Newday 2009

Newday
With around 7000 people camping at Norfolk Showground in Norwich for Newday (an annual youth event run by Newfrontiers), my team and I were responsible for over 100 of the young people from ignite, our church youth group.

It’s a privilege to lead a growing and diverse youth group with such a fantastic team of leaders who continue to show their commitment towards our vision to see young people learning to know and love God.

This was my fourth year at the event and I wasn’t disappointed. The Newday team are clearly doing their bit to envision a generation of world changers by exposing them to biblical truth and God’s heart for the world.

But in addition to the Bible teaching and seminars, teenagers were given so much more to do during the week including sporting tournaments, creative arts workshops, live gigs and opportunity to get involved in social action projects in the city.

Youth Participation
Our youth group did us particularly proud this year by winning both the 11-14s and 15-18s football tournaments. As a church we were also runners up in the touch rugby competition and winners of the dodge ball tournament. Unfortunately the leaders were knocked out in the quarter finals of the football tournament ~ but I’ll say no more about that!

It was also great to see many from our youth group involved in the social action projects in the city. They returned on site thrilled with having played their part in impacting lives in very practical ways, including fence painting and clearing gardens.

Media
Residents of Norwich observed swarms of young people descending onto their streets to demonstrate the love of God through volunteering. In light of the negative press young people ordinarily receive, this in my view can only be a good thing.

Such was the interest in what young people were doing that BBC Norfolk covered the events. (Click here for more details)

Meeting with God
The meetings saw thousands of teenagers worshiping God and engaging with what the preaching team (including Joel Virgo, Stef Liston, Mike Pilavachi and Stu Gibbs) brought from the platform.

Maybe it’s an indication of my fast accumulating age that I’m not one for hype, but it was clear that many young people encountered God.

On one particular evening when time was given to invite the Holy Spirit to impart spiritual gifts to those who wanted to receive from him, there was a real sense of God in the marquee and many were filled.

It was exciting to witness what one person described as ‘another Pentecost.’

An Emerging Generation
It’s remarkable in this age to see a generation emerging that will certainly influence the world for good.

God is doing something amazing and it’s important that we encourage these young soldiers to keep the flame burning whilst supporting them as they reach towards their destinies in Christ and impact a world void of hope.

Doubt; no ifs or maybes?

How awful a thought. That I would question my devotion, love and sincerity to the very One who has set me free.

But it’s true. I go through seasons when I do, and it hurts!

Although my bias is to place needless pressure on myself to have answers for such questions, I’m leaning towards accepting that I won’t always find them. What’s strange is that while in my mind I know and believe that God is the boss, the reality is that I still live with doubt ~ much doubt.

But how can this be? How can I say that I trust God and yet I find myself wrestling scepticism?

I don’t have the answer.

The challenge is to find liberation that results from knowing that it’s okay to live with the tension of uncertainty, and to discern that this same tension can be the catalyst that drives me to my knees in desperation of my God.

Questions of what the future holds, what direction to take, what my purpose in life is, and how to get there, can be debilitating. As such, growing conscious of their grip and being reminded of the soveriengty of God is imperative to my sanity.

I must determine that if doubt equates to a questioning of my devotion, love and sincerity to Christ, and living with a vagueness of the plans God has for me, then doubt I must learn to live with. If becoming acquainted with ifs and maybes in life is part of the journey towards destiny, then so be it.

I’ll grow familiar with doubt.

Youth Volunteers Inspired by Faith

In a recent report the Evangelical Alliance has found that young people contribute up to £300 million a year to the British economy, which is probably more than the general public would ever assume.

The Young People Matter report showed that almost half of the 700 young people (aged 14-18 years old) surveyed volunteered at least once a month, and that 8 out of 10 regularly gave money to charity.

One of the key findings was that young people who are Christians are more likely to volunteer than others. Considering serving is a fundamental value of the Christian faith, this is encouraging. We know that Jesus himself, didn't come into the world to be served, but to serve ~ Matthew 20:28.

In my view, there needs to be more positive news coverage of young people, as this will inspire those leaning towards destructive behaviour and go some way towards normalising positive behaviour in the next generation.

Click here for BBC article.

Team Day in Cudham

Walking in Cudham

It was lovely today.

As a team we went for a walk in Cudham. Getting out in open fields and strolling through forests always works for me, as when surrounded by creation, I get a real sense of God.

I wonder whether a home in the country is for me...

Enjoying a huge meal after our walk in the local village pub (the Blacksmith's Arms) was always going to be a big hit!

After the meal I rolled back to the playing field where a few of us finished the afternoon with a quick game of cricket.

Looking forward to the next one.

A good day!