Spring / Summer 2012
London’s Calling
Josh Rotherham
YFC’s response to the London 2012 Games
A Real Hero awarded
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2. A Lasting Legacy for Newham Youth Love E7 Mission 3. Brazilian Creative Arts Group 4. yfc one’s Katie Woods on disability and God 5. A New Season for Fort Rocky 6. Facing a Future with no RE 7. Studio D’s Positive Message 8. Join the Race
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SEIZE THE DAY!
2012 is going to be remembered for many reasons – including the Queen’s 60th Jubilee and London hosting the Summer Olympic Games. The eyes of the world are going to be on Britain this year, so let’s get ready.
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At a time when many people are finding life hard, it’s always worth lifting our spirits and celebrating good things. We have the best news in the world, which does not change with circumstances, so let’s get together in our families, churches and communities across Britain and work out what we are going to do to reach out to people with the life-transforming news that Jesus brings. There are so many things we can do, and plenty of people and resources to help us take
the initiative and get things going as you will read inside. The Torch relay for example, will be a great opportunity to get out on the streets and give out free drinks and food or provide an area where people can sit down and have a break. If you aren’t already doing so, why not organise specific times of prayer for your area and talk to other churches so you can combine resources and share vision? Great excitement
At Youth for Christ, we are running lots of exciting events, alongside other organisations and churches throughout Britain and helping to produce resources for people to use during the Olympic Games. We are working closely with More Than Gold who enable churches in Britain to engage with the 2012 Games and are organising regional ‘Get Set’ training days for people to see the range of activities that can be achieved this year.
Our DNA is working with young people – we love them – so our local Centres around Britain are setting up events this summer that are as varied as their ongoing youth work. We are also organising two youth missions in London (pages 2 and 3). The YFC Centre Directors in those areas have
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We are praying for transformation, in the lives of young people as they come face to face with Jesus
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met with churches and youth leaders and are ready to receive international and national teams of young people who will work alongside local young people in drop-in cafés , children’s clubs, sports activities and tournaments plus big screen events and practical
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works of service provided by local councils. As our plans come together we pray that God will use us by His Spirit, as His church moves out from the buildings and onto the streets of Britain. We are praying for transformation, in the lives of young people as they come face to face with Jesus in their communities and also in the lives of those taking part in mission, whether they are British or have travelled half way across the world to join us in this significant year.
If you need information on bringing a team to help with the London youth missions, please contact Judy Lloyd on judy.lloyd@yfc.co.uk and visit our website www.yfc.co.uk/olympicoutreach for other ways to help . If you would like to attend a More Than Gold training day or use some of their excellent resources, visit www.morethangold.org
Welcome! Welcome to this edition of Youth for Christ’s newspaper. As you read about our plans for the summer, lives that have been changed through our work and our many exciting local initiatives, I hope you are blessed and encouraged by what God is doing. Young people have so much potential and need others to believe in and support them. Some of the ways we are doing this include schemes to help young people back into employment, drama groups counteracting negative stereotypes and awards honouring young heroes who are helping their community. As a ministry though we long to not only see young people grow and develop but for them to meet Jesus Christ and find real, full and eternal significance as they come to Him. That’s why in this special Olympic year, we are running varied, relevant evangelistic missions all across Britain. As people take the Gospel to others on the streets, at events, in churches, in youth clubs and in schools please pray that the Lord of the harvest will give us much fruit. Every blessing, Gavin Calver YFC National Director P.S. For more information about our work go to www.yfc.co.uk Youth for Christ Coombswood Way, Halesowen West Midlands B62 8BH Tel: 0121 502 9620 Fax: 0121 561 4035 Email: yfc@yfc.co.uk Web: www.yfc.co.uk You can follow us on Twitter: @Youth4Christ Facebook: www.facebook.com/BritishYFC YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ YOUTHF0RCHRIST National Director: Gavin Calver Charity No: 263446 A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no: 00988200 Scottish charity no: SC039297
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Reaching Britain’s youth locally…
Newham youth get lasting Olympic legacy and Love E7 Mission
At this special time, our diverse local ministries are responding to the Olympic Games in a wide variety of ways; each meeting the needs of it’s community while reaching out to young people through sport during the 2012 games. Our 72 Centres are the backbone of our movement, dotted the length and breadth of Britain working with and meeting young people where they are. Here is just a taste of the amazing things going on locally this summer… Heartland YFC are heading up a steering group of around 10 churches planning to run an Olympic café in the local shopping area called Run the Race café. Showing the Olympics on big screens, offering free drinks and cakes, running kids crafts and activities, sports events, prayer corners, hot potato events and more, it will run for the two weeks of the Olympics. Street360 are going to be running a 12 week Olympic course, providing the coaching for a charity working with young people with additional needs. So therefore the team will be focusing on the upcoming Paralympics too, although the course will be running from April to July. AVYFC are doing lots in Aylesbury Vale together with More Than Gold. The Centre are actually running an official LOCOG live festival/funday for Buckingham on the 1st Sept because they are building on AVYFC’s existing event. Touring around about 40 youth groups in Buckinghamshire, the team will be organising a competition on the Nintendo Wii and also with the sports cage. Using the Scripture Union, ‘The Games’ resource, Wirral YFC, working alongside a local sports ministry, are looking to encourage local churches to put together a small team of volunteers to go into their local school for a day where the children will learn about the Olympics but also about being part of Jesus’ team. Working in partnership with the local church and other ministries it is hoped this will be a step towards a long-lasting and sustainable presence in local Primary Schools. Quinton YFC are working in partnership with the local churches and youth work providers to put on 2 weeks’ worth of Olympic themed activities from a bike rally course round the area to big screens set up to watch the games in community. We’re excited by the opportunity to get creative in mission. As a sports ministry Nomad excel in relevantly engaging young people with the Good News. Sport breaks down barriers, crosses cultural divides and brings together individuals and communities in a way that little else can. Cage football brings with it excitement, challenge and the opportunity to share faith. As Olympic fever grips the nation this year, the pioneering ministry of Nomad stands poised at the forefront of sports ministry to meet young people where they are, in schools, youth clubs, sports pitches, youth cafés and on the streets. To find out about more about these Centre projects and your nearest YFC Centre visit www.yfc.co.uk/centres
Launching a brand new local Centre is always a special moment as a new YFC ministry is birthed but the opening of Newham YFC recently in East London was especially exciting. Newham has Britain’s highest youth population and is one of the 20 most deprived communities in England and Wales but this summer Newham will be home to both the Olympic Stadium and Olympic Village. YFC’s latest local ministry is perfectly placed to impact many young lives during the Games through its Love E7 Mission and beyond; leaving a lasting legacy of Christ-centred, quality youth work in the area. Right from the start, God’s hand was clearly on the development of the Centre. In only 6 months the team went from the initial interest meeting to the official Newham YFC launch, which took place at Woodgrange Baptist Church; the site of the Centre’s offices and a partner church of the project. Richard Shaw; Scripture Union Team Leader for the South East and Chair of Newham YFC’s trustees, hosted what was a truly inspiring
evening. Over a hundred attendees saw YFC National Director Gavin Calver commission the Centre and speak on the importance of Micah 6:8, urging the Centre to love mercy, act justly and walk humbly with God. Newham Director Jimmy Dale also outlined his vision to see every local church equipped to grow their youth work and extend their reach amongst the young people of Newham. At such a decisive moment for the area and its continued development, Stephen Timms, Labour MP for East Ham, was“delighted” to join the team for the launch event and share his excitement at the potential of the new YFC Centre. Mr Timms commended the many Christians in Newham who are passionate about their local community before adding, “It is my hope that, through the work of Newham YFC, more and more of the borough’s young people will have their values formed and shaped by the churches’ words, work and worship.” Jimmy and the team are liaising with local churches
and working with other organisations such as More Than Gold in order to set up projects which will not only reach out to the community during the Olympics but also result in new growth lasting well into the future. ‘Love E7’ is an exciting youth mission Newham are running from 24th July to 3rd August which aims to give young people a lifechanging taste of selfless service, equip the Church to extend its welcome and witness to the local community and bless the area with an outpouring of kindness, opening eyes to the goodness of God. Around 130 young people from international, national and local teams will work side by side with the churches on projects ranging from childrens’ clubs to youth drop-in centres, sports activities to Big Screen events and community projects supplied by the local council. Teams will be sleeping on church floors, connecting through training and worship times and going out on a daily basis to meet local children and young people. In an expectant borough hosting the 2012 Olympic games we are thrilled to have launched this pioneering and dynamic YFC Centre who will share the Good News relevantly right at the heart of the action and help young people win the prize of eternal value both during the Games and beyond. Why not come and be a part of ‘Love E7’ this summer? www.lovee7.org
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London’s Calling: Greenwich, the Olympics and New Premises…
As one of the 4 host boroughs of the Olympics, 2012 is a big year for Greenwich. For more than two years, Greenwich Youth For Christ have been meeting with church leaders from across the borough to develop the church’s response to the Olympics and Paralympics. Ideas and plans include a sanctuary space at St Alfrege’s, a sports quiz at Charlton Athletic, a lent devotional programme and hosting international mission teams. Greenwich YFC have more than 20 churches involved, with the Greenwich Borough Deans inviting the Centre to co-ordinate the youth section of their outreach work this summer. Hugh Ridsdill-Smith the Director of Greenwich YFC, has been working with Jimmy Dale and Judy Lloyd, to provide mission opportunities to engage with local young people. This will enable the churches to expand their existing programmes or start new ones and create plenty to build on for the future “We are working with 3 clusters of churches who are going to have a team of overseas volunteers helping them this summer”, Hugh explains. “It’s great to have volunteers coming from around the world. They’ll be helping run drop in clubs and youth cafés plus other community work which will impact the area long term. We are especially pleased to have a broad mix of church denominations working together. There’s a strong sense of shared mission and a determination to give to the local communities.”
The Gold Standard Barry Mason on Olympic Resources More Than Gold is the Christian Community’s joint strategic response to the London 2012 Games, and Youth for Christ have had the privilege of being involved from the start. In my role as Sports Advisor for YFC, I’ve been part of the Sports Ministries UK network for the last 8 years and am delighted to see so many sports ministries organisations working together as part of a bigger Christian response to the mission opportunities presented by the Olympic Games. My role, within the bigger picture, has been specifically to focus on how the church can use sport to connect with young people in and out of school settings. I am very excited to present 3 of the options we are keen to see delivered through YFC Centres and local churches. Decathlon is a set of 10 session plans to introduce young people, particularly those outside of church settings to the
Good News of the Gospel message through sports activities in various settings such as school assemblies, RE/PSHE lessons, holiday clubs or other youth groups. Through physical activity and Bible teaching young people are able to relate Christian messages to an Olympic and Paralympic event and furthermore to their own lives. www.yfc.co.uk/shop
The Games is a one day in-school activity day, which uses sport and competition in a way that enables young people to hear the Christian message. Aimed predominantly at Key stage 2, this resource turns a school day into an opportunity to experience global competition whilst enjoying the challenge of playing sport, being creative, learning with your own classmates and understanding Bible studies in a relevant manner. www.scriptureunion.org.uk
For those of you who have seen the church excel in relating to young people in drop-in cafés, then Café 2012 will inspire and encourage you to know that this is a model you can adopt yourself. This free downloadable pack is a ‘how to’ guide for the initiation, set-up and delivery of a youth drop in café to be promoted with Olympic themes. Imagine a café culture where young people can come and watch 6, 10 or even 24 screens showing various aspects of the Games, compete with other local or national cafés on Wii and X-box Olympic console games; for the local church to be able to connect with young people of the area; and for community to gather as they watch highlights of the world’s most viewed phenomenon. www.cafe2012.info All of these resources are created as a feature of a longer-term strategy to connect with and engage young people through local church. When the Games are all finished, the hype has died down and More Than Gold has played its part, it will be the local church and those committed to mission to young people who will be left to keep the discipleship process going and keep up the momentum throughout 2013.
Space for Diversity
Greenwich YFC are also looking forward to the launch of a new Youth and Community Centre called “One Space” in June. Working closely with, and supported by, Greenwich Council and the developers Berkeley Homes, it will be run by the charity Kidbrooke Focus who Greenwich YFC are a major partner of. OneSpace will meet the needs of a diverse and changing community as the old Ferrier estate makes way for the new Kidbrooke Village development, which includes 4,500 new homes. With the Olympics on the horizon, OneSpace is intended as an imaginative and creative space where local projects can gather in one purpose designed venue with both indoor and outdoor facilities. It will be a vibrant and welcoming facility serving the local community with a particular focus on children, young people and their families. Hugh says “being involved in one of the most ambitious regeneration schemes in London is one of the riskiest ventures GYFC has ever been involved with but along with others will enable us to bring together our projects in one purpose built space, with fabulous facilities. We are privileged to be working in such creative partnerships locally and are standing at a very exciting yet challenging point in our work right now.” For more visit www.greenwichyfc.org.uk
Brazilian creative arts group comes to Britain One of the international teams coming to Britain to do mission this summer are the Kumabiá, a Brazilian evangelistic creative arts group. The group use dance, theatre and sports to take the Gospel to the streets and in over 18 years they have visited many countries around the world including China, Australia, and America. The Olympics in London present a unique and unmissable opportunity for the team as DJ Junior, the team’s leader, is only too keen to acknowledge. “I’m looking forward to the Olympics” he enthuses, “In addition to being a momentous sporting event, the Olympic Games provide a great way to share the Gospel with young people which is what really excites us!” For DJ it is seeing lives changed as people surrender to the love of Christ that motivates them to action. “Sport has been a brilliant tool for spreading the Gospel in our own country and continues to be throughout the world so we can’t wait to be part of what God is doing in Britain this summer.” Since August 2011, the team have been working tirelessly to raise the funds to enable them to come. “We have the support of our church back home who are contributing towards the project and praying for us”, says DJ full of thanks. With teams like the Kumabiá; full of energy, creativity and passion to reach young people converging on London during the summer who knows how many lives will be transformed as people encounter the Gospel through creative arts and sport?
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“God got me through” Katie Woods from Ipswich is a quirky, funny and bubbly 21 year old who loves to laugh, spend time with friends and encourage others. Having faced difficulties in her life which most would shrink from in despair, she has chosen instead to step out in faith and do a year out with YFC on the yfc one programme. Tim Adams caught up with her recently to discuss life, trusting God and the significance of purpose.
“Since birth I’ve had a lot of health problems” Katie explains as she sips hot chocolate in a coffee shop in the centre of Cambridge on a cold, wet winter’s afternoon. The shop is heaving and due to the amount of people inside and numerous hot coffees they are gladly drinking, it’s aglow with warmth. Born with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, Katie describes how her feet were turned in and upside down before an operation at three weeks old enabled her to walk normally as she grew. Then, when only 14, she suffered a stroke which paralysed her down her right side and within a year another left her numb from her arms to her waist, causing her to be admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital. “To go through so much trauma and medical treatment in your teenage years must have been difficult”, I suggest sympathetically. She nods, “It was hard as I wasn’t able to do the things that normal people can. At high school I was bullied a lot because I had to have a wheel chair following the first stroke. I found it all very difficult to deal with but it was two other school pupils that rescued me from that really.” Gazing upwards she recalls how, “At a very dark time in my life, I started to hang around with two girls who were Christians and we soon became close
friends. When they invited me to their youth group and then young people’s Bible study, I heard the Gospel for the first time and surrendered my life to Christ.” Though Katie has had periods of relative stability, her health has continued to be an issue and in 2009 she had to have an emergency operation after falling seriously ill again. What difference, I wonder, has being a Christian made? “Things changed because I realised God has a plan for my life so no matter what comes my way, God will get me through. Before I knew God, I worried a lot more and lived in fear of death all the time”, Katie says openly. “But aren’t the bad days still unbearable now?” I ask. She smiles knowingly, “A lot of people ask how I cope but it gives me a chance to glorify God as He is the one who brings me through – none of
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I soon found myself getting more and more attached to the young people and as my passion for them grew I was struck by the seriousness of their need to hear the Good News
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it is down to me. It’s all by His grace. I’ve had times when things have felt impossible to deal with and I’ve wondered why I‘m here but God’s just reached down, pulled me up and showed me all the people who love me, no matter how I look or who I am.” Impressed by such deep trust in God, I ask Katie how she would respond to those who say faith is a crutch for weak-minded people? With
honesty and refreshing candour she replies, “After becoming a Christian my life felt harder not easier actually, because I thought ‘how am I to live this life?’ I am so grateful for my family and friends who have supported me but Jesus asks me to follow Him in the good times and the bad. He never says this life is going to be easy. I didn’t come to Him to feel better or have a nice life, but because I realised I was a sinner that needed forgiveness. After saving me and making me clean, I know I can trust Him to bring me through the hard times.” Remarkably despite the difficulties she’s faced, Katie is a young woman driven to help others. She briefly studied to be a pediatric nurse following school but God had other plans. “Growing up in my youth group I went from being a young person to being a youth leader”, she declares, “but I never thought that I would be a youth worker.” Curious, I interrupt to ask why not? “I thought it was good for a Friday or Tuesday night but I didn’t know that I was called to it at the time”, she says openly. “But I soon found myself getting more and more attached to the young people and as my passion for them grew I was struck by the seriousness of their need to hear the Good News.” Katie now works with Christian Unions in Cambridge Secondary Schools and helps lead the young people at her placement church in Histon. “I believe that everyone has a purpose, that God has a plan for all of us, so I aim to help young people realise that by knowing God and knowing His Word.” She describes Cambridge as “a great place to be“ and while she’s found the young people to be more intellectually minded than back home, they are just as open to the Gospel. “When we have discussions those who are academically gifted still ask the big questions that all others do”, she declares.
A New Stance 2012 sees the launch of a ground-breaking new outreach team called ‘Stance’. This touring team will use the medium of street dance to reach young people throughout Britain with the Good News. Through street dance workshops, classes, performances and lessons, the team will engage with young people, present the Gospel and provide opportunities for young people to respond. The team will be made up of 4 volunteers and a team leader and will debut in September. Their ministry will take them all over Britain, reaching young people in schools, church youth groups, local YFC Centres and evangelistic events. The street dance team will complement YFC’s existing missions portfolio, including Nomad (the cage football project) and rapper Guvna B. Nathan Iles, YFC’s Mission Teams Manager, spoke to YFC News about the vision behind the street dance team: ‘We want to take the Gospel to young people in a fresh and relevant way, to offer something creative and inventive. We’re really excited about the possibilities the street dance team offers. It’s a really innovative way to reach out to young people.’ For more information or to make a booking please contact joan.thompson@yfc.co.uk
Eager to learn more about this fascinating character, I ask what her passions are? “I love to sing and act.” She says quick as a flash, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “I did performing arts at school and really like working in a group, bouncing ideas off others and improvising scenes as we act them out. In my work here in Cambridge, I’ve been given the opportunity to head up a youth drama club at church and it’s great to see the young people enjoying it and impacting others.” Katie, it seems to me, is a bit of an enigma. She enjoys working with young people one on one but is enthusiastic about performing herself when part of a group. “I like meeting new people even though it can be daunting at times” she admits, “but when I encourage someone I don’t feel any awkwardness at all.” As a relational person who cares about helping individuals whilst personally thriving on collaboration, yfc one has proved a perfect fit for Katie as she readily acknowledges. “yfc one has given me the chance to do both because on a gap year with yfc you are part of a team but you get to know,
help and tell individuals about Jesus which is brilliant.” With our time nearly up I realise the shop is quieter now and a little colder as the rush hour has died down and some have ventured back out into the picturesque but rain-soaked streets of the City. In closing, I ask Katie what she hopes to do after her year with YFC? “I want to take something back to Ipswich, and start some outreach there as there’s not a lot of outreach going on. I’d also like to do something further with drama. I may do another gap year specifically on that but I have learned to look to what God wants for me and to stay open to whatever He calls me to.” For any that feel called to get involved in mission and want God to use them but suffer from adversity, Katie’s advice is, “step out”. “You have nothing to fear as He will provide what you need and though it may be challenging at times you will learn and do new things and God will grow you in ways you didn’t even think possible.” If you would like to follow in Katie’s steps contact us at www.yfcone.com or yfcone@yfc.co.uk
In September 20 12 the yfc one discipleship an will be getting ev d mission prog en better! Region ramme al training hubs 17-25 year old will enable all of volunteers to the pray, worship together regula and receive tra rly as well as pr ining ovide each othe support. On top r with friendshi of this, the train p and ing curriculum new qualificatio will be extended ns offered. As and th ough all this w also making it asn’t enough, w even easier to jo e are in the scheme by In this tough fin reducing our fe ancial climate, es . a university degr of reach for man ee is becoming y, but we want ou t to en wants to be disc sure that any yo ipled, serve Go ung adult who d and obtain a work can do so qualification in at Youth for Ch youthrist. Applications ar e flooding in fo r the Septembe wonderful guys r 2012 intake, and girls eager with to spend at leas and being trans t one year servin formed. We can’ g God t wait to work w ith them!
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A New Season for Fort Rocky The new season of Fort Rocky begins in May, and it promises to be exceptional, with guaranteed energy, creativity and spiritual purpose!
An American’s Tale Mike Taylor has been Centre Director at Tees Valley YFC since September 2011 when his family moved to the UK from Houston, Texas. Mike spoke to Catherine Green about his excitement serving the young people of Teeside and the challenges of a UK/USA partnership.
“I’m not actually from Texas” Mike begins “My father served in the US Air Force so we moved coast to coast across the USA and then settled in Arkansas where I attended secondary school and University. I became a Youth Pastor in 1981 and have spent the last 30 years building relationships with young people and learning that relationship is a key factor to seeing lasting spiritual growth in their lives.” There had been a Texas-Teeside alliance since 2000 formed through local churches on both sides of the Atlantic and Mike first came over in 2005 on a discovery trip in preparation for bringing young people from the US on short-term missions. Struck by Unbelief
The Fort Rocky team are building on a fantastic 2011 season. Looking back, it is clear to see how God was at work in both the young people and the leaders who were a part of each weekend. One particular story illustrates this very powerfully: On the Sunday morning of a Fort Rocky in Perthshire, Amanda, aged 14, chose to sit opposite the then Fort Rocky leader, Andy Hancock. Amanda was a Fort Rocky veteran, having been to a weekend every year for the past 3 years. She chatted with Andy and shared what God had done in her life. Her story was hugely powerful so Andy invited her to give her testimony in the morning’s roadshow. Later that morning, Amanda shared how God had been with her in the most difficult circumstances imaginable: the death of her mum. She explained how her youth leader had been there for her and how God had been her rock in a dark and heart-breaking experience. By the end, there was not a dry eye in the room! After the weekend, the Fort Rocky team got an email from Amanda’s youth leader. She was delighted with what God had done amongst her young people and told the team: ‘I can't begin to tell you what a difference a weekend away makes to relationships and trust with the group.’ We are really excited about what God is going to do at Fort Rocky in 2012! We have 9 weekends, in 6 different locations, all graced with a new lower price!
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CARROTY WOOD, Kent 7 – 9 September
WHITEMOOR LAKES, Lichfield 11 - 13 May 13 - 15 July
LIDDINGTON PGL, Swindon 19 – 21 October
WHITHAUGH PARK, Scottish Borders 21 – 23 Sept
PIONEER CENTRE, Kidderminster 25 – 27 May 5 – 7 October
A more affordable weekend away! SMALLWOOD MANOR, Stafford 8 – 10 June 14 – 16 September
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At Fort Rocky, for a reduced cost of just £99 per person, you and your young people will find fantastic accommodation, food, activities, interactive roadshows and the Gospel message communicated in new, creative and engaging ways. We have also introduced an even more affordable weekend for just £50 per person! To find out more about Fort Rocky, or to make a booking, please contact the Fort Rocky desk via email at fortrocky@yfc.co.uk or phone on 0121 502 9637
Still Excited after 50 Years! With so many great volunteers and staff joining the YFC team, it would be easy to miss the incredible long-standing workers who have played a huge part in the ministry over the years and continue to do so. YFC Board member, David Stillman has been involved with YFC now for over 50 years, seeing YFC go through many changes and developing in his Christian walk through his work with Youth for Christ. David’s initial involvement with Youth for Christ saw him help out at large monthly evangelistic meetings that Reading YFC were running in Reading town hall in January 1959. Known as ‘rallies’, they were one of the major ministries of YFC at the time. In 1964 he joined the National Board of YFC and then in 1975 National Director Clive Calver asked David to join the National YFC staff team as Regional Director for the South East of England; a role he served in until financial difficulties meant an end to many staff positions. When Lowell Shepherd became National Director David was once again asked to join YFC’s Board. More recently, Dave has served on the European YFC Leadership Team when Jean Jacques Weiler was the European Director. YFC provided David with the chance to get involved in evangelism and explore and develop his gifts which is something he will never forget. “I think it’s true to say that I would not have been in full-time evangelistic ministry without the influence of YFC in the early days of my Christian experience.” We are so proud to have Board members like David who have spent many years working within YFC and remain committed to reaching every young person in Britain with the Good News. After more than 50 years, David has not lost the passion he had in Reading at the start. “I am really excited about the wide range of opportunities that YFC continue to offer to young people today to get involved in evangelism. It is so important and can play a crucial role in a young Christian’s development, as I know first-hand.”
Mike says “When I first came to the UK I was struck by the unbelief spiritually, it seemed as if socially several generations had disconnected with God and the church. It had a dramatic impact on me personally and really began the process of shaping me to move out of my comfort zone and consider doing ministry to young people in a foreign country. I was also introduced to some amazing men and women who have served God faithfully over here for years and thought if the young people of Teeside could catch a glimpse of how great God is and how big His plans are for them, then that would be amazing.” Mike started bringing young Americans over and it was on these trips that the local church put him in touch with YFC to get involved in our outreach projects. I ask how he came to be the director of Tees Valley YFC? “That’s an interesting question” Mike says as he smiles. “We’d been over on several occasions and the Lord begin to burden my heart for England and Tees Valley specifically. My family and I began to pray about what God would have us do. We prayed through the autumn of 2010 and that Christmas we made the decision to step away from our local church position and begin the process of pursuing the call to the UK. We began a conversation with Tees Valley YFC last spring and they asked me to take over the role as director in May 2011. It served as a great confirmation that the Lord was in this move and it provided a great base of operations as we linked up with YFC to reach the young people of Teeside!” As part of their move, Mike and his family set up UK/USA Ministries. They operate using four P’s encouraging churches in the USA to pray for the UK and think about getting involved in UK mission. USA churches can become a partner and participate by sending teams to do short term mission work in the UK; ultimately leading to them planting a youth worker who will remain connected with the school and community that they have been engaged with. In the States they often have a pastoral worker on campus, which is something Mike feels young people in the UK could really benefit from. Multiple Choice
One of the greatest challenges Mike is facing is transitioning to working with multiple churches and ministries across the region. Another challenge, Mike explains, is that there is so much need in his Teeside community that focusing on a few things is a continuous challenge and he has to remind himself to slow down and not over reach. “I tend to be a dreamer” Mike says, “last year when we felt the call to come here we wanted others in the States to spiritually come with us. It’s our dream to see churches in the United States partnering with schools, communities and churches here in the UK. Through being here we want to create a long term cross cultural ministry as we endeavour to reach and impact young people on both sides of the pond!” There is a general excitement and enthusiasm right now about what God is up to in the North East. Mike shares that he is really sensing some momentum in the café churches they have started. His hope is that YFC will serve as a catalyst to help churches work together to reach the young people of the Tees Valley. They have started three café churches since last November and Mike really believes such projects are a blossoming way to reach and engage youth. Looking towards the next 12 months Mike is optimistic about the work that has already started and is praying that there will be a real awakening among the young people they are working with. He hopes that they will encounter Jesus and go on a life long journey with Him. Ultimately Mike says, “We want them to realise that they have hope and a future and that God makes all things possible”.
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Facing a future without RE? Deep Impact, Scotland’s leading Conference for Christian Youth Workers took place between January 20th and 22nd with 350 youth workers travelling to the McDonald Highland Resort, Aviemore. Originally started by Highlands and Islands YFC as a biennial training weekend for youth leaders it was then handed over to the Scottish Christian Youth Work Forum six years ago to run along with significant YFC involvement. YFC’s National Director, Gavin Calver, was invited as this year’s main speaker looking at the theme ‘To Boldy Go.’ Sandra Blair YFC Fieldworker for North and West Scotland said “As a conference organising body we are incredibly aware that most of our delegates don’t always get a rest on Sundays as they’re usually the ones engaging with young people. Giving Youth Workers a chance to receive is an essential element for us.” To Boldly Go
This year’s theme was missional leadership and seminar sessions covered included Youth Justice (engaging with young offenders), Olympics and Commonwealth Games 2014 preparation, Basic Counselling Skills, looking at how you use your giftings to be a good leader, as well as looking at other big issues that Youth Workers may face such as dealing with alcohol addiction, autism and the mentoring of young people. In addition this year there was also a Children’s work stream lead by Dr Rebecca Nye and Wendy Strachan. Youth workers came from all over Scotland including the Isle of Lewis. There was a real awareness of God at work as different denominations came together to remember that Jesus Christ unites us all. Worship was led by a Glasgow church based worship band “Re:Hope” and the conference had a real community buzz with people building friendships and networking; aiming to help each other throughout the rest of the year. Those involved in making the weekend a success among many others were YFC Field Worker, Alan Gray who headed up the stewarding team, Bethan Lawler, Residentials Assistant who led a seminar on Evangelistic Leadership and Rachel Gardner who heads up the Romance Academy initiative. The feedback from youth workers from the weekend was hugely encouraging with many saying that God had spoken to them about their work with young people. One Youth Worker said that Deep Impact had “reignited my passion for Jesus and to tell young people about Him.” We’re already looking forward to what stories we’ll hear at next year’s conference.
The vast majority of the work undertaken by Youth for Christ across the country takes place in schools – over 70% of our staff’s time is spent in institutions ranging from primary schools to colleges of further education. If you went on to analyse the nature of that work you would discover a variety of forms of ministry ranging from classroom support through mentoring and
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Over 70% of our staff’s time is spent in institutions ranging from primary schools to colleges of further education
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counselling and including lessons, assemblies and chaplaincy. But the most significant input to schools at present comes from staff leading or taking part in RE lessons. This has been the case for many years but will it still be the case in the years ahead?
Religious Education is facing a difficult future. There has been much coverage in both the daily press and the educational journals about its non inclusion in the so called English Baccalaureate; the coalition government’s preferred way forward for measuring success at GCSE. A schools performance will be judged by how well it does in Maths, English, Science, a language and History or Geography. Despite pressure to include RE within this narrow group of subjects the Department for Education has remained firm. The result has been that fewer and fewer schools will offer a subject which they consider to be less valuable to them in terms of enhancing its position in the league tables. According to a recent survey in the Times last year 25% fewer schools made the subject available. This is despite the fact that in those schools which did offer the subject the numbers taking it up were on the increase. So is this the end? Probably not, but it is fair to expect that the openings we have enjoyed up ‘till now will diminish to some extent. It is wise, therefore, to consider the most effective ways in which organisations like YFC can ensure their continued relationship with the nation’s schools.
One possible area of development relates to well-being which continues to have a high profile at all levels of government and was emphasized in the recently revised OFSTED guidelines. Schools will be judged “by how well they provide: positive experiences for all pupils by promoting spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through planned and coherent opportunities in the curriculum and through interactions with teachers and other adults.” Despite the difficulties relating to what the term ‘spiritual development’ actually means, the option for Christians to offer to support this aspect of educational policy and practice cannot be ignored. There are few organisations better placed to offer opportunities for students to become aware of and develop their spiritual side in school and out of school. Already Durham YFC have taken up the challenge by creating and piloting a Christian based happiness course. This is an area of work that can only grow.
And there are many others, including Chaplaincy which continues to be important to schools and YFC Centres such as Heartland YFC who have established an innovative approach in their local FE college that has grown beyond their expectations in recent years. There are so many ways in which YFC can engage with schools that the question is now being asked – which is the most effective? What makes an effective Christian schools worker? Research is now being undertaken to assess a variety of approaches to schools work which will see how well they affect a young person’s understanding of the Christian faith, engagement with the church and ultimately their own personal response. A pilot study relating to RE is currently underway and a wider research project is planned for the coming months. The results should help inform how we best respond to the changing landscape that is education.
Bath YFC invest in Young Leaders Bath Youth for Christ have recently launched a Young Leader Scheme (YLS), working with twelve young people. The scheme started when the Bath team made a decision to create an accredited programme for junior leaders already supporting Bath YFC projects. The programme follows a 6 month course where young people are assigned a mentor and get together as a group to reflect on their progress. This reinforces Bath YFC’s commitment to do more to help young people access employment and training which was spurred on by their work with Connexions Careers; advertising jobs for Connexions on their Facebook page. James Vaughton, Centre Director at Bath YFC says, “Young people aren’t all confident leaders and many are NEET (not in education, employment or training) which limits their experience of dealing with people and their development. We have young leaders involved in Bath YFC projects and saw the importance of recognising the contribution they are making so we decided to pilot a programme between October 2011 and April 2012 to invest in them.” Current participants include Sam who has been helping out at Southdown Football Project. Sam has been part of the group for several years and despite none of his peers taking up the challenge Sam decided to join YLS to develop his confidence and leadership skills. Sam only became a Christian last summer but has already been sharing his story with others in the group. He has got involved in refereeing matches, picking teams and helping out after matches. Recently Sam applied for his first part-time job and was successful, which was a great encouragement to him as he leaves school in the summer of 2012. Amy and Kim are two other young leaders who lead at the Bath YFC Youth Café in Twerton. They have been involved in running games for the 11-14s
group and serving refreshments during the café session. Both are really enjoying the opportunity and they have been encouraged by the enthusiasm and energy of the young people and the way they are responding to Amy and Kim’s leadership. As well as offering practical experience the Bath team are running three sessions that will give their young people the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and to explore who they are and their goals in life. “Being a voice for local young people has really helped us to create opportunities that act as a challenge to the local authority and community to get involved and do more” James declares. “Once the young people who are on YLS have completed their training we’ll look at gap years and apprenticeships to help them think about how they want to develop in the future.”
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A Message from Studio D When Jen Paton, of Inverclyde YFC told the Studio D drama group that she tutored after school at Port Glasgow High School that only 12 per cent of crime in the UK was committed by teens, they decided to write a play to send out a positive message to society about their age group. They asked people what they thought the percentage of crime committed by teenagers was and were shocked to discover that people thought it was as high as 80 per cent. The result was a series of mini sketches entitled “Mirror Mirror on the Wall” looking at issues such as low self esteem, lack of confidence and body image. The piece was devised by the young people and designed to challenge people’s perceptions. Jen talked with the group about young people in the Bible like Samuel and David and what God did through them. No one but God realised their potential or how great they would go on to be. The play was so popular that they were awarded the arts prize at their school prize giving. They even featured in an article run by the Greenock Telegraph last November. Jen said “I am so proud of the group and that their head teacher awarded them the school arts prize. We showed how it takes 10 positive comments about you to counteract one negative one. We all know how negative comments make us feel and often they will be the things that we remember and they tend to push positive thoughts out of our head. When we get fixated on negative comments either that others have spoken to us or that we think to ourselves it affects our whole attitude towards ourselves and others.” Jen loves drama and first got involved running drama groups… The Studio D Project is actually run in 3 high schools where Jen is based in Inverclyde and is designed to help young people learn performing arts skills
Reflex Woking share “Curly’s Story” Newly appointed Senior Manager for Reflex Woking, Clare Strong heads up a fast growing new youth project that began when her job as a church youth worker led her out into the community to meet the needs of the most deprived young people who were getting into trouble with the law:
to build their confidence, explore faith and life issues in a fun way and develop meaningful and positive relationships with their peers. The Port Glasgow group are now working on their next project… spurred on by the positive response they have had. They have even raised funds for an organisation called “To Write Love on her Arm” dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self injury and suicide. The Studio D Project is now so popular with young people that Jen has recently set up another drama group at Clydevale Academy where she hopes to see similar success.
Young People can be Real Heroes Last summer, while the UK was being torn apart by riots, looting and mindless vandalism, the Wirral YFC team were working with a team of young heroes who had given up their summer to take Good News to children in the slums of central India. When Martin Dickson, Centre Director at Wirral, saw the pictures of the riots in the Indian press he asked a local to translate the native Telagu script and was told “Sir, the young of Great Britain are revolting”. The play
on words was entirely unintended and yet it struck a chord. As Martin writes, “The riots showed us that there are some real problems for Britain’s young people but the Wirral young people working with us in India showed that with the right encouragement young people can be real heroes” Wirral YFC’s response was to set about publicly thanking and affirm inspirational young people by holding the first ever Youth Heroes Awards.
On Friday the 24th February Wirral YFC held a prestigious awards ceremony at the Wirral’s swankest hotel and invited actor Andrew Lancel, who is currently starring in Coronation Street, to be their presenter for the evening. Over 300 members of the public attended with representatives from the business and civic communities and a number of VIP guests including Ester McVey MP, Frank Field MP, Cllr Moira McLaughlin (Mayor of Wirral), Rt Revd Keith Sinclair (Bishop of Birkenhead), Chief Superintendent John Martin from Merseyside Police, Peter Johnson the Chair of Tranmere Rovers and stars from TV and radio. The event, and all 9 awards categories, were sponsored by local businesses. It was a spectacular event, but ultimately it was the inspirational young finalists themselves who will remain deep rooted in the minds of all who attended. After over one hundred and thirty nominations, twenty four finalists were invited to attend on the night with their families, friends, youth workers and teachers. The overall winner of the
night and Wirral Youth Hero of 2012 was Josh Rotherham who also won the award for Inspirational Volunteering. Josh was a young person at risk and was heavily involved with gangs but with the support of those around him Josh escaped the gang culture and began volunteering with the Wirral Youth Theatre. He now supports other young people with disabilities, selfesteem issues and low confidence. Martin Dickson, Centre Director at Wirral YFC said “I am absolutely delighted with the whole event and my team at Wirral YFC are overjoyed by the incredible feedback we have received. The room looked stunning, the venue was packed and the ceremony itself was inspirational. For me though, the best part of the night was meeting the young people whose incredible stories I had read with the judging panel a few weeks earlier. Every story was deeply moving just on paper and so to meet these young heroes on the night was a huge privilege.”
“We had been running a mentoring programme and drop in service for 4 years and in August 2011 we wanted to expand the service we offer to include education and prison work. We found the support we were looking for in Reflex; YFC’s ministry for marginalised young people and so we became Reflex Woking”, she says. The role of a Reflex Outreach worker is threefold: to be a positive presence and role-model, to support and encourage the young people we work with, increasing their self-esteem and aspirations, and help youth access the education, training and services they need. Over the past 5 years Clare has been working with a young lad known as “Curly“. “I have always thought the young people I work with really need a place to belong and someone who is willing to walk with them for the long haul, who can support them through the tough times and celebrate their achievements. Curly was one such young person. When he turned up for the first meeting with me he felt angry and let down by adults and very misunderstood. I was grateful to work with him as a young teenager in a youth club setting and although it wasn’t an easy journey, he began to face his issues. He is now settled in a supported housing project very close to our main centre and we continue to mentor and encourage him. He is now in college and looking forward to a great future. I am so proud of him and his achievements.” Curly also shares his experience of working with Clare: “I always used to get in trouble with the police and became involved in drug and alcohol abuse. Things changed when I met Clare, she really cared and was easy to talk to. I couldn’t really talk to my Mum about things. Now everything has changed, I have a flat, go to college and have new friends. It is true that crime doesn’t pay.” Reflex Outreach workers are serving young people in prisons across the North West and the North East. According to Darren Richards, the Head of Reflex, “3 out of 4 young offenders reoffend within a year of release. That’s staggering and it’s got to change. We’re determined to change the statistics and turn the tide by placing a fulltime Reflex Outreach worker – a Christian youth worker – in EVERY youth prison in the country, by partnering with Christian charities and local churches. We also want to give every young person leaving prison the prospect of a volunteer mentor.” Please pray for Curly as he goes forward, that he would come to Christ and for the Reflex team as they focus on setting Reflex workers up in prisons across the West Midlands and South East regions.
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How can you get involved?
In brief
There is a great need for the Gospel to be communicated relevantly to today’s unchurched youth. YFC want to give every young person in Britain the chance to begin a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. Please will you help us transform the lives of lost young people today? The best way to Get Involved is to pray and give to our ministry. But there are so many ways you can respond… Please complete the simple form below, ticking the opportunities you would like more information on, and return it to us FREEPOST.
Join the Race
1. Please fill in your contact details: NAME: ADDRESS:
POSTCODE: LANDLINE:
MOBILE:
EMAIL:
2. Next, tick the options that appeal to you: Partner with YFC Pray for YFC’s ministry, give regularly by standing order, and be the first to receive stories, prayer needs and breaking news (by post or email) from around the ministry. Please send me more information about: Local Centres Year Out Opportunities Church Resources YFC’s work with marginalised youth Activity Holidays
Overseas Trips Mission Teams Schools Resources Other (please state below)
Volunteer I would like to volunteer my time and skills at a YFC Local Centre Invite YFC to your church I would like YFC to come to my Church and share some exciting stories of young people who have been transformed by God 3. Would you like to give a one-off gift to YFC right now? Three ways to give: Online: Visit www.yfc.co.uk/donate to give by debit or credit card. By phone: Just call 0121 502 9620 to give by card. By post: Please fill in the details below I wish to give Youth for Christ a gift of £ (Cheques payable to ‘British Youth for Christ’) Increase your gift by 20% – please gift-aid your donation: I am a UK Taxpayer – please reclaim the tax on all my gifts SIGNED: DATE SIGNED: You must be a UK taxpayer, paying an amount of income tax or capital gains tax equal to the tax we claim on your donation. Please inform YFC if you cease to pay tax.
4. Finally, to send to YFC National please return without a stamp to: FREEPOST RRXB-EHGS-SYEJ Youth for Christ, Unit D2, Coombswood Way, Halesowen B62 8BH Or post, with stamp, to your local YFC Centre at:
Thank you “In my experience there is nothing more transformative, nothing more redemptive, nothing more able to turn life around than the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” YFC President, The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu Design and print by Verité CM Ltd. 01903 241975 www.veritecm.com
Long before the athletes shoot out of the starting blocks, beginning the races that make our nation proud to host the 2012 Olympics, so many races have already begun. With stadiums being built, people coming together, areas being cleared and cleaned and buildings made ready to receive thousands of visitors – the race to be ready for the opening ceremony is in full flow. However, we have started another race, that we deem more important than them all: the race to be ready to reveal Jesus before, during and after the Olympic Games. As Youth for Christ we are passionate about taking this once in a lifetime opportunity to use sport in mission to a greater extent than ever before. You have heard the stories of how we are recruiting people from all over the world to be involved in sharing the Good News of Jesus over the summer – particularly in areas like Newham and Greenwich. You have read how we are partnering with ‘More than Gold’ to capitalise on this moment – using sport to share the truth of Christ. We are so excited about Café in a Box, The Torch events, The Games and many other batons in our hand in the lead up to the Olympics, because they are all ways that we can pass on the truth of Christ to young people in schools and communities. YFC Centres all over the nation are itching to connect with churches and use resources and manpower to share the Gospel and engage young people through sport. This is such an incredible year and such an awesome opportunity to reach more young people for Christ but we don’t want to be ‘one hit wonders.’ We are racing now to be ready for the Olympics but the everyday journey with young people remains at the centre of our work and will enable us to impact more young lives in the years to come. The Olympics is such a positive event, good for Great Britain in so many ways, but we want it to be good for young people’s souls too. We long that there isn’t just an event buzz that fades away, but an internal buzz that lasts, because hearts have been transformed by the love of Jesus. We hope that we have such a framework in place in Britain that young people can find a spiritual home wherever they are and continue to grow in their walk with Jesus. Please join us this year. Right now is such a fantastic time to partner with the work of Youth for Christ in what will be such an unforgettable year, so that we can reach more young people for Jesus and for His glory alone. How? You might ask. There may well be something specific that you have read in this newspaper that has grabbed you. Or God might be putting his finger on a specific way that you can get involved practically or financially. Maybe you feel compelled to pray. We know that we need as much prayer backing as we can possibly get because the power of prayer changes lives and it has to work alongside the action that is being taken. We are also aware of the costs involved in serving young people and whilst good stewardship is essential, we still need your support. Maybe you are interested in getting involved with the work we are doing or you would like to book a team for your area? If either appeals to you check out our website www.yfc.co.uk Yes the race towards the Olympics has begun but it is our prayer that wherever we are in the nation, our work with young people would be filled with the same energy and passion. As we obey His leading and step out in faith for Him we look forward to the great things He will do in this historic summer. Gavin Calver YFC National Director
NEW CENTRES In line with our strategy we continue to pioneer new local ministries across Britain and God is truly blessing us as we reach out to new areas. Street 360 (Crawley YFC) launched on 2nd December 2011. The launch event was well attended and Centre Director Sarah Davis has been working hard building relationships in the area. A Nomad mission was run last Autumn and Sarah and the team are excited to have been invited back to lead a very innovative venue at Soul Survivor this summer. The Phase Trust is an established project based at Zion Christian Centre in Halesowen. After a few months of talking with YFC they became a chartered YFC Centre in January 2012. The Phase Trust connect with over 3,000 children and young people every year throughout the Dudley Borough with various projects including their Urban Culture Programme, ”The Basement” recording Studio and “The Hub” youth facility on Friday nights.
YFC EXPLORES THE JOURNEY AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE In January Bodelwyddan Castle in North Wales hosted around 400 people for YFC Conference 2012. It was a fantastic week where delegates enjoyed inspiring worship, great fellowship and insightful Bible teaching from Danielle Strickland, a Salvation Army officer from Edmonton, Canada, who is a speaker, advocate, writer, church-planter, wife, mother and friend of God. The theme for the week was ‘Journey’ and God spoke mightily to individuals, Centres and YFC as a whole. After such an exciting, prophetic and challenging conference, people left with renewed energy and hope for the year. OVER TO YOU… We would love to hear what you think about YFC News. Over the next few months we will be reviewing the paper in its current form and considering how best to move forward and improve the publication. In order to effectively do this, we need your feedback. Please go to svy.mk/yfcfeedback and fill in the short online form to help us develop the publication and better communicate the great things that God is doing through YFC.