Nottingham YfC blog

2012 verses of the year : Matthew 25:14 - 30

2012-01-11T16:37:00.007Z

Each year we pray into what God is saying to us for the next 12 months. If you have followed us over the past few years you will know that last year we had Paul's vision of the Macedonian man running through our ministry. Paul wanted to go one way and doors kept closing but God drew him to Europe and that way was free. In the past 12 months we have seen huge growth in our ministry and we are thankful to God for that as it has been down to Him that we have been on the move. An early picture that one of our trustees had in our first year back in Nottingham was that of Nottingham being lit up in 5 or 6 different areas by the influence and the work of Nottingham YfC, with the ministry being light in the darkness. Let me just say this wasn't to suggest no one else or no other organization was providing light, this was just a picture of what God possibly wanted NYfC to look like.

Ten and a half years on and we see God's light shining through NYfC in 6 different areas of the city and influencing many more. Arnold, Beeston, Bilborough, Inham Nook, Radcliffe and South Notts are our key areas where the light is shining but our influence through support, mentoring and empowering the local church to impact a generation is growing more and more.

Often we see growth as a numerical thing and that is not always wrong. Gavin Calver, our national director has a vision to see a million young people reached each month through YfC, that is exciting and we would love to see that. In fact if you looked at the amount of young people we come into contact across Nottingham then we have the potential to see over 6,000 young people each month, that is amazing and i can't help but be humbled by what God has given us.

This year our passage for Nottingham YfC is Matthew 25: 14 -30 the parable of the talents.

God has given us an amazing opportunity but sometimes we don't take that opportunity or even take it for granted. Do we take what God has given us and protect and defend it because we are scared of losing it or do we take what He has brought into our lives and grow it. Our work with young people is very relational and i love the fact that we see the same young people week in week out bringing Hope and potential in their lives. Sometimes though in relational youth work it becomes more about turning up, getting through the evening making sure they behave. What we aim to do through the work and what I hope and pray will be a key word in Nottingham YfC is TRANSFORMATION. We want to take what God has given us, the young people he has brought our way and transform their lives with the love of God. If we can do that then 2012 onwards is going to be a great time to be part of the Kingdom of God and in particular Nottingham Youth for Christ. Please pray for us as this is what will really bring these words to fruition.

Who is teaching who?

2011-12-08T12:56:00.004Z

A few weeks ago now I went with a group of young people on the eq:mission. Since returning I've had a bit more time to reflect on the things that happened and ways we sought to work with the churches and Burton YfC to serve the community there.

So often images portrayed of young people are negative - they are the ones that drop litter or are disrespectful. The young people that came on the 30 hr mission challenged this stereotype in Burton. They collected litter, all with giggles and smiles, and they gave away drinks and held doors open. Generosity was shown in face painting and in sellotaping a bit of loose change up for those who might need it at the bus stop or the pay and display machine. The light of God working in and through them was evident and no less bright when the face paint had been taken off. We went to Burton to serve and learnt so much ourselves - coming back to Nottingham challenged to live out the small actions that we did in Burton in our home city.

My lasting memory of the weekend will be looking for a young person who had disappeared - I eventually found her in the kitchen washing up!

The young people that I spent the weekend, and the many others that I see and work with in Nottingham humble me in so many ways and is a reminder to me of how I often feel like they teach more more than I ever will do them.

Sara Reynolds

2011-11-23T13:53:00.005Z

Our God is a big God

I was sat amongst some friends this week and we listened to song called 'You are' by Bradford Church . We spent a few minutes thinking about the song and we were asked what the one thing was that stuck out to us . When listening to this song the words that stuck out to me was ‘You are’. In the song it talks about all the things that God is...

“You are the strength for the those in need , You are the defender of the weak Your everything we need, You are our God”

It can be so easy in our everyday lives to forget how big God is ! , We can forget that God is interested in the small things in our lives as well as the big. God is all the things above and so much more . I was challenged to try to include God in all parts of my life not just the big things.

Do we truly understand where God is or do we put Him in a box and see Him where we want Him to be. It is easy to see that God is there when we worship or when we sometimes pray, but do we see God when people are hurting or struggling? Let us show others that actually we see God in the smallest things like a baby smile or a hug to someone in need. Where will you acknowledge God this week and where are you going to take Him over the next few days?

Emily Swinburne / Richard Dawson

Changing endings

2011-11-16T19:47:00.003Z

One of the things that marks the start of the Christmas season for me is the vast array of high quality and big production adverts that are released by large companies, all trying to compete for the biggest chunk of the 16 billion pounds people in the UK will spend on Christmas presents this year. The Coca Cola advert is probably the most famous, and this year the John Lewis advert has impacted lots of people with a great message of how giving is better than receiving.

I know there are many more adverts to come, but there is one that has struck such a chord with me and has reminded me why I do what I do, and why the work of Youth for Christ in the city of Nottingham and beyond is so important. It is an advert for Barnardos:

In youth work, you hear lots of stories. Some stories are funny, inspiring and happy and others are just heartbreaking. The young people that we work with are all on a journey and they all have a different story. Some of the beginnings to their stories have not been good ones. Some people in the lives of those young people think they know what the ending to their story will be. Some people in the lives of those young people have even told them what their ending will be. Some of those endings are not good.

For us at Nottingham Youth for Christ, we believe in a God who specializes in changing the endings to people’s stories. Jesus set people free, healed and restored, turned the world upside down and changed the lives of thousands even millions of people and he is still doing it today.

By listening, loving, caring, creating, laughing, hoping and praying with young people we are here to empower them to change the ending to the story they are living. Sometimes this takes years, sometimes we may never know the ending would have been different without our involvement and sometimes it doesn’t work and the ending is just as heartbreaking as the beginning. But we know we make a difference, we know God is at work in the lives of young people in our city and we are privileged to be a part of it.

Jo Dolby

eq:mission to Burton

2011-11-14T11:28:00.007Z

So we have just got back from our latest eq:mission where we ended up in Burton-upon-Trent. Here is a completed set of video diaries from the weekend so you get a glimpse of what we got up to. A full review will be up soon.

You can find out more about our 30 hour missions @ www.nottinghamyfc.co.uk/eq and download a booking form for our next one.

which do we prefer dark or light?

2011-10-28T07:33:00.005+01:00

Even the less observant of people like myself will have notices it's getting darker at night and even when the clocks change on Saturday it doesn't really make that much difference. I have been playing around in my head what it means to be light in the darkness and what that means as a Christian because let's face it it is not just the days are getting darker. We look at a lot of tv and films and see a darker side to them even on the disney channel, there is darkness amongst the economy with lack of money and lack of jobs and then there is spirituality. Despite the fact that it is mainly a dressing up event Halloween this year is set to be the 3rd biggest festival after Christmas and Easter above valentines day with a £300 million boost for businesses, suggesting that even though some would see it as a bit of fun people will get and are getting more interested in the darker side of spirituality. So what does this mean for me if i want to bring light into the darkness? Where do i start? I love the idea that some guys put on facebook about instead of doing trick or treat dress up as a superhero and bless your neighbours this weekend (search 'pick a treat'), doing something that doesn't bring fear into peoples lives but puts a smile on their face. All Hollows eve was originally a day to celebrate the saints and all that was good. I remember hearing someone say once that there is only darkness where there isn't light - that light will always break through darkness. Even in our own lives if we struggle with something the best thing to do is to pray and ask Jesus 'the light of the world' to help break that darkness in us. How are you going to bring life to your friends, families and community this winter? What should we do to help show people Jesus is the light of the world and has so much more to offer than hopelessness, fear and darkness? Answers on a postcard or just below ;-) let's help each other.

Richard

so you want to volunteer with Nottingham YfC?

2011-09-26T13:35:00.005+01:00

Nathaniel has come onto the NYfC team for a few weeks. here are some of his initial thoughts.

The short of why I came to volunteer for Nottingham YFC was to fill some time before I went to university in America. The long of it is I felt a need to use the gifts that God gave me for His work, so when I heard of Nottingham YFC from friends and family, I jumped at the opportunity. At the same time as applying for a volunteer slot, however, I was also searching around for a part-time job. So when offered the choice of full-time volunteering or only doing a couple days a week, I struggled to make a decision. On one hand, I knew I needed the money for university and for general living before I left. On the other I knew God was calling me to do this. Ashamed to say, I reluctantly said I’d do full-time volunteering for NYFC. However, I knew I serve an amazing God who can provide and will provide if you place your hope and life into His hands. So in a sense, I chose the more exciting path.

I’ve only had 1 day so far with NYFC and I’m so glad I chose full-time. This team is so engulfed in the grace and love of God and have such a passion for sharing that with the youth all across Nottingham. They are all such strong prayer warriors and have fine-tuned their hearts and minds to the Word and Will of our Heavenly Father. I am so excited to see what God is able to do through us as a team and through me as an individual. I can only pray to develop such a strong and acute sense of God’s Word and leadership in my life as I have seen in the team already.

We have lots of different types of opportunities for volunteers within the NYfC team. If you would like to volunteer a couple of hour a week then please get in touch with our office.

More change?

2011-09-25T22:08:00.005+01:00

Well, after 3 - 4 weeks i still don't think i have got over the trip to India, which was amazing. Pretty much it was back into the swing of things here at NYfC. The great news is that we have grown as a staff team, which is really exciting and you will hear more about the new team in the coming weeks on here and in our newsletter which is due out in next few weeks. I am never surprised by what God has in store for us at NYfC, each year i know there will be change in the team as we have year outs join us (although this year that isn't the case), and we do also have on team Centre of youth ministry placements and so every so often they move on. Although i am not surprised it is still important we listen to God and not just go through the motions. To know where God wants us is of vital importance, as it is His mission, not ours, we are the co-pilots not the other way round. With this in mind it is really exciting that we are starting in 2 new areas across Nottingham. After getting Arnold up and running last Christmas we have now started working in Radcliffe-on-Trent and also alongside churches based in villages around the south Notts area surrounding Harry Carlton school.

After ten years of working across Nottingham, I can honestly say no 2 years have been the same and that is exciting although hard work. Chatting to a church leader recently we were talking about a particular denomination starting off as a movement and as it grew older it became more established and set in it's ways. We can all be like that if there is no movement or change in our lives or churches, because when there is nothing in the mix, to shake things up it does nothing but stay still.

I am really glad God is not letting us stay still but creates movement in the life of NYfC. Only then we will stay a movement and continue to see amazing things happen in the lives of young people across Nottingham, i hope you will join us on the journey.

Richard Dawson

India 11: second week videos

2011-09-05T23:04:00.015+01:00

So Sunday arrived so off we all went to Church...

On Monday we carried on with our outreach meeting with an added dedication

The rest of the week carried on as it had started with us waiting...

Our final day was more about travelling and shopping, and because the shopping got a little stressful (well for the boys anyway) we stopped filming lol so our last bit of raw footage comes from the early morning arrival at the train station.

Hope you have enjoyed our little journey, if you haven't already check out our video diaries from our time in India. It would be great if you could follow us on twitter or on facebook as then we can share with about lives that we impact in our own city of Nottingham. It has been beautiful. Good night. You can also check out extended videos on our you tube channel.

India 11: An overview of week 1

2011-09-05T21:02:00.007+01:00

Here are a number of clips looking back on the first week of our mission trip to India. You will find all sorts of things from our travel escapades to action songs to some of the amazing people we have met. The first set of clips are based on the first few days in the sub-continent.

On the Friday we went to an English speaking school where Sudheer's 2 children go. Some of the young people put on an amazing show for us which put our action song to shame lol.

On the Saturday we sponsored a medical camp and then visited a day care centre for children sponsored by Chilwell Road Methodist Church.

India 11: Sudheers final thoughts

2011-08-29T20:19:00.002+01:00

So what a journey it has been for everyone. We thought it might be nice to have Sudheer, our host, say a few final words at the train station before we left Tenali.

India 11: the final video diaries

2011-08-29T07:53:00.014+01:00

Well we have all had an amazing journey over the last 2 weeks. To give you an idea of the impact it has had on our lives just have a look at each persons personal end of mission video diary.

India 11: day 10

2011-08-29T07:28:00.003+01:00

Day 10 was our final experience of India bar the final day of flying and what an experience it was. Becci and Richard take you through it.

India 11: Day 9

2011-08-29T06:51:00.005+01:00

Sorry for the delaty in these last few video diaries. Here Taylor and Tom tell you about our last day in Tenali. It is in 2 parts and not just on twice.

India 11: Day 8

2011-08-23T18:39:00.009+01:00

Today was our final day of doing meetings visits and wells. We dedicated our final 2 borewells as well as visited an orphanage and led our last outreach meeting. Jenny and Jordan tell us (well try) their versions of today.

Here is a glimpse of the team doing some dancing at the final outreach meeting.

India 11: Day 7

2011-08-22T14:05:00.004+01:00

In what seems like a shorter day today, starting with the boys having an indian head massage (check out twitter or facebook for tom's vid), sarah and Grace take you through the rest of the day.

and just a glimpse at Tom's cheeky head massage.

India 11: Day 6

2011-08-21T19:18:00.008+01:00

It was another emotional day for the team, Today was Sunday and we started off dedicating a borewell and the leading a church service. It was then time to go over to the runaway railway childrens project. Here we heard some hard stories which hit the team very hard. Finally we went and ran our final medical camp and an outreach meeting with a community ex communicated from their town. This made it very remote and avan more isolated when what little electricity they had cut out. Richard and Jess give their thoughts to the day,

Here is a just a small glimpse of the team feeding some of the railway children

This is the start of the outreach meeting with electricity.

india 11: day 5

2011-08-20T18:16:00.005+01:00

So Day 5 has been and gone. Here Taylor and Gill tell of their experiences at an outreach meeting, medical camp and a daycare centre for young people.

Here is a little bit of footage of the people attending the outreach meeting this morning .

India 11: Day 4

2011-08-20T04:42:00.004+01:00

Welcome to our video diary for Day 4. Today we went over to an English School to help the young people and staff in communicating with the English language. We visited classrooms and then shared presentations with the young people (see previous blog). We then were part of some staff training. On the way back we went and ran a mercy ministry (feeding street children) and a medical camp which were based in a slum. Connie and Katherine take you through their insights of the day.

India 11: day 4 school

2011-08-19T18:02:00.004+01:00

Today we were invited into a school that was English speaking to do some cross cultural work with the children and the staff. As part of the day a number of the students put on a presentation.

We had problems with the camera tonight so the video diary for today will hopefully get put up sometime tomorrow

Day 3 medical camp

2011-08-18T19:52:00.002+01:00

Here is some footage of our time at the medical camp and outreach meeting today.

India 11: Day 3 video diary

2011-08-18T19:25:00.002+01:00

Tom and Jordan talk about what they have been doing on day 3. Our first school visit, sari shopping, our second medical camp and third outreach meeting were all on offer.

India 11: 2nd outreach meeting

2011-08-18T11:23:00.007+01:00

Along with our video diaries occasionally we will put up videos of the different things we have been doing. This first video ios the beginning of our second outreach meeting. This is a village where they had never heard the Gospel before and because of the water well we provided it gave us an opportunity to share the Christian faith.

Keep following our blog for more video diaries on how the team are finding India and we will try and post more videos of the things we are doing too.

India 11: Day 2

2011-08-17T19:21:00.003+01:00

Day 2 has been a day of extremes. We first of all dedicated our first borewell of the trip and we were welcomed like celebrities this was then followed by a trip to an elderly peoples home where all of us ended up being very emotional. This evening we had our 2nd outreach meeting and we ended up in a little remote village where they had never heard the Gospel before and we dedicated a well and shared the Gospel message with around 50 -60 people giving their lives to follow Christ. Have a look at how Jenny and Becci found the day. We will hopefully post some footage up in the next couple of days.

India 11: first full day

2011-08-17T11:52:00.004+01:00

So after plenty of travelling we have finally got to the point where we are able to make a difference to peoples lives. Jess and Grace tell us about how they found their first full day where we visited a leper colony to do a medical camp and hand out soaps and toothbrushes and then our first outreach event.

India 11: Finally arrived

2011-08-17T11:33:00.003+01:00

So we finally arrived in Tenali. One coach journey, two plane journeys and an eight hour train journey we finally arrived at Sudheer Kumar's house who is director of Reap India. Katherine and Sarah share their first thoughts now they have landed.

India 11: just off the plane

2011-08-17T11:29:00.002+01:00

Sarah and Grace talk about how they are feeling after an epic journey.

India 2011: On the way to the airport

2011-08-17T11:23:00.003+01:00

Ok so i think we are there. Here is our journey through video so far as we aim to bring life and hope to the people in India through our partnership with Reap India.

First thoughts from India

2011-08-16T19:26:00.003+01:00

Hey guys, well we are just getting on board with this technology thing, but why we do that and try and get some video blogging going we just thought we would touch base and let everyone know what was happening. We have just done our first proper day here after what felt like too long traveling. We arrived at Sudheer's house yesterday at around 9pm India time, that is about 4pm UK time. Everyone was really tired and were desperate for some kip, but our welcome at tenali train station was certainly amazing. As we got off the train after over 7 hours we were met with Sudheer, his team and others who all had flowers for us, which was certainly overwhelming after all the traveling. We are all doing really well at the minute and really appreciate your prayer. As soon as we get sorted properly with the internet we will post the video diaries we have been doing, but there are glimpses of these already on our facebook and our twitter stream. If you have neither of those you can find them on our homepage www.nottinghamyfc.co.uk Looking forward to telling you some amazing stories.

The NYfC India team

Thoughts of a work experience student (4)

2011-07-12T11:12:00.005+01:00

The whole point of work experience is to develop your skills in listening and acting on what you’re told by your employer. You’re then expected to use your initiative to expand and develop your position to form fresh skills for the future.
But how many people have sat down to look at the impact your employer is making? Before you put in to join them? I’m not talking about economic development because frankly money is universally known as the root of all evil.

So what would I be asking for if I asked how much of an impact would your employer be making towards the lives of the individuals surrounding us? Why are they making the effort to try and confront the children who as a stereotype are irresponsible ragamuffins?
The answer… Because they believe God has told them to advance his kingdom to all people not just those who will sit and take it without so much as muttering a word of abuse.
I believed when I chose to work with NYfC it was because I wanted to be part of that mindset that’s says yeah I’m gonna work with these children because I want them to receive the love they deserve. Gods love is never ending however It is our decision to make sure it reaches all the people and anything I get back is just a blessing!!!

Matthew 18:3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”.
Matthew 19 vs 14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Nathan Taylor

Thoughts of a work experience student (3)

2011-07-06T15:30:00.003+01:00

I knew that most people in my year would be doing their work experience in a shop or in a school. So I wanted to do some thing different. I’ve been here for two days I have REALLY enjoyed it. What I love is that so many different people, from different backgrounds and different churches can come together, and help young people come to Christ. Also I like the way things are run, because NYFC have so many different people doing different thing for the young people in the Nottingham area. On the Monday when I went to help out at ‘ The Big Question’ it was really interesting, because only one lad there was a Christian and all the others didn’t believe in Christ. They would talk about Christ and the Bible, I found it amazing to see what YFC was doing in school to help young people come to Christ or inform them about him. I also helped with ‘ The Base’ which was cool. All the young people there were very nice and they wanted to know about what we believe in etc.
We went to Birmingham on Tuesday. This was because YFC had a focus day. This was were all the YFCs from the Midlands came for a big meeting about the changes and what YFC was doing to help young people round the country. I found this interesting and I really learnt from it. Also I came not just to get the experience, I came to see what YFC was doing for the young people in the Nottingham area. This has shown me what I can do for the young people in my area and how I can lead them to Christ. I enjoyed working here so far so I hope that I enjoy the rest of the week.

Revelation 3:5
He who overcomes will, like them, will be dressed in white. I will never blot out he name from the book of life, but I will acknowledge his name before my father and his angels. (NIV version).

Jessica Pugh

Warning: The Gospel changes lives

2011-07-04T10:53:00.004+01:00

Since becoming a Christian I have been engaged with a transforming God and constantly developing myself. This has taken shape in many ways from dramatic changes like stopping self-harming to subtle ones like being patient. I have now finished the 2nd year of a 3 year degree studying for youth ministry I have loved the process. I was totally unprepared for the radical transformation I was setting myself up for. Before starting many people prophesied that peter pan must grow up. I knew exactly what this meant and so signed up for the course. I joined the course knowing that I have to open myself up totally to the transformation of the gospel and the learning I was about to endure.
Reflecting on my change I know that if it wasn’t for the course I would not have opened myself up so fully to the experience. What does this show me about how open I am to God and how much I expect the young people to open up to the transformation of the gospel?

A few months back I would have secretly been ok with people half-heartedly opening up to go, in part holding something back till “the time is right”. Even though God’s timing for enabling me to deal with something is perfect, it does not stop my openness toward God regarding what needs changing so I can share the gospel more fully.

“1 Corinthians 10:13
New International Version (NIV)
13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

I have found that God has given me the greatest recourse ever (well 2 resources including the Holy Spirit), people. If I am tuly honest and actively make myself vulnerable to people I see that lots of people have been transformed in a similar way or experienced similar things.
Trust God to transform you to be more like Jesus Christ because there is no other that understands better, God never gives us too much to deal with and has given us great recourses to be able to make our way through.

Ant Stevens

Thoughts of a work experience student (2)

2011-06-30T13:43:00.005+01:00

Reality Check

I came to do my year 10 work experience at Nottingham YfC because I wanted something different from the norm. I wanted to get something else out of my week, asides from an extended knowledge of how to make coffee and use a photocopier…
And do you know what? I totally got it.
I’ve done almost three days now and I think the thing that has struck me the most is how so many churches and believers can work together, despite their different ways of doing things. I mean, we’re all a family, right? God’s family. And if that means meeting up in a café to talk about our lives, or making breakfast at a community centre, or playing table tennis with a group of teenagers, it’s all for God and through God and with God.
A couple of years ago my parents felt called to move to a new church and we visited a number of churches in Nottingham when making the decision. Recently I have also started going to a youth group at different church from my own. Through this, I have seen how easy it is to get caught up on all those little differences or ‘alternative interpretations’, which churches and youth groups have. I know I can definitely get absorbed in comparing and over-analysing. I spend time wondering where I really belong and which way is the ‘correct’ way of doing things, but this week has been such a reality check for me. It’s not about what youth group I go to or how we do worship at church or what refreshments are served after the service! The fact is: as long as we’ve got the foundations sorted, the little things are simply what make us who we are.
I have loved seeing how different people can just work together because they have one common interest, God. All of us can draw from each other and bless each other, whilst we worship and show his love in tons of different ways, that are as diverse as we all are from eachother. And I shouldn’t be wondering where I belong, because I am one of God’s children and that makes me a member of his family. That is where I belong, in the unity that is God’s family, full of wonderful people who love him just as much as I do!

Ephesians 4:4-6
You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all.

Ephesians 4:15
We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other.

Helena Gloeckner

The Best and Worst of ourselves

2011-06-15T19:46:00.004+01:00

I don't mean to brag but i have just had the holiday of a lifetime. No it wasn't at a doctor who convention, although that would be amazing. After always thinking it was out of my league, a dream became reality and my family and I were stood in front of the Disney palace in Florida looking in awe. Ok I will stop bragging now.
The slight blip on the whole experience was our journey home. Just as we were a few hours away from landing, someone unfortunately took ill, so we turned round and landed at a little airport in a town in Canada called Gander. Unsurprisingly people were a bit frustrated and with most people having a lack of sleep tensions were higher than normal. I don't know what you are like when you are tired, but i struggle to cope with normality. I think there were around 550 others on that plane who had the same issue with tiredness. All this meant the atmosphere in the airport, getting off the plane meant there was a lot of pushing and shoving with people just in it for themselves, as long as they were ok, it didn't matter about how other people were feeling or what was the right thing to do. I managed to just sit back and watch rather than getting agitated and was amazed at how people swung from being nice human beings to everyman for themselves. Even after a couple of hours sleep at a hotel while waiting for food you saw some people pushing themselves to the front.
Then as we were sat in the airport the tide started to turn, there was a sense of community, a sense of everyone in it together, Not that i was there but it was what my grandparents used to talk about when they talked about the war. Community, you know what when people come together to serve each other rather than fight each other, when we put others first rather than ourselves first, there is something beautiful, some would even say you can sense the love of God.
I am sure when the stories of the early disciples in Acts get together they didn't always feel like it and the reality was probably they struggled in community as a lot of people do. Yet we look at what the power of community can bring: acceptance, love, joy and security. Is it no wonder that God loves it.

Richard Dawson

Sold out for the Gospel or Selling it?

2011-06-14T11:16:00.003+01:00

When you become a Christian, you’ve been forgiven for all the things you’ve done wrong, you enter into a relationship with the living God, you’re loved and accepted, you’re destined for heaven. Amazing isn’t it? And I love sharing these truths with young people. I love giving them these gems of hope – telling them they’re loved when they feel like no-one cares about them. Telling them they’re accepted when they feel like they don’t fit in anywhere. Telling them they’re forgiven when they’re possessed by shame for the mistakes they’ve made. But that’s like showing someone half a photograph.

Do we tell them that when you become a Christian, you’re called to take up your cross and follow Jesus? To die to yourself. You’re called to serve others instead of yourself. You’re called to love the people who hate you. To forgive people who hurt you. My fear is we don’t. In making Christianity relevant to consumer culture, have we turned passion, love and community it into a cheap product?

And I find myself the head of this marketing committee. When asked how I changed when I met Jesus, my initial response was to say I became much more confident and happy in myself. I was no longer brought down by what girls said to me at school because I’d found love and acceptance in Jesus. But then I thought, when I met Jesus, I learnt to love the girls that bullied me at school, to try to think of others before myself, to be thankful for the good things in life – why weren’t these my first thoughts?

I fear that we’ve commercialised the gospel. That we’ve taken the radical out of history’s biggest movement. That we’ve religified an event that cut history in two. That instead of being sold out for the gospel, we’re trying to sell the gospel.

So what does it look like for you and me to take up our cross?

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
Matthew 16: 24-25

Becci Raine

How do you spend your time?

2011-05-12T19:57:00.000+01:00

I am currently sat on my net book listening to a football match which is making me extremely nervous. Play-off semi final between forest and Swansea. I don't know whether i am enjoying it or not, one comment i am sure a lot of Forest fans would appreciate in a play-off competition. Despite this feeling, i wouldn't rather be doing anything else. Why put yourself through it? i know plenty of people would say including my father in law who is a fair weather supporter. Thing is somethings are important and other things aren't. For me supporting Forest is an important part of my life, as is my faith and my family. I do know though that there are often times where i end up spending lots of time doing things that aren't important. In a world where technology can, and often does in my life, take over. My downfall is my phone, whether it is the internet on it or whether it is texting someone or playing some pointless game that i have completed 700 times. Whether it is something similar or television that really isn't that interesting, we can often try and fill our lives, but why? Are we scared of boredom, are we just trying hard to fill any space that doesn't seem to be filled. One of the things that i also love is my garden. There is a place that yes i want to do things in but also gives me time to think and pray. Unsurprisingly enough i find this use of time so much more refreshing that my eyes being glued to my phone. What i want to do is learn. Learn that somethings are healthy for me to spend my free time doing and that somethings aren't. To maybe learn somethings that you do can refresh and inspire you and other things drain you. It will be different for different people but i know that if a spent more time in prayer and in my bible then i wouldn't feel so lethargic so often.
Anyway it's half time, and it's still not a relaxing evening, but you know what, it is certainly passionate.

Richard

What stories do you follow?

2011-04-28T21:17:00.007+01:00

So what stories do you like?
Many moons ago when all my friends went off to university to study proper subjects, I started my HND in community performance and theatre in education. My first module, while my Friends looked at business management, history and economics was storytelling. Wow, what a way to spend the now defunct student grants (maybe not the greatest arguments for bringing tuition fees back). Ever since then, probably before as well, I have loved stories. The best communicators engage people in storytelling, whether they are preachers or stand up comics. Whenever I talk about the work of Nottingham YfC, stories are the one thing that continues to engage people and help them understand the work we do.
What i do find interesting is that the culture we live in now, it is said that people have rejected the story of God. It is said they reject any idea of an overall story that draws everyone and everything together. How can this be when we are obsessed with stories? Whether that be the latest installment of a soap opera or a serial drama or the latest celebrity gossip, we are all fascinated and intrigued. Even the most popular computer games now follow a theme or story.
Are people really rejecting the idea of a narrative that brings together a God who wants to connect with His creation or is it just not communicated well enough to engage?
We seem to be getting there: Programmes like Alpha, Emmaus or Christianity Explored are taking people on a journey, and continue to connect people in a very real way. There is a great opportunity to see how using a similar format but use the story of God rather than a set of rules and regulations. Jesus was the ultimate story telling, constantly using this way to connect and challenge people in the way they lived their lives and connected with their Father in Heaven.
When was the last story you told? What is the story of your life? Maybe you could tell a story of when yours and God's has become one - you never know maybe it will engage.

Richard

Curry - A rite of passage?

2011-04-22T06:48:00.008+01:00

So what events and what things that have happened create the person that you have become? Being a dad i am often considering the things my kids do and places they go to in terms of what type of person i want them to become. That might be experiences that i had and enjoyed or things that i think will be good for them.
At the start of the month it was my birthday (not a significant one, i can wait for another one of them) and Laura had been asking for a while what i would like to do for it. Last year we had friends round for a murder mystery, which are always funny especially with the dodgy accents. This year though i thought, as i had a choice of anything i wanted to do, how many times do us men get a window of time to do that, i thought we would go and give our kids their first experience of a curry house. They did ok, had a little bit of the meat and bit of balti and a bit of korma and lots of nan bread. What they did love though was the experience, they keep talking about it and how they would like to go again. For me it was good that they enjoyed their experience, as it means we can go again, and as their dad that really please me, as curry is important to me.
Isn't that what a rite of passage is as a Christian? being part of something that please God and moves you on in your journey?
As well as curry another passion of mine is mission. Engaging people, especially young people in being part of God's mission here on earth. What upsets me is the lack of passion and drive in a number of Churches in being part of His mission. As a youth Alpha advisor i will also get a number of course leaders saying to me "we didn't have enough time to run all the session so we missed out the 'why and how should i share my faith?" It just isn't seen as an integral part of discipleship. If you keep an eye out on what is happening in the world of Nottingham YfC you will know about our 30 hour missions (eq:missuion) in which we take a group of young people to a random part of the UK and be part of the mission of a YfC centre and local Church. Doing both word and deed in a community neediing to see and hear the love of Jesus. Each one of the last group that came on it really engaged and found it an experience that will shape their life and as a leader they will remember it as mission being part of being a Christian. God loves mission and it also develops our faith. Ok so curry might be a rite of passage as a child of mine but mission is and should be a rite of passage as a child of God.

Richard

Thoughts of a work experience student

2011-04-08T17:20:00.004+01:00

Who do people see me as?

As I became a 15-year-old lad I started to notice a change in peoples behaviour towards me. Those younger than me at school started to purposefully walk a longer route to avoid me. I even had a woman press her two children up against a wall to keep them as far away from me as possible while I passed them on the street. I suppose it’s only natural to fear boys my age though, what with all the media attention to crimes performed by us, from vandalism to stabbings because that’s news. Whereas just hanging out with mates and being with your family isn’t. So when people see us, all they see are those who represent so much evil in the world.

During my time on work experience with Nottingham Youth for Christ, though I’ve noticed a total reversal of attitudes towards me. I am no longer prejudged as a “trouble-making” 15-year-old lad. No. For that tag has been taken from me to be replaced with the word “Christian.” As part of my experience with Nottingham Youth for Christ, I helped out at a after-school youth club at Inham Nook Methodist Church and kids who in the past had feared the 15-year-old me were now getting to know the Christian me and really giving him some respect. The next day, I went to do some one to one mentoring with Ant and I met a boy who, amongst his friends was a real trouble maker, but when amongst Christians was really respectful and displayed a wisdom never before apparent to his teachers.

I went to school the next day, a large cross displayed prominently on my chest. The year sevens gained the confidence to speak to me about God and I found myself being able to tell them about Jesus’ greatness, whereas before, I would never even have been able to say “Hi” without them being intimidated. So now ask yourself this, reader, when people look at you who do they see you as? And who do you want them to see you as? What you do now can change peoples perceptions of you. See what God has done for me. And decide who you are.

1 Samuel 16:7-“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance for his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Robert Trusson-work experience 07/04/2011

eq:mission March 2011

2011-03-30T10:31:00.011+01:00

Our eq:missions continue to impact communities across the UK as well as young people from Nottingham in their faith. Our latest adventure took a team of young people to Orford in Warrington. Working with Warrington YfC and Bethel Free Church in Orford the team stepped out of their comfort zones throughout the weekend.

Once again the young people turned up at the NYfC office not knowing where they were going to end up. This time it was slightly longer mission as we started on the Friday night rather than the Saturday morning. The reason for that? the team were involved in speaking at UNITE Warrington YfC's youth worship event. This was a great time of worship and then the young people all shared what it meant to them to 'step out of the boat.' We then went to our accommodation where we were going to spend the weekend. Bethel Church were especially generous with the overnight heating. For the Saturday we were joined by a team from Sheffield as we went out door knocking asking people to help with a questionnaire that was put together by Bethel Church and inviting them to the fun day in the afternoon.

The fun day consisted of a football cage, face painting, free bbq, table tennis, volleyball and karaoke. Over 150 people turned up for the fun day where the young people helped lead the various activities. The Church were really please as there were 4 or 5 new families that they hadn't come into contact with before. We had some really good conversations, with one woman saying she had used to go to church but had only gone 2 or 3 times but after this day she was going to start going again.

The team then went and had a good feed at Pizza Hut before planning for the next mornings service. The young people led worship, ran a drama, shared what they had done the day before and what it meant to them to be ambassadors in their schools and colleges. Each of the young people saw God use them in an amazing way throughout the weekend from: 'I was really worried about whether people would like me, but God has shown me that i am to be more confident.' to 'it was really good to see that God used us to make a difference in peoples lives and make them feel good about the Church.'

The fact that the Church wouldn't have done the whole event if we hadn't turned up meant that we really had made a difference in that community. Keep checking out facebook and twitter for information of our November eq:mission later in the year.

Prayer for the lives lost in Chilwell and Beeston.

2011-03-16T08:34:00.006Z

Over the past few weeks there has been some real heartache across the community of Chilwell and Beeston. There have been 2 needless deaths where people have felt like they have had no hope. As a response to these events NYfC alongside the local Church, held a prayer vigil overnight last Wednesday. Please find below some of the prayers and thoughts from that vigil.

Jesus taught them:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth

It is hard enough to handle when you have a faith, how do those people cope that don't. People may not have to talk to someone but they must have the opportunity.

Psalm 20: May the Lord answer you when you are in distress, may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
Isaiah 41:10: fear of the future and the hugeness of emotion won't overwhelm - God will strengthen you.

We pray that through the pain and sorrow there will only be one way they will turn. There is only one who can truly comfort the huge sorrow that is being felt.

You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. i trust in you Lord, I say 'you are my God' - Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Oh my Jesus, be with these young people, show them your compassion, your love and your understanding. We know they can have no realisation of what this all means. Nobody knows what really happened to these 2 unfortunate souls. We can only trust they are with you and all sins are forgiven. Please be with the family and friends. Give them comfort.

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for i am with you: do not be dismayed, for i am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. We hold this vigil, Lord, not only to mourn these 2 lost souls, who met such a tragic death, but also to pray for those that they left especially the young friends who must be suffering from shock. maybe some feel they are to blame in some way. Help them Lord, be with them. Shine a light on them Lord, show them the way to enlightenment.

James 5:16a-18
"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. "
I pray with you for God's blessing on this town and its people

Praying comfort for the famiies and friends in their great sadness, God's presence in the memorial service and that the young people of Beeston and our city would know the love of Jesus.

Praying here in Sheffield for Chilwell and Beeston at this time. Real sense of everyone praying from their rooftops, calling out to God and his angels enveloping the whole town. Keep standing together in prayer.

May God be with you. Turn to him and he will comfort you. He loves you and cherishes you.

Praying for young people of chilwell and beeston that they will know they are loved and have a purpose

Praying for all the family and friends of both Chloe and Daniel. That somehow and somewhere they will find a God who can comfort.

We continue to pray for all those affected.

Richard

Is there any point in being defensive?

2011-03-03T22:43:00.006Z

I love hearing about Church history. Whether that be the early church in the book of Acts or the start of denominations like Methodism and the Salvation Army. Listening to Question Time at the minute and hearing them talking about the amount of people trying to create a revolution in the middle east over the past few months, i remember stories about the abolition of the slave trade or the day of Pentecost and i love the face that the Church has been part of so many revolutions. So what i would like to know is when is the next one? Some would say it if you look at the Church it is a long way off, although some would say we have this sleeping giant just ready to awake. So why isn't it happening? One of the reasons is that we have become defensive about our faith, and defensive about what we believe. In a world that is becoming more secular, and in a country like ours that has become less Christian, instead of using this culture shift as a challenge and a chance to become part of a new revolution, we have become more restrained, by trying to keep our own traditions and our own ways safe. We can see some elements of this still when we see cultures within a lot of churches not being able to connect with the culture outside the doors. Being part of a revolution is not about doing what everyone else does, or even changing because everyone else does. What being part of a revolution means is to stand for what you believe that goes against what is going on around. What it also means is that you don't go into your shell, batten down the hatches and sit it out, but move out and show what you have is of the greater good. Could this be the Church? or shall we just wait until it is all over, but if we continue on the back foot, there maybe none of us left to come out from behind the door.

Richard

Love is in the air...

2011-02-24T12:12:00.003Z

As Valentine’s Day has just passed, it got me thinking about love. At this time of year, you seemed to be surrounded by love hearts, roses and cheesy poetry… and it gets a bit sickening. Well, that could just be me being bitter, but I think love should be celebrated all year round, rather than a day being set aside as an excuse to tell someone how you feel about them. At home, Valentine’s Day is a pretty big deal. My mum goes to ‘Marks and Spencer’s’ (which only happens on special occasions) and checks out the Valentine’s day deals; my step dad writes cards for me and my sisters from “our secret admirer” even though at eighteen, you would have thought I had worked it out by now; and my younger sisters come home from school with stacks of cards from various boys. I guess it is quite exciting to know that someone thinks you’re special, but why not be made to feel like that all the time? There are so many verses in the Bible telling us how much God loves us…
“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands” – Deuteronomy 7: 9.
How awesome is that!? God promises us his love to a thousand generations and all he expects in return is to “keep his commands”. And even if we do mess up, he is still going to love us anyway! Proverbs 10: 12 says “love covers all wrongs” and I think this is so powerful, to know that no matter what we have done, God is going to love us just as much, and he will do all he can to get us back on the right path. He also teaches us to love each other, as the second commandment found in Matthew 22: 39 is “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself’.” It doesn’t specify as particular day on which we have to show each other that we love one another, we should do it all the time!
So today, and every day, think about the people that surround you. Think about how special they are to you, and tell them! God loves us and gave up everything he loves so that we could live and love each other.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3: 16.

Charli Wood

Parlez Vous Christian?

2011-02-17T12:08:00.002Z

“Eh up me duck, that cob looks peng!”
Even though I only moved to Nottingham from two hours up the motorway, I still had trouble at first working out what on earth people were saying sometimes. But that’s how language works isn’t it? Every town, every generation, every culture have their own words and phrases.

I love it that Nottingham has it’s own identity and part of that identity is it’s language (although I still reckon it’s weird to call someone ‘duck’…). The young people have their own dialect too which I’m starting to pick up and occasionally I’m even deemed cool enough to use it. But whether we use the ‘latest’ words or not, the fact remains that young people are speaking a different language, so what does that mean for sharing the gospel with them?

Youth for Christ’s mission statement is ‘taking the good news relevantly to every young person’ so to be relevant, we need to talk the same language. And we do, but it’s more than just replacing ‘not’ with ‘ain’t’ and taggingin ‘init’ on the end of everything we say. You can’t say to a young person “If you confess your sins to God, you’ll be saved by grace through the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ”. They don’t get it – even Shakespeare makes more sense to them. So ditch the jargon and speak the gospel in English. Simply yes?

I’d say nothing ever is. Eugene H. Peterson, author of The Message says, “The original books of the Bible were not written in formal language” and so “every generation needs to keep the language of the gospel message current, fresh, and understandable—the way it was for its very first readers”. And I agree entirely. But even in The Message ‘grace’, ‘salvation’ and ‘sacrifice’ are regular guests, so are we right to omit them entirely from our conversation or talks?

What happens when young people start reading the Bible and come across all our Christian jargon? I fear the Bible will feel irrelevant and the gospel message they thought they’d understood once again becomes a stranger. So, as the James wisely advises us, we need to watch our words!

Becci Raine

Discipleship

2011-02-08T12:04:00.003Z

Recently I have been thinking about discipleship. This is because in the job I do I get fairly excited about those who come to faith but massively passionate about disciples. This is partly because since I started looking into youth work I have had Matthew 28:19 imprinted in my mind (and heart). Jesus clearly instructs us to make disciples in all nations not just convert them. There are two things that I have been wrestling with when working for Christian youth work organisations that are not assigned to, or part of, a local church.
When someone converts where do they go?
I love local church and do my best to support them, however when you have one young person come to Christ and there are 6 churches in one area how do you help the young person choose a church they would like to attend and be nurtured in and how do you do it without seemingly supporting one church with favour to the others? It’s easy to slate the church saying its stuffy, old fashioned irrelevant. However I feel the church (meaning the whole church) is great and beautiful. The only issue I have really found is one which comes out of something good. The church is great at looking after its own so when someone is converted that isn't part of the existing Church, most people ask how do we integrate them into church? I really don't like the word integrate, it speaks of shaping and moulding a person into the ways of the church (the way we do things round here). The God I know wants us to understand that we are made in the image of God. Calling us to participate in the body of the church, bringing the gifts and talents God has given us and utilising them in such a way that edifies the church and glorifies God.
Secondly, because discipleship is what I see as my calling (work) how do I do it with friends and family?
I have lots of family who think I am crazy for doing this job but they still need to know the lord. After I have been at work all day or at the end of the week when I call my mum how do I disciple her when all I feel like is having an easy nice chat not one that makes me do my “work” with family. It’s easy to give one liners or tell a story of what God has done with someone but to actually disciple family and friends is hard. Even more so when its these relationships I go to for rest comfort and being looked after.

Ant Stevens

Where are we taking them?

2011-01-27T21:49:00.004Z

I have a passion. Not just for Doctor Who, not just for Nottingham Forest but for seeing young people impacted by the love of an amazing God. The question that i keep asking myself is 'What does that look like?'

Being a dad of a couple of amazing children, i often look at them and wonder what they are going to look like when they are older. Not just in looks, but in what job they may do, the kind of people they will hang out with, what their hobbies and interests they may have and what kind of families they may have (well Joel that is, obviously Amy is not even allowed a boyfriend until she is 30). Obviously I have no idea of what is going to happen to them, and in someways I am glad, as i am sure i would want to control it more than I should. What I do know is the world will be a different place. I know that because it is different now than it was when i was growing up. I remember having a ZX81 computer system and that was top range with its 16k ram pack you could add onto the back.

I also know that the way faith looks like nois different to when i was growing up. It is now more about how you live your life everyday rather than just turning up to Church every Sunday morning. That is hard to get my head round, that actually what faith looks like to me is different to what it looks like to those lovely older ladies who were in Church every Sunday making me feel welcome and loving me. Neither of us are wrong, it is just different, and will continue to change.

Vincent Donovan in his book, Christianity Rediscovered, says this:

"...do not take people back to where they were or do not try to call them back to where you are, as beautiful as that place may seem. You must have the courage to take them to a place neither you or them have been."

Faith can be and is an amazing thing. Are we willing to walk with others to somewhere we haven't been? Am i willing to take young people on a journey where I am trusting God for a new fresh destination? Or am i the one in control wanting to feel secure and 100% certain that the way God works in my life is the way He works in others?

Richard Dawson

Verses for 2011

2011-01-14T06:27:00.009Z

Acts 16: 6-10

'6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. ' New International Version.

Ten years can seem a long time. Ten years ago George Bush succeeded Bill Clinton as President of the US. The UK foot and mouth crisis began. The atrocities of September 11th happened. Does it seem a long time ago or only yesterday?
I remember all those things, I don't as easily remember life without Kids and what that felt like. I do remember though coming back to Nottingham, with Laura, to re-launch Nottingham YfC back in 2001. The one thing i remember vividly was waking up on 1st September, at my in-laws because we didn't have a house, and thinking 'right, what shall i do? where shall i start?'
These past ten years seem to have gone quite quickly, and what i know is that NYfC wouldn't have been able to impact as many young people as we have without people praying for us and God leading the way. For the most part we seem to have been able to make a difference and it has felt like we are where God has wanted us to be. there have been times where we have probably got it a bit wrong, but part of knowing where God wants you to be is to try different things, if you don't knock the door will never be answered.
There have been times where we seem to have stayed in the same place for a long time, done the same things for longer than was thought, and that can sometimes feel frustrating and restricting.
If you look at Youth for Christ centres across the country, as i write there are 66/67 local YfC centres, they are predominantly based in towns and villages, and i understand why. You can get your head round an area with a certain number of schools and a certain number of Churches, whereas a city is a different kettle of fish. There are more opportunities, more possibilities, more young people to connect with and more risks to be taken. i remember one trustees meeting a number of years ago where we discussed whether we should become Nottingham West YfC as that was where we were putting our mission focus, and had been for the majority of the years we had been working. The vision had not slipped though, it was still to 'take good news relevantly to every young person in Nottingham.'
Ten years on having honoured that vision, we seem to have more opportunities than ever before, renewed favour amongst Churches, Schools and young people alike, but this brings with it fresh challenges.
Paul, in this passage, wanted to enter Bithynia, which would have taken him back into Asia minor, and back towards the middle east. Instead, because of his listening to the Spirit, they went to Macedonia, and so began Christianity's impact on Europe. What an impact that decision had. God was already working in Macedonia, but by listening to His Spirit Paul was able to bring his own dynamic to the mix which helped bring the Roman empire into a Christian thinking.
At the start of 2011, we have some great opportunities to move into new areas across Nottingham, and also in the areas we already work. We want to connect with more young people this year than ever before, we want to try doors, without being to precious about what happens if we have got it wrong, but most of all we want to listen to God through His Spirit and ask where is He wanting us to partner with Him to help impact this generation. Please stand with us in seeing God do amazing things through NYfC in 2011

the term that was...

2010-12-21T20:57:00.003Z

This past term has been a real learning curve for me. With there being so many changes in team and trustees there has been many times where i have felt out of control and perhaps out of my depth, but as we have realised this term that is when God takes over and lets rip. So here are a few times where we have seen God work in this past term. I make no apologies for the list style we have put them in, or to be honest the lack of capital letters here and there, what i want us to see is how amazing God has been in the last term. I hope you are as encouraged at this glimpse as i am.

new opportunities to speak with one of the deputy head teachers

the opportunities with all the year 7 young people at Hadden Park school

being able to speak into young peoples lives at a place to be me +

having someone from the Church in Bilborough on as a trustee and a volunteer

the trust most staff have in anything to do with YfC

seeing God in my uni work

welcomed into a church family

within meeting someone twice they opened up about someone mis-treating them

The new work that has come about in Arnold starting January

The 'feel good' factor of NYfC amongst Churches

seeing God work through a new team, and the quality of the new team

The growth of 'big questions' at Chilwell school

Finance coming in for work up until easter at A Place to be Me

16 year old unchurched young people discussing baptism, faith and spirituality

the desire of the team to bring their faith into youthwork

the success of cafe faith

eq:mission to Bath with the girls from Trent Vineyard, God used and worked in us all

3 new trustees and 4 new financial supporters

seeing a young persons face when we told him we believe he could achieve something

eq:uip low on numbers but the young people there were awesome and encouraged us all

girls allowed- when talking about beauty God was there showing every girl that they are beautiful

When the question 'Do you believe in God?' he is there to help me answer it

When one girl in one of our sessions talks openly about what she believes and her journey with God.

A conversation we had with a 14 year old about why he goes to church and what he believes

At a place to be me we ran a singing and dancing competition, God was there encouraging them

When talking to a teacher about his experiance of youth work, God was there

Young people who don't feel valued elsewhere are shown love to by NYfC

teaching an 11 year old to play pool

young people who reject God with their mouths but keep coming along to sessions and talking about Him and building relationships with Christian youth workers

A team put together by God, someone changed placement, someone who changed uni, someone who got placed, someone who was at the right church at the right time and someone who thought they could never work for YfC.

At The Base, remembering a young person and her work ment so much to her as she was told thet we wouldn't think about her and what she did.

A group of young people actively chatting about Jesus in a very raw but real way.

Please do comment and put where you have seen God in the last few months.

Richard

new team blog (3) Miss Charli Wood

2010-12-09T10:34:00.002Z

Hi I’m Charli, I am a first year student with Midlands Centre for Youth Ministry (MCYM) at St Johns College, studying youth work, community work and practical theology. It’s a massive challenge sometimes, but it also means that I am on placement with Nottingham YFC, and I am absolutely loving it!

Having only just come out of being a young person in my own Church youth group, the jump from young person to youth worker has been pretty scary over the past few months, but I work with some incredible young people who are making the experience worthwhile. I am currently placed at Hadden Park High school in Bilborough, mainly working with year seven. With this age group, I take part in running a lunch club, offering support during class time and assisting in running after school clubs. One of the clubs we run that has impacted me the most is our girls only club- ‘Girls Allowed’. We have looked at topics such as beauty and self-image, and it is so touching to hear the views of young girls on these kinds of subjects. We also tend to share our own Christian views on the topics we explore, which is something that is new to some of the girls, yet they seem comfortable with sharing what they think. To be alongside these girls as they grow is a privilege, and I learn so much from them!

How many people do you think know .....

2010-11-24T15:40:00.005Z

Tell Me Something I Don’t Know Already

How about the Christmas story?
The real meaning of Christmas becoming buried under mountains of wrapping paper is no longer a big shock. And the TV specials being the focus of our attention rather than a dirty manger in a pile of straw is hardly breaking news either. But we know it’s there.
Even if we love God we can get a bit distracted in the Christmas hype, focusing on the mandatory Tesco shop instead of the nativity service. Finding the biggest turkey can make us forget the tins for the homeless dinner and the search for the new Nintendo can seem more urgent than re-reading Matthew 2. But what if you didn’t even know the Christmas story to forget it?
This week, chatting to some young people about Christmas, they were asked,
“So what happened at Christmas?”
“Erm, didn’t Jesus die?”
I honestly thought they were having a laugh. How could the BIRTH OF GOD pass them by? But it has. We could pass the blame book about, pointing the finger at politically correct school productions featuring reindeer instead of camels. We could turn to our churches and ask what’s gone wrong. And not forgetting the best scapegoat of all, we could blame the media for commercialising the whole affair. But the blame game never has a winner.
My Grandad was doing his Christmas shopping last year in the town centre. Even though he’s been married to my Grandma for forty odd years, buying her gifts remains a yearly struggle. Needing a rest, he stopped off at Marks and Spencer for a coffee and had to sit next to an old dear, there being no other seats available. They got chatting and he said,
“All this shopping and spending. People have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas.”
“And do you know the real meaning of Christmas dear?”
“Yes. Yes I do.”
“Well praise the Lord!”
Turns out this lady knew the real meaning of Christmas. But what if she hadn’t? What if she’d had said, “What is the real meaning that everyone’s forgotten?” What would you say? Well it all started 2000 years ago in a place called Bethlehem?
This December the world will be worshipping a whole host of gods, but the humble, loving carpenter from Nazareth will remain a stranger to many.

Becci Raine

*note the picture used was the only picture of the Christmas story on the first 5 pages of google images. hmm

eq:mission November

2010-11-16T20:04:00.005Z

We kicked off our 2nd eq:mission 7am on 13th November. Once again only the YfC team knew where they were going as we started to drive out of Nottingham onto the M1, M42 and M5. We eventually ended up going through Bristol and ending up in Bath. We were being hosted by Bath YfC and St Michael's Twerton who were opening their rec house.

In the end 8 of us came from Nottingham to help St. Michael's connect with a local community close to the Church.

After lunch we went up onto the estate and started knocking on doors offering to do a free car wash. There was plenty of variety in the responses we received from no response to be invited in by the guy of the house before being kicked out by the woman of the house. Although saying that the conversation we had with the guy we had after this incident revealed we had given him a nudge in thinking about God and faith. At one point we had some children helping us wash the cars which was great and got offered cups of tea and coffee. While some of the team continued to wash cars and invite people to the opening of the rec house that evening, a few of us went down to the high street to offer free prayer and giving people chance to ask why we are a Christian. Although not a huge take up we had a great conversation with a girl from the local university who chatted to the group about how she was feeling lonely, and said she would maybe try out the church in the next few weeks.

After a nice McDonald's dinner we set up the rec house for the evening. There was a nail bar, DJ, recording studio with instruments, pizza, drinks and other food. there was a really good turn up and we were able to chat to a number of children, young people and families that we had met previously in the day, as well as some new faces that we invited in off the streets. There was a couple of young people who used to go to church as children but had stopped coming along since they started secondary school, but were interested in coming back along, along with a lad who was already planning to start getting involved in some music stuff on the drums and being involved in the St. Michael's community.

After a good nights sleep we then joined the St Michael's congregation for morning worship and then ran the youth group and helped with the children's work. For the youth group some of the group facilitated a discussion on what how we could bring Jesus into our schools and colleges.

We then finished with lunch before heading back to Nottingham.

Over the weekend Richard Wilson (the leader of St. Michael's) really encouraged the team by telling us that without them coming over none of what happened would have happened. It was an awesome time in which each one of the team saw not only how Jesus worked through them but also how mission can develop each of our faith journeys.

A big thanks to Melissa, Luke and Tristan from Bath YfC for their organisation and hospitality, and to Richard, his family and all at St. Michael's for letting us serve them.

For more pics see our facebook page www.facebook.com/nottinghamyfc

new team blog (2) Ant Stevens

2010-11-03T11:39:00.003Z

Currently I am studying at The Midlands Centre for Youth Ministry (CYM) on the youth and community work with applied theology. I drive a motor bike and am originally from Birmingham. I have previously worked with YfC in Nuneaton where i was a full time volunteer for a couple of years. Within NYfC I work at Hadden Park school leading various lunch and after school clubs. One thing i am really excited about within the work i do with NYfC is empowering and equipping young people and other young adults for living a life of active faith, through sessions like eq:uip. I am also really challenged about how we need to disciple all kinds of young people within the drop in sessions I run. I recently went away for a couple of nights with the school and their year 7's. This was a great opportunity and i was able to start building some quality relationships with them. Please pray that these will continue to grow over my time here.

new team blog (1) Miss Becci Raine

2010-10-19T21:27:00.002+01:00

On a gap year with YFC, I moved to Nottingham last month and I’m loving it here. I’m based in Chilwell and Beeston and the past few weeks have been a wonderful whirlwind of new clubs, new names and new challenges!
Two days a week I work in Chilwell school helping in humanities classes and an Asdan group. It’s fantastic to just get alongside young people and (try!) to help them with their work because I get to build relationships with young people who wouldn’t be seen dead in a Christian lunch club!
We also run drop in clubs which is an entirely new concept to me having always been involved in youth groups but it’s an amazing opportunity to get alongside young people, get to know them and let them know someone cares.
One of the things that has impacted me most though is our EQ:uip event which is an evening we run once a term to equip young people for mission. Numbers weren’t sky high but I met 16, 17 year olds who were excited about Jesus and were desperate to reach their schools and colleges with the gospel. These young people are an inspiration to me and it was an absolute privilege to be apart of something that builds them up to undertake mission.
Becci Raine, ETA

How do we treat others?

2010-09-26T21:39:00.003+01:00

First of all a huge apology to anyone (or the someone) who reads our blogs, as it has been an age since we last posted. It has been an amazing time over the past few weeks, what with a great new team starting and myself starting an MA in mission and evangelism at cliff college. All massive loads but each rewarding in different ways. On top of this, just last week i was in a performance at a local theatre group. This in itself brought up loads of things, that having reflected on, really challenged me in my youth work.

There were young people and old (I was in the latter category), and it was just really interesting in seeing how the young people were spoken to by the leaders. There was a very patronising feel to the set up. There were a number of things that created this atmosphere from the way the young people were spoken to, to the positioning of them behind the band.

It all got me thinking about how we treat young people in the sessions we run, are we a team, am i a youth worker, who listens to young people, takes on board what they are saying and what they have to offer. Do i value them as human beings. I am happy to say that the majority of the time we do, but it doesn't stop myself checking what i am doing when i am slightly tired or if i have a lot of other work to do, and i am too focused on other stuff to invest in the young people we work with.

On top of this we were having a drink after the last night of the show and chatting to some of the young people, talking about how they audition people to come into the group. One conversation was really interesting. We were chatting to some of the older group and they mentioned that if someone doesn't fit in or behave they just ignore them and in the end they will leave. Once again it really challenges me in what i see going on in the groups we run. I know young people, and us older ones as well, like to belong to something, but when does that belonging start to become territorial and then negative in the way they act to others.

So i have been challenged, as a lot of times we all are, by being in a negative environment. Lets make people feel that they are worth something, and not just there to fulfill our whims and needs. I know i have got to change a few things already. What about you?

does anything really change?

2010-08-25T07:18:00.007+01:00

'Taking good news relevantly to every young person in Nottingham' is an interesting statement, particularly the relevant bit. Working with young people this could mean that you develop different styles every moment.

So what does being relevant mean? For anyone who knows me they know that i can be the king of tenuous links. Sometimes this works, sometimes it is just ridiculous. I don't think writing pantomimes helps lol, as they are just ridiculous although they are supposed to be.

I still sometimes get a bit embarrassed by some Christians as they attempt to be ultra relevant. Whether that is the clothes they wear (mutton dressed as lamb is one relevant phrase), or the music they sing a long to or listen to (just cause it has swearing in doesn't mean you have to listen to it to be relevant). I think sometimes we try and over do the relevance as Christians. Being in the world, but not of the world is a tricky concept but really helpful to get your head round. YfC used to have the mission statement geared to the times, anchored to the rock. Awesome.

The encouraging thing is that this isn't a new thing. I am currently doing some preparatory reading for a course i am about to start and one of the books i am to read is Christian Theology: an introduction by Alistair McGrath. Here he talks about the relation between Christian theology and secular society. Mentioning how Christian poetry and song was often put to secular music even in those days. See it has always embarrassing lol, but the desire for the Christian faith to be relevant has always been there. Which shows that there has always been people who have wanted to connect people with Jesus. That is encouraging.

Balance that with the fact their has always been slight tension between those who want to do that and the established Church and then you really see nothing has changed over 2000 years.

As we strive to be relevant let us be secure in the knowledge that people have been there before us, and that the reason the Church has lasted this long is because there are people and fellowships that continue to strive to bring Jesus to their communities in a relevant way.

But let's try and get it right by providing the true Jesus and not cheesy Jesus.

5 Ways to Find God in the Everyday with Rob Bell

2010-08-13T11:30:00.002+01:00

Hi guys, just found this video on Greenbelt's site. Not going to be able to go this year, but this video gives us all a rfresher that God is always there, even when we are not aware of it.
Enjoy the video and check out the full link below.

5 Ways to Find God in the Everyday with Rob Bell on Vimeo

Rhythm

2010-08-10T20:09:00.004+01:00

I have always been told that i have no rhythm. I once tried to learn to play the guitar, i got about 4 chords (isn't that all you need to be a Christian guitar player?) The one thing i couldn't get hold of was the strumming. I really tried but just couldn't get it, so i thought you know what i will play the bass, you don't need to strum the strings, you pluck (very technical terms i know), not realising that actually you need a lot of rhythm to play the bass guitar also, so it sits in my loft.

People tell me that once you get the whole strumming thing, it becomes natural, it is so simple i am told.

How ironic then when i was at a retreat earlier this year and someone said they had been praying and the word rhythm came to them for me. Was this a prophetic word that i may become the next big worship leader, average worship leader? No...

... No, unfortunately not, although i do still harbor thoughts of becoming like Graham Kendrick. Yet i think it will be more about age than talent and musical gifting.

No i have been challenged and provoked over the past few months on the rhythm of my life. Not just how we live it but the way we live it. I often visit a marist centre on retreat, just spending time with God and some great people. The nuns there and other communities esp. those that live a monastic life live their lives in rhythm, it keeps them focused, and although to some of us it may seem dull, it actually brings discipline (another word we don't like), and a way to live a life so close to God.

Not being a planner this whole idea fills me with dread, but what i do know is that to build a life with God in it's DNA, i need a rhythm that works for me to get the best out of life.

With summer season here (you may have noticed a lack of blogs this month), and the Christian festival scene in full flow, you realise it is to develop a rhythm while away on camp, but what does it look like when you get back?

Well for me i will start with what works... Lucas on life first thing, time with my kids, and praying with my wife in the evening. Not much but we all have to start somewhere.

30hr eq:mission July '10

2010-07-18T20:42:00.005+01:00

Thought it might be quite nice for those of you that are interested to let you know in a bit more detail how our first 30hr eq:mission went. Photos will get posted later so look forward to that.

So it all started on Saturday morning when 20 of us met at the NYfC office at 8am. The group were made up of young people from across the city, and although no one came on their own (one group of 6, two of 3 and two of two - some with leaders some without) they knew no one apart from those they came with. None of the young people knew where they were going, and probably didn't even know when we got there. After an extended bus journey (no one knows why although the driver did look a bit spaced), we arrived at Hebron Evangelical Church on the Wirral at 11.30. The second half of the journey the young people split up and sat with someone they didn't know, so they could introduce each other when we got there.
Once all our things were off the bus we had an induction from Martin Dickson, Director of Wirral YfC, who was hosting us for the weekend.

After lunch we really got into it. We split into 3 groups initially: one group on sports activities, one group on gardening, tidying and one group on flier drop and prayer. Here is a Little about how each got on.
Sports group: These guys took a football out and some other sports equipment onto the local park, just to try and get some kind of game started. To start with they just started to kick a ball around themselves but within 15minutes around 20 lads turned up and so a big game of football went on, for about 3 hours.
Gardening group: This group went along to the same park as the sports group, but with the remit from the park manager that if they found anything they think they could tidy up then that would be a great help. After an initial scout round the park we found 2 places that were really untidy and where nettles and other weeds were restricting trees and plants but also making the place look untidy. So the group split into 2 and spent the next few hours really making a difference to the look of the park. While one group were working a group of lads on community service came past doing a litter pick, and one of our group managed to have a really good chat about why they were doing it and why we had come up to the Wirral to make a difference.
Street group: The final group were walking up and down the main shopping street of Wallasey, handing out fliers about the church but also about a drop in youth club we were running that night. Pretty soon they had ran out of leaflets and wondered what to do next. So they went and bought a mini white board and just wrote on it 'Free Prayer'. Initially there was some scepticism but within a few minutes they had people coming up to them. One woman asking for them to pray for her husband, another group of young people asking to be prayed for school and family issues, one group stayed and chatted for well over an hour. They then wiped the board and on it wrote 'ask me why i am a Christian'. Again, some really good conversations came and they were able to chat to some more people in the middle of the town centre.

After some cheeky pasta and pizza we set up for the drop in youth club in the church itself. Not knowing how many young people we would get, we decided to have a team go back onto the park and offer to pray for people and ask God for any word He might have for them.
Youth club: With not knowing what to expect it was really good to have around 15 young people aged 14 - 17 come along and just hang out with us playing table tennis, games consoles etc. We had also taken our vinyl decks so we had some good conversations over those about Church and what is important in their lives. Some of them really opened up. It was also really good cause the Church had a relationship with a few of them and in fact some of them were responsible for a previous youth club closing down because of vandalism, and they went up to Martin and apologised for the things they had done in the past. The young people were blown away when he told them that we had come from Nottingham just to do something for them. They all got given a 4points leaflet as they left and relationships have been restored and seeds have been sown.
Park team: a group went back onto the park and although there were some good conversations, this was really hard for some of the team, as there were drunken lads on the park and a real sense of oppression. Saying that they had a really good conversation with a couple of French girls who said they were atheists but let us pray for them, and a couple of girls who one of which really wanted to open up about something but was too scared in front of her friends, so we just prayed for them both.

After all this we split into 3 different groups and planned the next mornings service. One group led the adult Church for the first part of the service, one ran the children's session and the final group ran the youth session. .

After the preparation a late night trip to the beach was the order of the day (or should i say night).

The next morning we joined the prayer meeting before the service and then went into what we had prepared. All three groups did really well and the church were not only encouraged but challenged as well (their words) at how accepting their community is to prayer and Christian witness. One thing that got us all was the generosity and welcoming nature. Whether we were in the church or out in the community there was a real friendliness about the place.

Lunch was generously donated and then it was off back to Nottingham, to get some well earned sleep.

The team were amazing and i just want to mention : Jordan, Bethan, Luke, Abbi, Rachael, Rebekah, Josie, Owen, Angus, Georgi, Helena, Rosie, Leanne, Hannah, Luke, Sarah, Joshua, Kristy, Lukas as they all did Jesus proud.

Looking forward to the next eq:mission in November. Want to know more details contact us

Will put some pics out when we get them downloaded. Hope you are as inspired and proud as i was over the weekend.

Fort Rocky 2010 photos

2010-07-13T13:15:00.003+01:00

Nottingham YfC took a group of young people to Fort Rocky @ the pioneer centre in July 2010. Here is a bit of what happened. More pics on our facebook page.

crux media photos

2010-07-13T09:17:00.006+01:00

June 2010 was when crux media arrived in Nottingham to work with young people looking at their stories, their influences and what their dreams are. Here are some photos of the week

How do you manage change?

2010-07-11T19:56:00.007+01:00

I am a big believer in being relevant. I am also a big believer if something stays the same for too long without looking at whether it is working, it can become stale. I like adapting, i like moving things around, i like looking at things from a different perspective - when it's on my terms. Funny that isn't it? When we are in control we can cope with things so much easier. This summer is a really interesting time with Nottingham Youth for Christ, as for the first time in about 6 years, our whole team changes- apart from me. This would normally excite me, empower me and enthuse me, because normally there would be an element of it being my decision and my choice. But this time it is totally out of my hands, and i still have no idea what my team will look like from September.
If someone came up to me and said do you put your trust in God, I will normally say ' oh yes, of course, his life is in my hands.' This would probably be an answer at a point in my life when everything is going well, and things are going as i want them too. We say somethings so easily, and probably believe them until the words we say are challenged by circumstances.
Apart from the issue of us running some great events and regular programmes for young people and us needing to staff those (check out www.nottinghamyfc.co.uk/support thanks for the cheeky plug), but we have also had a great team this year that have impacted young peoples lives with the very real love of God. I want to be annoyed that we have no continuity, i want to be cross at God for circumstances that are no ones fault, but I can't because i have to believe that actually things will work so much better when i let God lead the way instead of me thinking i know the best. Although i do wish He would tell me a bit sooner.
So i have decided that change is good, but not just for the sake of change, but because actually something much better is around the corner.
What's the best way to manage change? Let the one who created you take charge.

Guest blog: Emily Swinburne

2010-07-01T10:58:00.005+01:00

Emily Swinburne is on staff at Nottingham YfC. She oversees the work in Chilwell and Beeston. She is currently taking time out from her ministry with young people to have her first child.

Its been strange few weeks for me as I have been working up to go on maternity leave, it slightly scares me knowing I’m going to be a mummy any day soon.

So as I have been working these last few weeks I have been thinking and reflecting on the past few years that I have been working for Nottingham YFC and how God has challenged me and used me. How God has taken me to places that have taken me out my comfort zone. I recently have been reading about Moses and when God called him to go back to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. I was really challenged when I was reading this story especially when Moses protested to God because he didn’t think he was good enough to go to Pharaoh. " But Moses protested to God, "Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt" Exodus 2 v 11. This made me think about how many times in the past few years God has asked me to do something and how I have protested to God saying I’m not good enough send someone else. This led me to think about how many opportunities I’ve missed because I have not Trusted God even though he promised several times to be with me and that was his response to Moses. v12 God answered " I will be with you".

I also know there have been times that I have stepped out for God and took that risk and stepped out of my comfort zone. When I have stepped out of that comfort zone how amazing it’s been. God chose Moses at that time to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and Moses did do what God ask him to do and Moses saw amazing things happen. God chose me and has a plan and purpose for my life which involves taking risks I suppose the question I need to ask myself is am I prepared to take those opportunities? Are you prepared?.

so here we are again!

2010-06-22T20:21:00.003+01:00

It's a tough week for me personally. I don't think i need to tell you that there is a football match tomorrow, one that a few people (inc. moi) are not only excited for, but very nervous about. At the start of the tournament i was a new realist of an England fan. 'We were OK but we won't win'. But you get drawn in though don't you? You start believing what people say. That we are good, we can win the whole thing (It would be nice just to win a game to start with), and that we are one of the favourites. You keep with your view to start with, trying to bat away the optimism, duck the enthusiasm, keeping focused on not being let down once again. But then when you have your back turned, it creeps up on you without you knowing. You turn on the TV and then you realise, you have the virus. It is all over you and there is no way you can get away from it. I hope, i pray, i do everything i can to make sure England has the best chance of winning a football match. Tomorrow will also be the first time my kids will have sat with me during an important football match. They have heard me listening to Nottingham Forest, but this will be the first time they have seen me in full flow.

So reality hat on..... unless we go onto win it, i am going to be disappointed. Why? because I get carried away in thinking we are the best football team on the Earth. We aren't! But we can hope, we can dream.

Thing is being a Christian, I know what it is like having the highs of a great experience in Worship, and seeing young people come to faith, but i also have the lows of wondering why God let's some stuff happen, and not getting my head around things that are happening. But the low times, make my faith real. It makes it something that isn't a flippy floppy faith, it makes it a faith with substance and depth. Just like a football fan we can sometimes get fickle in our faith lives. If God isn't doing or reaching the heights we think He should, we don't want to know.

With the last in the series of Dr. who on Saturday i hope for little disappointments over the next week , but hey then we have Andy Murray in Wimbledon. Is there no hope? I think there is...

money for nothing

2010-06-16T21:02:00.004+01:00

Have you ever wondered why some people think what they think about money? It has been interesting to watch the world cup and see the diversity of riches between those that are in charge (and the footballers), and those who have very little in the townships. It reminds me of the trips i take to India and the observation that the richer are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.
I was also reminded of the fact that people actually don't see anything wrong with this, especially those who are in the richest bracket, when watching an interview with Amanda Holden this week. Someone was commenting on how nice her shoes were and she went onto say that they aren't even a pair of those shoes that cost silly money and that they weren't that expensive. Then a few minutes later someone in the audience shouted out "How much?" and she replied "£300". For a pair of shoes? I think someone else doesn't realise what the reality of money is.
Working in the city centre up until last year you often came across 'fundraisers', who were paid to raise money for charities, and as they often went through their spiel, and trying to empathise with myself, when they found out i worked for a charity (although they could never understand why i thought that they couldn't really know what it's like because they didn't work for the charity but were being asked by a third party to represent a charity).
Running a charity, one of your main concerns is the desire to have the money to realise the dream. Nottingham YfC is no different. You become more aware of what money can actually achieve. That any money that comes to NYfC, is spent on the work we do with young people, you can have no doubt, and we are continuing to dream of impacting young peoples lives in the future. Whether that is finding the money to buy a football cage ot to running a youth alpha course. Impacting young people like Sean (names changed) who a few years ago struggled to build relationships, and would certainly not admit to having a faith. Sean now comes regularly to a number of things we run and joins in with enthusiasm. He now also calls himself a Christian, which is amazing, and being part of his journey has been a privelage.
If you would like to see your money make a difference, then check www.nottinghamyfc.co.uk/support you can donate online or set up a standing order, whichever you decide know that your real money will make a real difference.

trade in for a new model?

2010-06-08T14:19:00.006+01:00

Had the most bizarre experience today. While i was trying to order some new toner for my printer, i had a conversation with the sales assistant, as always trying to get me to buy something else. She explained to me about this new printer and that with the cash back option it would cost me less to have a new printer filled with lovely toner, that it would to buy a set of toner for my existing printer, (of which i have only had for 4 months max). How mad is that? That actually you end up spending less getting a newer model. Although this seems like a brilliant idea (and yes i know it is just a con because printer makers know that the money is in cartridges, rather than in the printers themselves), but having reflected on it a while, it shows how easy it is to throw things away, how fickle we are, that as soon as something has run it's course, we move on to the next best thing. Mobile phones, prime example, you don't have to look after your phone because you know you will get an upgrade pretty soon. Nowadays we don't have to work anymore to keep things going, we don't have to try for the long haul because there is always something newer to replace it.

Chatting to 2 of our year outs, one from Canada and one from Germany (bring on the world cup). They both said there are so many older houses here than where they live. Especially in Canada, Kristy said that it is all new towns and cities, and in Germany Lukas says when a house gets too old they knock it down and rebuild.

If you are like me you will remember when Dr. Who used to be over 6 weeks, with 20 minute episodes gripping you each week with a cliff hanger. You think we live in an age now where people would persevere with that?

We see it a lot in magazines with relationships, that when we get bored with someone, we trade them in, get someone a bit younger, a bit more lively, someone with a bit more money.

Do we move on too quickly in life? or do we try and make things work. Do we get bored when we can't do something or do we persevere.

If we want quick fixes in our lives then Christianity isn't the answer, but if you want the best life possible, want to journey with others that can easily get things wrong, but come out the other side having learnt lessons, then Jesus wants you to get on board.

Let's not throw things away, think of the waste, whether a book, a toy or even a relationship, things we value deserve to be worked at.

Invest in some toner.

Guest blog - Phil Knox : Where is His Kingdom?

2010-06-01T10:21:00.004+01:00

I don’t know if you, like me, were gripped by election fever. I enjoyed an amazing night of banter on Facebook as I stayed up until 5am watching the results come in while drinking lots of coffee and eating Doritos. And now we have a new Prime Minister and he’s got a new best friend to help him out and now all the questions are about how do they change the country and move us forward.

I wonder whether when they looked at the world over 2000 years ago, the ‘cabinet’ of Father, Son and Holy Spirit had a similar conversation – how do we bring this broken, hopeless world back to ourselves? And when we send our diplomat to earth, what policies will he be shouting about?

When Jesus came to earth, his message was simple, loud and clear. ‘Good news! The Kingdom of God is near! Repent and believe!’ The reason I work for YFC, the reason I am active in my community and the ache I feel whenever I see young people is because I believe in the Kingdom of God and I am desperate for this world to embrace it, its policies and mostly its King. So what does it look like?

Firstly it is where Jesus is King. A street, a school, but most significantly a heart. And it is a Kingdom of relationship rather than rules. It’s about the heart rather than looking good on the outside. Morality and spirituality are woven together. If you are after a political manifesto then the sermon on the mount is the party conference speech. The poor are blessed, it’s peacemakers rather than a defence policy and traditional sins like murder and adultery go deeper and become more about the heart – actually issues of anger and lust, ‘If a man looks at a woman…' It’s party political tag line is ‘Love God, Love others, Love wins!’ And the picture Jesus paints of being in the Kingdom is more like being a guest at a massive party than a solemn member of a religion.

What would it look like if this Kingdom invaded our streets and towns in 2010? I see fat cat bankers running out of their glass towers in city centres to the nearest McDonalds and spending all their bonuses on feeding the poor, the prostitutes, the chavs, the oppressed and the downtrodden. I see a football match with people of all backgrounds and ages, Liverpool and Man Utd fans on the same team, asylum seekers and skinheads, ASBO kids and police, Labour and Conservative members, hooligans and policemen, former terrorists and soldiers – and hugs and handshakes after the game because they know a love bigger than themselves. And in a generation where so many sons and daughters grow up not knowing a parent, I see moments of children returning home to the dad they never knew, the father seeing them far off being filled with compassion, running, putting his arms around him, a coat on his back and a ring on his finger. This generation was once lost but now is found.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray, ‘Father your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven’ and may we each day pray this for this world of ours. May we fix our eyes and our actions on a relationship with Jesus and a heart that is full of love and compassion. And may we dream and live for banquets of generosity, football matches that unite and a lost generation coming home to a party.

Phil Knox works for Youth for Christ at head office as part of their missions team.

Why do people like football?

2010-05-12T21:52:00.005+01:00

OK so i am biased. As are most football fans. But this morning was hard. After having convinced myself that i wasn't bothered if Forest didn't win last night and get through to the play off final, sitting at half time in the city ground, i was absorbed in the knowledge we were going to do it. But pretty much like always we didn't. Don't get me wrong, finishing 3rd in the league i would have taken at the start of the season, but in the moment, you start to hope and dream of what could be.

Screaming your teams name, jumping up every time they go forward and have a shot, it is easy to get carried away with the occasion and the emotion of the event. I think one of our problems in life is that we live for the experience, the highs of life. This can be great, especially as we learn and experience hoe much God loves us, but it can also become a crutch. When we live for the experience it can be like a drug, and although that time you are on a high nothing feels better, each time you come down from that high, it is easy to feel low, and keep feeling low till our next high. I know after last nights match what a downer felt like, and it was more so because there were times where we were in the lead.

How do we lead our lives? are we looking for the experience or are we content with what we have? Our lives would be so much richer if we look for God in the everyday, see His creation around us, rather than dismissing it and believing He is only around when we feel warm and fuzzy. If we live like the latter we deny God His creativity and His desire to be in every bit of our lives.

If we see what God truly has to offer our lives will be so much richer. Then when we do experience His love and mercy, it won't then lead to a downer but to a richer and fuller life.

Will i listen to my own words? Of course, but i will still be misguided enough to believe Forest will get promoted next season. Duh...

How easy is it to listen?

2010-05-12T21:26:00.003+01:00

I don't know if you think your life is full or not? I have come to realise that i like noise, and i like to have stuff happening. I wouldn't say I don't like silence, but i find it hard. Whether i am in the car and have to have the radio on, or in the house and there has to be music or the TV on. Maybe even in the office where i have to have the Internet on or on the phone. What do we put in our lives that helps us avoid silence?

I think silence is very powerful. Whether it is the end of the last Dr who episode where there is just silence, or whether it is the disciples in the boat and He calms the storm, which would have totally freaked me out, the impact of silence is deafening.

I have just been to a convent down in Gloucstershire for a retreat and although it wasn't a silent retreat, it was difficult to get into. No internet access, one small square inch of mobile phone coverage and all of a sudden you feel like there is nowhere to turn, but once I got through the first hour or so you realised how powerful and impacting the silence could be. By cutting out all the noise you start to realise that God doesn't just want to hear from you but He wants to talk to you. I know a lot of people, Christians and not who would say well you can't hear God, or He doesn't speak to me. I think i have realised that actually God does want to and does actually speak to me, the question i have to ask myself though is ' is there too much noise in my life to hear God's still small voice?'

Does anything get in the way of you hearing from Him?

Guest Blog - Rev. Martin Kirkbride : when do you feel audacious?

2010-05-04T09:28:00.006+01:00

Rev. Martin Kirkbride is the Church leader at Holy Trinity, Lenton and The Priory, Lenton. He is also regional co-ordinator of New Wine.

Last week I spent a couple of days in London, breathing the refined atmosphere of Kensington (even if my hotel was in Earls Court). Many years ago we lived in London and I miss the place. Would love to go back to the noise and bustle - but please don’t get excited in Lenton, I’m not going to. One memorable part of this recent visit was spending a couple our hours wandering round the V& A ( Victoria & Albert Museum). It was great till we got to the fashion section. There was a 1970’s exhibit that included flared trousers and platform shoes . Now to all you younger guys who walk round in jeans that only start where your boxer shorts finish - I think you look utterly naff. But on reflection I think I’d rather walk round Nottingham with half my backside and Calvin Kleins on display than revert to my 1970’s embarrassment of lurching round 5 inches taller than I really was to the background noise of my trouser bottoms flapping against each other. ( slight overstatement as I can’t afford Calvin Kleins and somehow Tesco branded boxers don’t have the same street cred)
Anyway , sans naff fashions I also attended the nearby early morning prayer meeting at Holy Trinity Brompton . They apologised that the guy supposed to be running it had been held up at Chicago Airport. Having myself had some delay at Watford Gap I fully understood the stress of international travel. The prayer meeting commenced with the challenging greeting “Are you feeling audacious this morning? Are you an audacious person?”. Now those of you who know me will be aware that I’m not even a person in a morning till I’ve had at least one very strong black coffee. Generally it would take me several cups of caffeine before I could even contemplate aspiring to audacity. But the statement immediately resonated within me. What can be more audacious than a small group of half awake very ordinary people believing that spending 60 minutes in prayer can have eternal significance, can shape global events, can bring healing and transformation of lives, can change hearts and minds, repair broken relationships, fix broken hearts, bring peace out of turmoil? How can it be that the creator of heaven and earth, the one in whom all things hang together, the one who unlike the fashions never changes, would invite you and me to have input and partnership to his plans?

major bloopers

2010-04-28T20:21:00.003+01:00

i don't know whether you ever stay until the end of a film in the cinema or watch the credits on a DVD to see if there are any out-takes showing huge gaffs and people messing up. I don't think any of them could have come up with what we saw or heard today. On a huge campaign trail and trying to retain their government from 3rd place (although people keep showing me that that is more than possible), what a huge opportunity Gordon Brown had to meet some real people, in a campaign where he still has the responsibility of running our country. You know he is probably fuming at himself today as he was overheard, under pressure, muttering that a woman he had met was a 'bigot'. Definitely not a wise statement in a close fought election battle.
A couple of thoughts on this whole situation. First, we all make mistakes, but there is no smoke without fire. I made a pact with myself when i was 16. i wasn't a christian, but had got into the habit of swearing quite a lot and i didn't like it, it made me feel horrible about myself, so i decided to stop swearing then. Now if something bad happened to me, or if i hurt myself, i wouldn't slip into swearing because it is not in my head to do so. if i swore occasionally, then i would probably do so if i hit my thumb with a hammer, because the words are in my head. It is what is said and thought when no one else sees or hears that will come out at some point.
Second, we all make mistakes and i think that the mistake that Gordon made today will probably come to haunt him on May 6th, because however many times he apologises he will now be tarnished. We are so good at holding things against people. The Church, as a whole, the place where grace, mercy, forgiveness and restoration are the manifesto of their leader Jesus, are up there with the best. How forgiving as a Christian am I? or do i hold things against people. What do we stand for?
I am not a political beast, and for me the elections are not about personalities but about who, as a team, can lead this country. Yet i have been challenged by how i judge people and what I, as a candidate representing Jesus, can offer others. Richard

can everything be man-made?

2010-04-20T15:25:00.005+01:00

Do you find you have to try and control everything? I think there are certain things i cannot cope with if i am not in charge. For example it was Joel's 4th birthday last week, and for his party he had decided to have it at a soft play area. In itself that seems fine, but this was the first party either of my children had had that wasn't a good old fashioned kids party. No musical chairs, no pass the parcel, no mad games, just soft play. So, my most successful part as a dad so far, had suddenly stopped. I had nothing to run.
As you are aware there has been this most surprising effect of a volcano over our flight paths over the past week or so. This is something that no one had seen coming, and has created the most havoc that we have seen in the air the UK has ever seen. Now for a lot of people it has effected their lives, some have just had extended holidays, others it has cost them a lot of money. What i do find interesting is that, having a conversation with someone the other day, is that there is the feeling that this should have been sorted before, and that someone didn't do their job properly.
You know what, i get the feeling that we think, sometimes, everything has to be controlled, and when it can't we just can't cope. It also seems to me that when we get to that situation whether that is through extreme weather or through a natural occurrence, that we still need someone to blame, someone has to be at fault.
Let's face it we are like that as a Christian as well, we need to be in control, and it is so hard to let God be in control. The problem we have is that He knows us better than we know ourselves, and that it is always best to let him lead, even if it is hard. If we try and run things in our own strength, we know there is a chance it will fail, but letting Him lead? only leads to success. So are our lives going to be man made or God made?

one death after another

2010-04-08T15:35:00.005+01:00

I was really fortunate on my birthday to receive a blu-ray player. being one that likes techy eqpt. it was going to happen one day, and so persuaded Laura to go in with other family members for the next set of birthdays and Christmas's' lol for this blu ray. And having got a player i then needed to purchase some blu ray discs. And with me taking my kids with me shopping, i ended up with 2 films, cloudy with meatballs and 2012.

What struck me about 2012 was that pretty much it was about death. Yes there was the hope that the hero(es) might make it, and i suppose you would say ' well, what do you expect, it is a disaster movie', but i just couldn't keep up with how many people kept dying. It was like the original A-Team in the 80's. They used to end up reeking so much havoc out of a matchbox and a piece of string, and there were people who just ended up diving out the way when blown up. aah to be a stunt man lol.

It just got me thinking that we end up taking life so much for granted. so we have this amazing opportunity to live, yet we don't really do that much with it before it becomes too late. we end up going through the motions and not really thinking about much, when there is such a life to live. we can end up making such a difference to people around us and the place we live. Changing lives and having such an impact. Yet we just tick over half the time, probably because it seems that it is too much like hard or that actually we are not that important and probably one of the biggest reasons is that we actually don't think we can do much. Those are the lies that we end up believing often because it is easier and we are less likely to be let down or hurt.

And the irony of it all is that the only reason we can live to have such a huge impact is because one person died. How mental is that, the fact that life can only be had if we accept the death of one guy. Jesus. So when we put that death into perspective, it wasn't just one of the many we say day by day, but one that has made, does make and will continue to have a huge impact on everything He touches.

Guest blog - Roy Crowne : Holy huddle?

2010-04-01T12:16:00.006+01:00

Roy Crowne is executive director of Hope - an organisation that encourages Churches and Christians do put word and deed together in mission. Here he gives us an insight into his dreams for the Church and young people over this Easter period

Saturday afternoons have been exciting for me over the last few weeks, as I am a bit of a rugby fan and Six Nations is probably the most exciting tournament, apart from the World Cup.

As I sat watching the intense game last Saturday there was a ‘ruck’ in which players were engaged which seemed to last for ever. No-one was moving and actually they were starting to move back.

My mind went off to a thought I had, maybe from a book or some speaker I had heard, where they were talking about the church getting stuck in a ‘huddle’, with no ability to move forwards. ‘Huddles’ or ‘rucks’ are quite important for planing or developing a strategy, but not to stay there. If you stay there you will always end up going backwards. You see – in the end the ball has to come out and go forwards with the goal, the touch down, and the try, then the conversion.

The church in many places remains as a ‘huddle’. My dream for you as young people is that you throw the ball out, stating that’s where we are heading. Then with all the energy, drive of the forward, the middle row and the back row, everyone works towards the end of the conversion.

I think this is a really exciting time for us to throw out the ball and for people to follow with the goal of the conversion. Jesus made an amazing statement, when he says to his disciples that the way to change the world is one by one, but the only way to achieve it is to throw the ball out into the deep and let God achieve the try and convert.

There was a fantastic little comment I heard once, when I was fishing – which I don’t enjoy – when someone put a worm on a hook, and I said to them ‘I don’t like worms’. They agreed, but said that whether you like them or not is not the issue. The fish like worms and the worms will catch the fish. So when we step out we may not always like some of those God has called us to embrace, but by doing so you will discover that there is a God in heaven who catches the fish.

So, this week, today, this month, this Easter, let’s throw the ball forwards against the opposition, and see what Jesus will do to mobilise the team to action.

Roy will be speaking at our next eq:uip event on 11th June. For more details check out www.nottinghamyfc.co.uk/eq

do we really understand what we are able to acheive?

2010-03-23T20:23:00.007Z

Having been doing mission across Nottingham over the last 9 years i have been surprised, looking back, how much God has let us be involved in. Although we haven't purposely set out to be schools workers and doing Christian schools work, we have ended up being able to see nearly 2,000 young people each week through our work in schools. This has been through just serving the schools and giving them support and standing by them, in particular with spiritual and pastoral issues. Yes, we do assemblies and we do mission weeks through lessons and roadshows, but schools have really appreciated the ongoing support we have been able to give them.
To be honest, as i have looked at Jesus I see this as something that He would do. Jesus was someone who didn't judge but stood with people, got alongside them and supported them.
This is also something that we are passionate in doing. Getting alongside young people, supporting them when they feel alone, when they feel no one else is around for them, that is where Jesus would be.
Through the things we do, and looked to acheive we look back and see that by just being there, we suddenly have the opportunity to speak into thousands of young peoples lives.
Isn't it funny what creeps up on you, when you just aim to serve others.

Whose strength?

2010-03-17T13:06:00.005Z

Being a bloke, i have this competitive edge. Even as a youth worker (I know i shouldn't) I very rarely will try less than 100% when it comes to playing sport or games. As i tend to play at this level quite often it is always a little embarrassing and humiliating when i lose. If it is a young person that beats me then they also like to tell me that they have beat me.

Of course then my pride kicks in, because my best wasn't good enough, and that sometimes hurt. I also look at some of the people in the Bible and see how good they were and what great things they did and sometimes wish i was like them.

I was reading in Judges about Samson and the person he was and i remember back to Sunday school and hearing how strong he was and how muscly he looked on the picture. i think i always saw him as the 'Christian superhero' (apart from Jesus obviously) and was someone who was the ultimate superman. Yet i was reading a commentary the other day saying that idea of Samson being that type of man, the He-man of his time is actually wrong and denying God. It says that people were surprised by his strength and that they couldn't work out where he got his strength from. Well, if he was that muscle bound man people wouldn't have been surprised and people would have known exactly where he got his strength from. His muscles.

So to know that Samson got his strength from God challenges me to think about how much i use my own strength and how much i depend on God. OK maybe not at table tennis, but at life stuff, things that are really important. Decisions that i need to make, Choices that come my way, i want to be strong, but how often do i realise there is no way i am strong enough on my own.

eq - mission training for young people

2010-03-10T21:20:00.004Z

One of the most exciting things that Nottingham YfC have been
involved in over the past few years has been the training of young people to share their faith. Starting in 2003 it has been great to see over 40 young people trained and equipped in sharing their faith to their peers, through a year long course.
Although that generation of eq has come to an end, NYfC and myself in particular are still passionate about training and equipping young people in mission and evangelism. So the regeneration of eq has arrived. In 2 streams eq will aim to put mission and evangelism back on the agenda of young people across the city, and give them opportunity to hear from experienced and gifted evangelists and mission practicioners as well as giving opportunities to do mission.

eq:uip is our training hub. It happens 3 times a year and will give young people the opportunity to hear from the best in the business. It will be challenging and thought provoking and most of all it will give practical tips on how to share your faith with the people around you. Our first event is June 11th and we have Roy Crown (who heads up HOPE) as our speaker.

eq:mission is our experiential zone. Twice a year we will take a group of young people somewhere across the country to make a difference in a community, as well as give them opportunities to share their faith with others. Our first mission trip is July 17-18 .

Future dates will be produced with enough time for youth leaders to put these in their programme. The eq:uip events are turn up on the door for a fiver per person (youth leaders come free with 5 or more young people), and the eq:mission is thirty quid inclusive. Our heart and passion is for the young people of the church to be mission focused as part of their faith. For more details on the up coming eq events the check out http://bit.ly/9XNLPt
Let's see young people learn through hearing and doing in a world where it is all about having the experience that develops young people most, what a great opportunity to change your world.

do we dip our toes in?

2010-03-08T21:19:00.004Z

I have recently been very challenged about everything i do and how much i put into it.

I have been out of action over the weekend due to a minor op, and this has coincided with Laura deciding that we are going to redecorate the lounge. Now for me this has been quite good timing, as i am not very good at decorating, and i tend to cut a lot of corners, and it ends up looking worse than it did before.

While i have been out of action i have put our V+ box to work and while the rest of the family scuttled off to church on Sunday morning, i started to watch a soul surviour programme that i had recorded. It had the very funny J.John spaeking about commitment and how people like to dabble in something but not really jump in with both feet. There is a fear of committing to anything.

Working with young people I see that a lot, and in a way that doesn't bother me because we all tried to get away with things when we were younger. What worries me is that us adults don't seem to have grown out of the problem. A few years ago i worked with someone, that when you asked them if they wanted to do something, or plan something they would say " I'll let you know" or "we'll see" .

On the bus journey into work today i got chatting to a woman next to me and we were chatting about our kids, and she kept refering ot her other half as 'her partner'. Even in reltionships we are sceptical about getting let down or hurt, so our defense shields say ' I will keep things at an arms length.'

Now .... i suppose this could all sound logical, even to me, if people get hurt, people get trod on and things kept going wrong. What i can't get my head round is when people who claim to be Christians do the same with God. You see for me, this is the one relationship where i know i will be safe, i know I won't get let down, and yet i still, sometimes keep Him at arms length. I don't totally hand my life over to Him. Why? Because sometimes we let our nervousness that we have of people, affect our relationship with Jesus.

This doesn't make me less loved by Jesus, it doesn't mean i am a rubbish Christian, it just means i am not getting everything i can out of life and, more importantly, I am not getting everything God wants to give me. And with this in mind i think how is this going to affect 'The Church' ? because if we don't have everything God wants to give us how can we pass it on.

So the question i have is ...... do i keep dipping my toes in or am i going to get soaked?

Guest blog: Paula-Marie Leech : Decisions

2010-03-01T08:54:00.005Z

Each month Nottingham YfC are having a guest blogger. This month Paula-Marie Leech, chair of trusttees for NYfC gives her thoughts...

Decisions, decisions, decisions!

I am currently trying to decide which is the best printer to buy for the NYFC office this should be a fairly simple task after the trustees at their last meeting deciding upon a colour laser printer. But no, now I have to decide which company should make it, should it be HP, Cannon, Xerox, Dell, Oki and so the list goes on... and even when I decide on who should make it I then have to decide which model it should be, the list is equally as endless..., as well as choosing how much I will spend and deciding if what it does is what we need etc. Our lives seem to be an endless number of metres of hurdles, making one decision and being immediately confronted by the next. Not to mention the worry of will it be the right decision, will I make it over the hurdle?, will I end up flat on my face? This reminded me of my eldest daughter on holiday in Switzerland trying to buy a traditionally dressed wind up Swiss musical doll as a souvenir. There were three to choose from a red dress, a blue dress or a green dress some would say this was not a difficult decision. However, she couldn't decide and trying to be helpful the shopkeeper much to my horror started bringing out more dolls with different coloured dresses and then different musical tunes!!! As I suspected this only made the decision making worse, as the more there was to choose from the more unsure she got! Needless to say we had been in the shop for what seemed like an eternity, when I asked her why she couldn't choose, she replied 'I don't want to make the wrong decision.' You will be pleased to know that she did eventually make a decision, the blue dress out of the original three choices!
What still amazes me is the sheer number of decisions that we make from getting up in the morning to going to sleep at night. But what amazes me more is that this is the way God made us to be, he gives us free choice, he allows us to make bad decisions just as so many people we read about in the Bible did, he continues to love us whatever we decide, he even allows us the decision not to return his love and be in a relationship with him. So we need to remember that God gives us permission to choose for ourselves, no doubt we won't always make the right decisions, but we can be assured that God loves us and remains with us whatever decision we make.

Paula-Marie has been chair of NYfC since last November. She is married to Pete, who is training at St. John's college to be an Anglican minister. They have 4 children.

do we find it hard to multi task?

2010-02-22T21:23:00.003Z

Being a bloke, i often get told that I am never going to be great at multi-tasking. I think it is a gift, i also think that most women are great at it. But i think i can hold my own, i think that even the most lowly of men (i.e. me) can train myself to do two things at once. Now i know that i can't rub my tummy and pat my head, i know that that is beyond me, but right now, believe you and me, i am multi tasking at this very minute. As i am typing this blog i am, yes wait for it, I am watching a DVD. lol, yeah ok so i am probably not really multi tasking, but like i say i am a bloke.

Last week, i was at the youth alpha conference, and was listening to Mike Pilivachi and he said something that i found really challenging. If you follow our tweet @nottinghamyfc you will have already heard it, but he said ' If you just read the Bible you will dry up, if you just follow the Spirit you will blow up, but if you put them together you will grow up.'

Going round lots of churches and speaking at different fellowships over the years, you do seem to see people favouring either the Bible or the Holy Spirit. Me myself, i am a raving penty and so do know i put a lot of emphasis on God's spirit, because He is what God sent us to help us to be in a relationship with Him, and therefore he helps us to communicate with our father in heaven. But to have the Holy Spirit without the bible would be, and is in some circles, dangerous and not what God would want for us and our faith. The Bible, i also see in so many fellowships, become a God on it's own. Let's face it, there are some really hard things in the bible to get your head round, and often i can end up reading it and feeling like there is nothing in it for me.
So when we do faith, when we journey in our faith it is good to remember that God knew it would be difficult, God know we would struggle. That is why He left His Spirit, because He knew. So let us not neglect what God has given us, both His word and His Spirit.

See how you do, and even if you struggle, go on try multi tasking.

Do we give God the credit?

2010-02-10T19:52:00.006Z

In quite a few Churches across the UK, over the last few years there has been a song that has been sung: ' you give and take away, you give and take away, but my heart will gladly say ' blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be His name'' . I don't know whether i find it easier to forget God when times are good or when times are bad.
There are times in our life when things are going really well. I am not talking about when you are taking steps of faith and God is obviously there. No, cause they are times i know i thank God for what he does. For example when i started Nottingham YfC, we were living by faith and every meeting every school we started partnerships, every bit of money we got in, was given credit to God. It was obvious.
What i am talking about is when things are going well, we start to take things for granted and we are comfortable with where we are. We seem to forget about past struggles and what God does for us to keep us in that place, day to day miracles, conversations etc.
So we would think that when bad times happen, then we would remember God and ask Him to help us, to guide us, to comfort us. But we don't do we? Our default tends to be to blame God. To tell Him it was all His fault. I have been continually reminded and challenged by a news article i saw 2 days after the Haiti disaster, it was a group of Christians that were just praising God, and as they were interviewed they said that whatever happens God is their father in heaven, and that they didn't understand why, but they knew that God would be there to comfort.
WOW what an interview, how can we forget about God? How can we blame Him for the bad stuff that happens? I know from my experience that a lot of the stuff that goes wrong in my life is my fault, then other things that are hard can be attributed to people around me making strange decisions, and then there is the unexplainable bad things. But to blame God is a bit of a cop out. How can i claim that God is love and then say it is His fault for things that are wrong?
Not just the things that don't go the way i want, but things that are fundamentally wrong. I would be a hypocrite then.
So yes, things don't always go well, I don't get things right, but whether life is good or bad, whether I have honoured God or dismissed Him in the past, i now choose to say 'Blessed be your name.'

what are we building?

2010-02-02T22:11:00.001Z

Interesting thought, i was on twitter earlier this evening and saw this quote:

'We do not start churches to make disciples. We must make disciples, so that churches will start'

I am a big believer of the Church, and i have believed for a long time that the Church is Gods vehicle for evangelism. If you have read any of my earlier thoughts on here, you will know that i think that the Church is created more for those who aren't in it, than are.

I remember when Joel had started to be a little disobedient. He decided that he wasn't going to do as he was told, and was just going to do what he wanted to do. With this in mind he decided to rip his big sister's colouring book, while she was using it. This obviously didn't go down well with Amy and when Joel decided he wasn't going to say sorry, I put him on the naughty step (good thinking super nanny). In the end it was about me making Joel say sorry rather than him saying sorry for the right reason. It was the end product, rather than the process, that was what i was looking for. and i realise that it is one of my many faults as a dad is that i look at my kids and i expect them to do the right thin without understanding why they should do it.

I think sometimes our focus is the church rather than disciples. And the problem with that is that Christianity , our faith, becomes about organisations and not about people. The Kingdom of God becomes about geography and not about peoples hearts. This was the problem when Jesus came on the scene. Jews were expecting the Messiah was going to come and defeat the roman empire with the sword, but Jesus was more concerned with changing peoples hearts. There are times when you see Churches and organisations just trying to do anything to stay alive, their office, their building becomes their God, and the impact they have becomes less and less, because what they are about is about staying above water.

I pray more than ever that we (NYfC) do not spend more time in an office, doing admin, management and all the other peripherals, than we doing being and sharing Jesus to young people we work with.

Let us focus on what we are called to do, 'to go into the world and make disciples' and then we will see Churches grow as a bi product and we would really see God's kingdom grow.

Reggie Dabbs event: March 3rd

2010-01-27T15:22:00.006Z

Hey guys, this is an amazing opportunity to get young people to see an amazing communicator. He speaks to over a million young people each year in the states and is going to be in Nottingham for one night only. He will also be doing lessons and assemblies in Bluecote wollaton and aspley site the sameday, March 3rd. This is something you will not want to miss. Check out the fliers above for all the details.

keeping optimistic

2010-01-26T09:57:00.005Z

I think i am getting old. I used to love partying and staying out, or even being the life and soul of the party, but now, i know, i just want a chilled life most of the time. Is it age? (all of you younger than 35 say yes), or is it something else? I know that in many areas of my life where i can be pulled down. In both ministry and personal life, where i try to be creative and try to up my game... just make that extra effort, there is sometimes something that pulls you down, something that puts a downer on things. Let's face that something is often people. People who maybe say you can't do this, you can't afford that, what if it fails etc. We have to be very careful in our response to those people because not only can those words or their attitudes affect you and bring you down, it can also effect your attitude to others.
I was really challenged the other day when, in one of these moods, I read a few verses from Job. chapter 42: 7-11 what really jumps out at me is that after all his (so called) friends had done to job over the years he prayed for them. What an attitude, I know it says we are to love our enemies as well as our friends, but to pray for them? I tell you what though, it brings a different perspective to our lives, because not only does it impact your relationship with those that aim to drag you down, but it also helps those negative words bounce off you, and helps you get back to where you could be going. Being creative, taking risks and making a difference. So the question is where do you want to be? down in a hole or riding the wind?

is it easier to give than recieve?

2010-01-19T15:00:00.003Z

We are currently working through a Leonard sweet book, and one of the points he makes is that it is easier to give than it is receive. I know we live in a culture where everyone seems to be on the take, and The Church and Christianity has done a lot over the last few years to show that we want to serve and make a difference, and give to things we think are important. In fact i often do a workshop on how to serve local schools, as we think this is really important. When you look at it though, you ask yourself when you do give of yourselves, when you do make that effort to put something into a project, do people take what you offer or do they just let you do it.
There is a difference between taking something and receiving it. Over the years i have had some great Christmas presents. I remember some random family member knitting me some lovely socks, I also remember getting some great Christmas jumpers. Yes i took the presents and yes i said thank you, like the good boy i was brought up to be, but did i fully receive them? No, I found the quickest way to put them under the stairs and they were never seen again.
When someone offers you something do you take it or do you receive it? To receive something we have to accept it and make it ours.
When we connect with Churches and schools we offer a service, we like to support and help in anyway. Some institutions decide to take, they use us without really getting the best out of us. They take what we offer and don't see how it could be best used in their situation. Others, they receive the offer and grab hold of it with 2 hands, and look to the best way they can use what is on the table, they will talk to us and try and adapt and work with what they have.
When someone offers us something, do we take it and fully accept it.
It is easier to give, why? Because the power is with the giver. If you have something to give and you give to someone who doesn't have that then you are seen to be the provider, the giver, the one who has it. It can become a pride thing. When we give do we give out of pity? or because people are equal to us and deserve what we have, and in which case, do we give as much as we would want them to truly receive?
To truly receive and accept, means to get rid of pride and say I need what you have, you have something that i need and i am not ashamed of that.
God wants to give us so much, do we accept that? do we receive what God has truly offered us, or does pride get in the way of that too. In fact Leonard sweet goes on to say that if we prefer to give then we are putting ourselves in line with God, as he is giver and we were created to receive from Him. Not saying i agree but thought provoking. Be who you were created to be, and receive what other people , and God, want to give you. Rich Dawson

Nottingham YfC dates for 2010

2010-01-11T14:11:00.010Z

Here are some important dates within Nottingham YfC for 2010. Some may be useful for you to note down. Events will be added as life moves on.
These could and will change as we go through the year. For regular updates and any changes please check out www.nottinghamyfc.co.uk/calendar

January
11th full team meeting
17th Richard speaking @ NG7 at Holy Trinity Lenton
18th Trustees meeting
22nd Half night of prayer @ NYfC office
23rd Richard speaking at Southwell youth weekend
26th Day of prayer and fasting for Ignite

February
1st Kristy Buck arrives our new eta from Canada
14th Richard speaking at St. Michael's Breaston
15th Trustees meeting
18-19th Youth Alpha conference @ HTB
21st Richard speaking at Foxhill evangelical church

March
3rd Reggie Dabbs event @ The Christian Centre
4th lunch meeting with youth leaders about eq
8th Full team social evening
15th Richard speaking at Lent meeting in Sandiacre
19-21st YfC team running youth weekend away for New Life Baptist church
22nd Trustees meeting

April
12th Trustees meeting
19th Full team meeting

May
2nd Speaking at Clumber Hall
5-7th YfC senior staff retreat
16th Richard on Radio Nottingham
speaking at Holy Trinity Lenton
17th Trustees meeting
22nd Youth leader training

June
21st Trustees meeting
27th Richard speaking at Sawley Baptist Church
28th Full team training

July
11th Richard speaking at Foxhill Evangelical Church
12th Trustees meeting

September
6th School term begins
20th Trustees meeting
25th Agm and NYfC showcase event

October
8-10th Team weekend away
9th National YfC showcase and commissioning
18th Trustees meeting

November
15th Trustees meeting

December
6th full team Christmas social
13th Trustees meeting

Nottingham YfC's verse for 2010

2010-01-10T20:45:00.007Z

I think it is really interesting what people think of you. I was always a kid who tried to impress, and often got caught out being a fraud. I remember once lying about my uncle who, i told other kids, could get any football shirt for free with their names on it. Obviously i got caught out, as i did when i told a few people i had the entire transformers set and had set my loft up as a battle between the autobots and the decepticons, again quite easily found out when people got fed up of waiting to be invited round to my house. I think for a lot of people, not all, there is something inside us that makes us want to be liked by other people. We often see young people who are so obsessed by getting people to like them they often forget about reality itself.
The thing is people will like us if we stand up for what is right, and they will respect us if we are fair and just. Instead of looking at the end product we should look at how we achieve it. 2 Corinthians 5:20 talks about us being Christs ambassadors. An ambassador is someone that is appointed to represent a nation to other peoples. Now a lot of us would feel we would not be worthy of such a position, but Paul says that it is because of what He has done for us, and the change He has made in our lives, that we are living proof of God's kingdom. In fact God's kingdom is more about peoples lives than geography now, it is about the turn around in individuals and groups of people.
That is why for 2010 i see this as a pivotal verse for Nottingham Youth for Christ. People are not flocking to Churches and so it is more important than ever that we are being living products of what God can do.
Let us stand together and show how awesome God is, yes we are not perfect, yes we all mess up, but isn't that an even bigger testament of what God can do through people like you and me. Let us show the world how amazing Jesus is. Richard D.

What do you want to do?

2009-12-31T17:53:00.003Z

We have a choice don't we? Well, life is about choices, from whether or not to have breakfast (you can't stop me having mine), to whether we choose to believe someone or not. I chose to collect all the dr who dvd's, yes the classics as well as the new ones. It was a decision i made, it is not a popular one in our household, as they have now been banished to an upstairs cupboard, but i will complete, yes i will complete.
We do 2 things this time of year. We look back and reflect and see what has gone on, and we look forward. This time of year we can choose something aswell. We choose to focus on one of those 2 things. We either choose, as we reflect, to stay in the past and to live our lives with no vision and expect nothing to change and we decide that we cannot influence anything, because we cannot make a diference. We live on past guilt, on past decisions that may or may not have gone well. We can spend our lives in the past. We can also choose to do the opposite and live for what we dream, what we would like to see in 2010. i suppose this is what new years resolutions are about. We can expect great things, we can make a difference and we can dream dreams.
Problem is, we have to hold them in the balance. I know people who do live in the past and are scared to dream, don't feel like they deserve happiness because of what has happened in the past. I also know people who live in past glories and will never admit that the dream is over but live on what has happened. Then again i know people who don't learn and who just keep making the same mistakes, over and over again, without realising they are going over old ground.
I would love to hear what your dreams are for this next year, maybe they are built on regrets of the past year, or maybe they are taking what has happened in the past and moving them onto the next level. Someone once said(someone very important), without vision the people perish. what's going to happen to you in 2010?

How do we read the Bible?

2009-12-17T15:19:00.006Z

We have our annual conference each year @ Youth for Christ and each year we get some quality speakers. This year we are going to hear a legend call Lon Allison, who trained in musical theatre, so has a very unique way of communicating his theology. (I love it, bring on camelot again lol). Last year we had a guy called Leonard Sweet and his theme was the Bible: an apple, an orange or an ostrich egg. Basically he talked about how we are trained to read the bible as we eat an orange, dissecting it and taking it apart, but actually we miss a lot of good stuff by not looking at the bigger picture and seeing Gods heart for his people.
Alongside this I am starting to read some theories about how Jesus used the culture to explain his fathers heart. Not surprising as we do that all the time, using film, music, theatre, the arts to connect young people to the Gospel message. It is really challenging some of my thoughts on things that, as a traditionalist, i have taken as read. I love thinking things through and working out where and how God works. I think it is a real shame though, that when people challenge traditional thoughts that they get shunned and looked down upon for questioning. Doesn't God want us to own our faith, not have someone else's faith that tells us what to think. Jesus asked questions a lot of the time, to help people make their own mind up and realise what God was doing. Maybe some of the things we read are not about what we should do, but it is the meaning behind it. I remember revealing to someone that the good Samaritan didn't really happen and that it was just a story Jesus used. They were devastated. When do you last challenge the way you think? is it because you are scared what people think? is it because you are scared what you might think? God gave us a mind to use, and for us to understand. Go on....try it, you may be surprised, you may see the Bible in a different way.

Do children chill you out?

2009-12-15T14:54:00.000Z

As i was contemplating over the last few days i have been, which has been quite difficult in a house with 2 small children (6 and 3 year old), around the Chritmas period. Which got me thinking even more. How has having children effected me? I know there are times when i get too stressed at them, and have to remind myself they rae only children, and half the time they don't mean what they do (I know that the other half they do mean it). But i think it has actually chilled me out in my life and my ministry. I do look forward to going home and enjoying hanging out with them. I enjoy taking them out with Laura, and not thinking about anything else. I think that when you have something that you can do that with (it doesn't have to be kids), that you can just live for the moment, the rest of your life flourishes. Yet when you let lifes toils and stresses take over you, it is tough to get your life back. I know that when Joel woke up at 5.45 this morning, i wasn't the best pleased, and i know that when Amy winges about her little brother, even when he just breathes, i have to remind myself of what I have, and what i am actually fortunate to have. And i think that my life, my ministry has all benefited from the 2 little bundles of joy that are growing up.

what gets you in the spirit?

2009-12-07T12:28:00.000Z

So, now a week into December, I am letting myself getting into the Christmas mood. Maybe that was to do with the friends we saw on Saturday, and the first house that i have been to that has a Christmas tree up. Maybe it was watching my childrens nativity plays last week. Amy , playing Mary, not having a Joseph because he wouldn't come on stage (hopefully it will teach her that you can never trust a guy), and Joel, playing a shepherd, controlling his sheep with a hanky in one had and the thumb of his other stuck firmly in his mouth.
People, and particularly businesses, have been trying to get us into the Christmas spirit since September. With decorations being sold, christmas dinners being promoted and toys being advertised every other advert (in between dishwasher tablets)..we are, every year, brought towards the material side of Christmas quite quickly after the summer holidays. I wonder whether if we as Christians decided to bring the thought of Jesus birth forward that early, we wouldn't be too sorry, just imagine how many chocolates the advent calender would have to hold.
On a serious note, i love Christmas, i love the trimmings, i love the food, i love the tv shows (well, morecombe and wise and dr who obviously), but the fact that all that is a bi-product and that there is nothing more heart warming and special at Christmas than celebrating the birth of my friend and saviour, Jesus. Being a raving penty, you would be surprised to hear that i love going to a little church in my town every christmas eve, in the warm glow of soft lighting, and just remembering is beautiful. Come on guys let's make the main reason the main reason for the season.

are we all singing from the same hymn sheet?

2009-11-24T11:03:00.000Z

Don't you love people? They constantly surprise me. When you come across someone, there are a few initial questions that you tend to ask them. The first is their name (one of my big problems is that i am thinking of the next question, when they are telling me their name). The next is what do you do? When i tell people what i do, especially Christians, their assumption is that it is really hard for a Christian organisation to get into schools. I then tell them that it is part of response to our faith to serve our local schools as well as build young people up, not only spiritually but emotionally as the whole person they were created to be. The response we get from schools, and their view of Nottingham YfC is that we do a great work with the young people that really need support. If you follower our twitter account you will know that we also do lessons in RE not only on the life of Jesus but on subjects like identity and justice. The schools loved these lessons, being showed in boxes of chocolates (who says our rewards are in Heaven lol) and requests for more lessons. It was quite a surprise then, when after sharing in a church about what we do, you get someone coming up to you saying how it is out of order what we do, and we shouldn't be allowed to do what we do. Where does the opposition come from? from within. Isn't it interesting that as an organisation you can set out with a particular mandate and then over the years life becomes more about staying alive rather than doing what you were created to be. As a Church we were created to make an impact on our communities, Jesus talked about coming to help the sick...the well don't need a doctor. My hope for NYfC, for the Church and for me is that we don't get distracted from the plan, and we certainly don't critisize those who are working with the sick.

does it ever live up to expectations?

2009-11-19T16:03:00.000Z

Confession time. I have an addictive personality. I always have it seems. I remember collecting 'Danger mouse' stickers for my sticker album when i was 10, despite the fact i wasn't allowed to. I used to leave the house and hide the album under next doors hedge while i was at school and then pick it up on the way home. Which was fine until it rained one day. Four stickers away from completing the whole thing. Not happy. But, you know, i have now matured, no longer am i that person. No, I am older and wiser, although no less drawn into collecting things. I am in the middle of my 'now that's what i call music' vinyl collection, but the one that has me hooked is Dr who. Oh yes collecting the whole back catalogue of Dr who DVDs is proving a long term thing. Will it fulfil me? i doubt it, just like i was slightly disappointed with the latest installment last week. To be honest i had built it up a little in my head, and it would have struggled to fulfil my hopes. It was a bit of an 'Empire strikes back' in the sense it was there to build up for the last 2 of the 10th doctors story. But although it didn't live up to it, we all like to build things up, it gives us a hope, something to look forward to. The anticipation really drives us. One thing i have found is though, it is the opposite with my faith. I perhaps don't get that excited sometimes, but God does really deliver and always creates more than i expect. It would be great if my addictive personality would work on praying and reading the Bible, I am working on that, but what i do know is i will never be let down by Jesus, and i will never be disappointed.

life is harder than we know

2009-11-13T13:55:00.000Z

We have just finished a week of lessons in a couple of schools that we work in. On one of the last lessons we took, there was a bit of an issue betweeen 2 girls, it all got sorted out and we moved them apart, and they both got on with their work. After the lesson we were chatting to the teacher about the 2 girls and she was telling us how one of them had been to 18 different schools, her mum was an alcoholic, and had been verbally abused all her life. Her dad, who she lives with now, was worried because over the summer no one called for her, invited her out, or asked to do something with her. Through all this, she is a really nice kid, someone who just wants to be loved and who gives respect to pretty much anyone that comes into contact with her. I was really broken when i was hearing this story, and just felt so gutted for her. Thing is she doesn't want my pity, she doesn't want people feeling sorry for her, she just wants to enjoy life. How would Jesus react in that situation? What would he give to her? A sense of belonging. Somewhere she feels safe, and somewhere she can be herself. Thats what we will try and do, not because of pity, but because she is awesome, and she deserves to know that she is loved and she is special. I love being a Christian.

Intimacy

2009-11-08T08:51:00.000Z

Last night i went to see a guy speak called Kevin Peat. He was talking about living your destiny amd what gets in the way. One of the things he talked about was the word intimacy. We live in a world where relationships seem to move really quick, and the quicker you get to sex the better. We see young people looking for instant gratification, and so the word relationship doesn't have the same meaning as for previous generations. It is about what we get out of it, rather than working through something, giving as much, if not more than what you are recieving. Kevin mentioned that he had heard once that intimacy warrants the phrase..into me see. How many people do we let see the real us. He was talking about intimacy with God, letting him see all of you. It is amazing that despite all our faults God still loves us when we let Him in, and our fear is that when we let people in they will reject us because they don't like what they see so we don't let them in and see what we can get out of others. I think i was very challenged.

2009-11-05T11:14:00.000Z

Why is it that we have a default mechanism of what we think is fair or not?
We are about to start a week of lessons in a couple of schools titled ' It's not fair!'. Even my 6 year old girl and 3 year old boy seem to have the saying on a loop when it comes to what they can or can't have. Now i know for them it is not necessarily about justice, for them it is more about what they want, but in all of us we seem to have a deep rooted feeling of what is wrong and right. Listening, as i do, to radio 5 in the mornings and their discussions, it is plain to see that what one persons justice, is not neccesarily anothers, as we all put our own slant on it, like my kids. One of the things in the Bible that i really love is the fact that when Jesus rose from the dead, he didn't appear to the most obvious of people, he didn't appear to those whom he thought would be the ones he should appear to. In a culture where men were seen as the trusted ones, the important ones, and women the lesser of the sexes, he appeared to Mary and Joanna. How awesome was that, it would have been easier to appear to his disciples first (as they didn't seem to believe the girls), and to most of us, we woudl probably take the easiest option. Thank God that Jesus didn't. In that little bit of the ressurection story, Jesus showed that justice and fairness ooze out of his father in heaven. I might just see how i do today. Richard

Welcome

2009-11-04T08:36:00.001Z

Hi guys and welcome to my blog. This is a place where you will get a bit of an insight into the world of Nottingham YfC. Hear about some of the struggles and the joys. There are a lot of big issues that maybe brought up along the way to do with youth work and faith, so it would be great if you fancy journeying with me. I will also use this space to push events that we are doing, and other random things. I plan to blog each week, so keep an eye out. Let's just see what happens.
Rich