f h c u and more!

Today brought a better day... with f h c u the highlight!

The Christian Union is always something I look foward to, although there has been a sense that, while it's usually been good, we've never properly "cracked it".

Today, I felt like we were getting there. I led a session based on Saul's conversion and Ananias' role in it, showing that meeting Jesus can change our lives and that sometimes we will be called to talk about him to the most unexpected people. It went really well ... I think we might look at doing stuff like that again.

We had a great turn-out, too. We now have a regular crowd of ten, and four of those are from other churches, which is really encouraging, because f h c u is not really supposed to be another Mettle meeting in Filton High ... it's supposed to be a group for ANY Christians in the school.

One thing you can pray for though: all ten of the regulars are girls! And when you add Liz into that, it means an 11:1 female/male ratio - I feel a bit outnumbered! It would be great if some of the guys (St Mikes Youth folk or otherwise!) would start coming. I know of quite a few Christian lads in the school, but for some reason, they've never some along. I would feel far less outnumbered if they would!

Just a quick word too for Mettle Sunday. Louise led a reflection on "Garbage In Garbage Out", about what we fill our lives with and how it is bound to come out. It was great! There were only about 12 young people there, and it would be nice ot have a few more even though it is optional, but it was a bit chattier than normal and that made a nice change.

Next Sunday is The Mix, and I'm sure numbers will pick up for then! I'm speaking at it, and nowhere near ready! I'm sure I'll get there by Sunday...?

On the up...?

Still feeling a bit on the low side, but things seem to be a little on the up emotionally.

I don't know what it is about Term 5, but I always struggle at this time of year. I think part of it is the climb-down from the Spring Harvest mountain-top, added to being surrounded by people who have exam pressure and a lot on their plates. When you care so much about these young people, their problems become your problems a little bit. I want to share lives with them, and I wouldn't have it any other way ... but it can still be hard.

Small mercies ... Term 5 is pretty short this year - only another four weeks to go! Then we start the countdown to the Summer and September next year. Lots to do!

Work-wise, things have been pretty positive. Youth Alpha on Friday evening was 100 per cent better than last week, and there seems to be a sense that the group is starting to bond.

RE:fresh was also good on Friday ... a nice atmopshere and two really good conversations. I love unstructured work when it goes well! A lot of non-churched young people are choosing RE:fresh over drinking at the Poplar Rooms on Friday evenings, which is really encouraging!

Today has brought a good RS2 session, a Derby defeat live on Sky which means we now have to settle for a play-off place (which I would have taken at the start of the season) and tonight's Mettle session, which is looking promising.

So in all, mixed. Struggling, but feeling a bit more positive. Please don't stop praying though!

Not writing much...

... cos I'm not in a good place today.

Please pray for me!

Spring Harvest!

So we're back from our annual Butlins adventure... sorry it's taken so long to write about it, but a) I'm PROPER tired, b) I've really hit the ground running and c) I've been all depressed because I miss it, particularly hanging out with the young people all day, every day... a good sign in a Youth Minister, I reckon! But here I am with the big Spring Harvest update.

The short version, for those with a limited attention span, is that it was AWESOME!

We had an absolutely fantastic time, and the young people were excellent... many of them had big experiences of God, which they were so willing to share. And they have come back buzzing!

And I feel as though I've got to know them so much better, which I've really enjoyed. There are loads of photos of Spring Harvest, which you will be able to see via the St Mikes Youth website, but since this is my blog, here are a some of me with various different young people:

There are loads more (these are just the ones of me with the girls Laura and I shared a caravan with!), but I have to draw the line somewhere! Do check out the rest on the website.

As usual, the teaching was good, the worship excellent, but my highlights were all about hanging out with the young people... at the fairground, on the beach, in the caravan, at thebandwithnoname concert... and it feels like we packed so much into just a few days, and we all ended up so tired but happy - check these two out:

There will be more reflections to follow (they tend to dribble out over a few days!) but there's a start for you. If you want to know more, and live in Bristol, come along to our Spring Harvest feedback service in church this Sunday evening. There'll be more photos and reports from the young people themselves. I'd love to see you!

Ready for Spring Harvest? Well, in some ways!

I'm spending the day doing rotas, shopping, packing and panicking. That can only mean one thing... SPRING HARVEST!

This time tomorrow, 36 of us from St Mikes Youth will be clambering onto a coach and heading for Butlins in Minehead for five solid days of hanging out, worshipping, hearing great teaching, eating Burger King and feeling a little ill.

And you know what? I can't wait! Spring Harvest has never really been very easy for me in recent years, and I usually dread it. But with the crowd we're taking thins year, I'm really excited. I think it shows what good relationships I've built up with them over the last couple of years.

The next two summers, when all the sixth-formers leave, are going to be horrible.

But let's enjoy the here and now, I guess! Off to carry on packing. Will tell you all about it when we get back... watch this space!