Angry Birds! Rargh!

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Last Sunday night at Redefine we had a brilliant, fun evening playing a live action version of the popular computer game/app ‘Angry Birds‘. The first game in this popular video game franchise was launched in 2009, and since then it has spawned multiple other versions (26 in total), including the popular ‘Angry Birds Star Wars’. There has also been a film, and another is set for release in 2019.

In the game of Angry Birds, the player launches the ‘angry bird‘ from a catapult at a fortress made of stones and wood, that hides assorted green piggies that have stolen the birds’ eggs. The birds have to knock all of the piggies to the ground to win.

In line with the style of game play, we had boxes, cones & platforms upon which we placed green balloons with piggy faces drawn on them. The boxes were arranged by a competing team, to try and make it as difficult as possible for the team that was to launch the birds, to knock the piggies to the ground. The ‘bird’ team then launched red, blue or yellow footballs at the structures, trying to know the piggies from their perches. Each piggy that hit the ground earned the ‘Angry Bird‘ team 1000 points, with a bonus of 5000 if you managed to eliminate all 8 of the piggies.

Everyone involved had a blast. It was so much fun, and everyone really got into the spirit of the game, working together in 3 different teams to see who would be crowned the ‘Angry Bird‘ champion.

Our director Mr Tim Gough, then gave an uplifting and encouraging talk about Jesus & Peter walking on the water. Saying that when Peter faltered in his faith, Jesus was right there to save Peter and pick him up. Jesus is the same for us, when we are sinking in doubt, mired in fear and worry. Jesus doesn’t leave us, he doesn’t let us drown. No he reaches his hand out and saves us. Jesus never changes.

His faithfulness to Peter extends to us too today.

So even when like the piggies fortress, we find our life in tatters and all broken apart, Jesus is right there with hand extended to us in love. Ready to pick us up and get us walking with Him again.

It’s great being able to host these fun events that speak into the lives of the young people.

Please do continue to support us financially, in prayer and in a voluntary capacity, when and where you can. Let’s continue to see young people’s lives transformed by Jesus.

Be blessed!

Phil Lemon & Onesie-mus…

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We just finished a 3 week long study of the book of Philemon, or ‘Phil Lemon’ as we called him in our Bible study group. This was a great short book to study at our ‘Redefine’ Sunday evening Bible study meeting for young people.

The Bible Project does a nice piece on this short but amazingly tactfully written letter; check it out here.

It has been a great book to start off our Sunday evening Bibles study meeting with, after the summer break. A short book, but so full of richness and with a very clear picture of how the gospel of Jesus changes lives and sets people free.

Onesimus, or Onesie-mus as we jokingly said finds freedom and reconciliation to his master Philemon through Christ.

The young people have really enjoyed getting to grips with this book and learning more about a book of the Bible that isn’t very often read or looked at.

We really do love seeing how the Bible impacts the young people that come to the events we hold.

Would you please continue to pray for the work we do at Llandudno Youth for Christ in seeing young people’s lives changed by Jesus. Pray that God would richly bless this ministry with everything we need to see many more young lives changed.

Before I go, I have another announcement; our director Mr Tim Gough has written a brilliant book. It was officially launched last Saturday and you can check it out here. Please also be praying that the book will be used by God to encourage many youth workers and pastors as they in turn reach out to the young people in their areas.

Have a great week and be blessed.

Rebooted Launch!

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

This coming Saturday 22nd September 2018 our very own director here at Llandudno Youth for Christ, Mr Tim Gough will be holding the launch of his much awaited book “Rebooted – Reclaiming Youth Ministry for the Long Haul: A Biblical Framework.”

The book launch will be held in Gloddaeth Church in Llandudno and will start at 5pm.

There will also be a talk by visiting guest speaker Mr Andy Hughes (Impact Team Leader for Urban Saints).

Plus as with any Llandudno Youth for Christ event there will be tea, coffee, cakes & snacks for all attendees.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Be Blessed!

We’re Back!

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Yes, after 6 weeks’ break over the Summer, we are back & up and running Redefine! Yay!

We’re really excited by this new term and all that we have planned for Redefine.

Looking forward to some crazy games, fun fellowship and getting stuck into God’s word.

So this Sunday 9th September, please be praying for us. Praying that God will be very present in everything that we do and that the young people who attend will be transformed by His love.

We will be looking at the book of Philemon to start the term off. It’s one of the shorter books in the New Testament and a good way to get everyone involved in Reading the Bible together.

Again please be praying for us and also pray for all the young people that will attend Redefine this Sunday.

Be blessed!

Give us a clue!

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Last Sunday night we held the last of our ‘God, Goats & Games’ nights. It was the last of our summer events and we wanted to make it special; so we held a giant game of Cluedo!

Everyone came dressed in their best bib & tucker, looking all smart & glamorous. It was great fun.

Each of the Redefine leaders was a suspect in the murder of a prized penguin, and each of them (during the game time), were responsible for one room during the game time. We had the following eccentric characters Dr. Dewifroggle of Nexu, Colonel Koreypheasant of Texaz, Madam Scarlettperrin of the Thieves Guild, Lady Katiedebarkle III of Nonsense, Rev. Timopious of the Pool and Mrs Amywinehouse of ‘Down South’ (can you guess who played what?)

Each room contained a series of clues; once answered correctly the players of the game brought a password to the suspect in charge of that room, who then gave that team a ‘fragment’ of a larger story about the evening’s crime. This happened from room to room until all of the teams had gathered all of the story fragments and had to figure out, from all of the information they had accumulated, who the culprit was and in which room the deed was done and with what weapon.

As I already said it was a really fun evening with everyone getting stuck in to the game. And as it was a mystery that needed to be solved, we also looked at the first chapter of the book of Colossians where Paul speaks of the amazing ‘mystery‘ “that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” – Colossians 1:26-27.

This is not a mystery that God wants to keep hidden, but rather one that God wants everyone to know. That is one of the things that we at Llandudno Youth for Christ are passionate about. We want the young people in Llandudno and beyond to know how amazing the good news of Jesus truly is. How they can have a relationship with the Creator of the Universe and be filled with so much hope.

Please consider supporting us in the work we do to see a generation saved. Support us financially, support us with your time by volunteering and most importantly support us in prayer.

Be blessed!

 

 

Refresh 2018

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Hi all,

On Thursday 30th August we will be holding our annual Refresh Mini-Conference. This is always a great fun filled event and well attended. Indeed this year looks like it is going to be one of the best attended Refresh Mini-Conferences we have ever held.

I’m really looking forward to it.

There will be Games, Bible Studies, Worship, Food and an evening Bonfire Sing-Along.

We will be looking at the Book of Ecclesiastes in our studies and it will “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” – Psalm 90:12.

Have I already said I’m looking forward to it?

I love the Book of Ecclesiastes and it contains one of my favourite verses in the Bible; “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11. It fills me with hope to know that God is in control. That He is sovereign and He makes everything beautiful in its time.

It makes me think of the poem ‘The Weaver’ –

My life is but a weaving, between my God and me,
I do not choose the colours, He worketh steadily.
Ofttimes he weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.
Not till the loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the canvas, and explain the reasons why
The dark threads are as needful in the skillful weaver’s hand
As threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
Who leave the choice with Him.

God is good and God is love, and God is in control. These are great truths to hold onto. We pray that the young people really get hold of this.

So having said that, please can you pray for us as we hold this event.

Please pray for safety for all involved, both young people & volunteers. Pray that everyone has a fun time and meets with God over the Conference. Pray that young lives are changed for eternity by the Good News.

Thank you and Be Blessed!

Hammer Time!

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Now despite my love of comics, this post is not about Thor from the Avengers, it’s rather referencing the 1990’s pop star MC Hammer. Why?

Because he had a hit with a song called ‘Pray’ and some of the lyrics in the chorus went as such ‘We’ve got to pray just to make it today’. I thought given the world in which we live in, that is such an apt lyric.

Also again during the 1990’s the Christian band, the World Wide Message Tribe had a song about prayer that contained the following lyrics, ‘Prayer strikes the ground like a rhino charging.’

I love that image of prayer having such an impact on the world around us, which it indeed does.

So this Sunday 26th August we are having our monthly Prayer Gathering, where we will be praying for the work of Llandudno Youth for Christ. 7-8pm at Ty Llywelyn Community Centre. Please come along and pray with us, to see God move in the lives of young people in Llandudno and beyond.

“rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer”

We hope you can make it.

Be Blessed.

Robot Wars of Jurassic Proportions!

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Last Sunday night we held the first of our ‘God, Goats & Games‘ evenings. It was a fun packed time with everyone getting really stuck into the event.

At the Robot Wars ‘G,G,G’ our director Tim Gough used the film Jurassic Park to illustrate different ways we can react to monstrous situations in our lives. We can run away in fear from them; we can react with inexperience and try to sort it all out on our own; we can face up to the monsters and be enthusiastic but unwise; or we can be like King Jehoshaphat and be wise by taking our situation to God to get His help. Please read 2 Chronicles 20 for more on King Jehoshaphat’s wisdom when facing a monstrous situation.

God, Goats & Games, or ‘G,G,G‘ as we abbreviate it is the event we run during the month of August to replace our regular ‘Reverb Youth Space‘ and ‘Redefine‘ events, and is an amalgam of both of them, with young people from both events in attendance.

This is a great opportunity for building community, which is a very important part of what we do here at Llandudno Youth for Christ.

During this month we have a total of 4 nights of G,G,G, plus our ‘Refresh‘ mini conference at St David’s College, an epic water fight and our Late Lock in. It’s a great month of events that are lots of fun and an opportunity to let the young people know how much God loves them and has a great plan for their lives.

At the next G,G,G night we will be having a Pizza & Movie night on Aug 19th, then the week after that will be a joint 4 square tournament & musicals sing-along night on Aug 26th, and we will be finishing off the month with a Human Cluedo & Leavers Banquet on Sept 2nd.

Please pray for us during August. Pray that God would use the events that we are running to speak to the hearts of the young people that attend and that we would have opportunities to share the good news of Jesus with them.

Be blessed.

Hands Held High

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I used to be in a Christian school’s work drama team and we performed many different sketches in our time. Some really good, others quite cheesy.

One that we performed was called ‘Hands’. It spoke of how we can use our hands to build and create or damage & destroy. To love or to hate. To welcome or reject. It spoke of how man had chosen the darkness, disconnection & death when Adam turned away from God; and how Jesus the second Adam came to forgive and redeem us. How His hands were pierced by our hands nailing Him to the cross.

Now as redeemed believers we can lift our hands to Jesus in worship and adoration. Listen to Kari Jobe’s song Hands to the Heavens below.

Indeed in the Bible 2 of the words used for worship, involve the lifting of the hands: they are Yadah & Towdah. With the word Yadah (יָדָה) we get the image of throwing out the hands to God in confession and thanksgiving. We are raising our hands in a sign of surrender and casting our cares on Him. Aknowledging that He is God and we are not. That we are totally dependent on Him for our victory and indeed everything.

Saying that makes me think of Moses with Aaron & Hur; In Exodus 17 the Israelites were fighting the Amalekites and when Moses hands were lifted high with the staff God had given him above his head, then they were victorious; but when his arms were down they were pushed back, so Aaron & Hur helped Moses by holding his hands up. This links in well with last week’s blog post about ‘We’re in this together’. Moses was tired and he needed his hands lifting up. The battle had worn him out so he needed the support of his friends.

Sometimes were are that way too; we are tired and battle-worn and need the support of friends and family to lift our hands up to God for us to see the victory.

This Sunday the 25th March at Ty Llywelyn Community Centre from 7pm we are holding our monthly prayer meeting for the work of Llandudno Youth for Christ. To pray together that God would impact young people’s lives and for us to see their lies changed by Jesus. Please join us and let us lift each others hands up to God and see many victories won for His kingdom and His glory.

Be blessed!

PS: I found this image for how to use our hands as a reminder in prayer. 

We’re in this together.

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I wanted to write in today’s blog post about how, as Christians, we are not designed or made to do life alone. God is a triune God. He is Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

Before anything had been spoken into life by God, He was in perfect relationship, the 3 in 1 God of all creation. We see that in Genesis “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”- Genesis 1:26-28. When creating man, God said let us make human beings in our image. He wasn’t talking to the angels, but was talking to Himself. I love that. God is a relational God. He wants to be in relationship with us.

Jesus came to restore our broken relationship with God. “For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life. “God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Saviour and rescue it! So now there is no longer any condemnation for those who believe in him, but the unbeliever already lives under condemnation because they do not believe in the name of God’s beloved Son.” God has done everything we need to restore relationship with us, His heart is for relationship, and as we are made in His image, we are designed for relationship with one another. To walk together hand in hand with each other and God.

In the book of James we are told to “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” – James 5:16 and in Galatians we are told “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

We are not strong enough to do this alone. We are called to do life with God and each other.

So if you are struggling in an area of your life, don’t go it alone. Speak to another Christian and pray together, inviting God into the situation, and see Him bring the victory.

Also, I just want to remind everyone that on Sunday 25th March we will be meeting again at the Ty Llywelyn Community Centre to pray together for the work of Llandudno Youth for Christ. Starting at 7pm and meeting until 8pm. Let’s come together and pray for this great work, lifting up our hands to God, for us to see Him move.

Be blessed!