A day in the life of a lockdown youth worker

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It’s an odd time for us all right now isn’t it? As a youth worker my time is usually spent going places, whether that’s going to schools to give assemblies, or coffeeshops for Bible studies, or just out to run our weekly projects.

There’s not so much ‘going’ at the moment though. So, what does a day in the life of a lockdown youth worker look like?

For me at the moment, my working day is made up of three main activities; admin, communication, and online delivery.

Admin includes everything from catching up on planning, editing videos, organising databases, researching grants and – especially at the moment – learning how to use technology in an efficient and effective way. If I don’t manage my time well – this can take all day!

Communication means answering emails, designing digital flyers, connecting with young people on social media, and of course, picking up the phone. People still exist, even in isolation, and we still want to reach out and connect up.

Online delivery is the space where our projects currently inhabit. This can be pre-recording videos, delivering live training, streaming thoughts, and leading video conference Bible studies. We are working hard to connect with people online at least three times a week using at least four different platforms.

Each working day is a varied mix of these three things – more than enough to keep a youth worker busy! There’s a little bit more on my plate than usual too as we’ve had to place our administrator on furlough.

I’m also trying to dig up the rubble from an old brick garage that’s buried in our garden – but that’s a whole other story!

It’s an odd time isn’t it?

That said, this time has made me so immensely grateful for all the hard-working team and volunteers that makes Youth for Christ really happen in Llandudno. Our board of trustees and council of reference are unmatched in their dedication to support this work; our front-line volunteers are an incredible mix of loving and committed examples of Jesus to young people; and all of our behind the scenes supporters – through running the Saturday Café, helping with admin, and helping get the word out to churches – are what makes anything I ever do just work!

This is definitely not a one-person operation!

Youth for Christ in Llandudno is the marshalling of about fifty people – all committed to seeing young people changed by Jesus.

When all this is over, we’re still going to be looking for more help. Do you feel the call of God on your life to help young people come to know Jesus? Can you speak to teenagers, pray faithfully, edit videos, manage databases, cook food, plan outings, drive safely, lick stamps, proofread resources, raise money? Can you move boxes, play games, listen actively, explain the Bible, and exercise a mix of fun and patience? Do you work well in a team and want to bring the best out of those around you? – Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!

Use the form below, and we’ll get back to you asap!.

τελέω (teleō) – It is accomplished!

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Today is Good Friday. It is the time of the year when Christians around the world remember the death of Jesus for the sins of the world. “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.” – 1 Peters 2:23-24

It is both a sad and a joyful time. We grieve over the thought of what Jesus endured on the cross as He took upon himself the sins of the entire cosmos, but we also rejoice in the knowledge that Jesus won the victory on the cross and brought righteousness and reconciliation for all of us. “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” – Colossians 2:13-15

Also, Jesus didn’t stay dead. Three days later he rose again, conquering death. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” – Hebrews 2:14-15

Jesus did it all for us. On the cross his last words were ‘it is finished’. He had done it. He took the sins of the world upon himself and triumphed over, sin, death and the devil. That is why Easter is such a great time of celebration. A time where righteousness defeated sin, where life conquered death and where our freedom and reconciliation was bought with the precious blood of Jesus. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Have a great Easter and please be praying for the young people in you area, that they will have a deeper and richer understanding of all that Jesus did for them on the cross.

Be blessed!

Celebrate the day!

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Merry Christmas to all our amazing volunteers and supporters!

We pray God’s richest blessings upon you as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world!

Be blessed!

Noel!

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Well, Christmas is almost upon us. Only 22 – 23 days to go. I’ve put up my Christmas decorations and soon will be up to my elbows in wrapping paper. Here at Llandudno Youth for Christ we are also preparing for Christmas. We’ve just finished our series looking at what worship is at Redefine and for the next 3 weeks we will be looking at the Christmas story and its significance for us as Christians.

We will be especially looking at the fact that Jesus is Emmanuel – God with us.

We will be looking at His Godhood and His humanity. What does it really mean for Jesus to be both fully God and fully man? Why does He need to be fully God and fully man?

I love this time of the year, where we get to sing songs about Jesus and we focus on the amazing truth that God himself became a baby. Weak, little & dependent upon Mary & Joseph to look after and care for Him.

Wow!

God comes to us in the most unobtrusive and humble way, but that is more often the case, that God meets us in our day to day lives, not with fanfare and pomp, but in humility and love. Coming to meet us where we are at to bring us hope, joy & love. To lift us up to where He is.

We have such an amazing God and Saviour.

Please be praying for us at this Christmas time. Praying that the young people will be excited by the Christmas story. That they will see how amazing God’s love is and why Jesus had to come as a little baby.

Thank you and Be blessed!

Come and worship

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Merry Christmas to all our amazing supporters!

May your hearts and homes be filled with the love of Jesus today and everyday.

Be blessed

Through it all my eyes are on You.

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As I write this post I know that it is the 5th November and soon in Colwyn Bay, as there was 2 weeks ago in Llandudno, a big fireworks display.

Looking at Fireworks is like Stargazing; both make us lift up our heads and look skyward.

Why is that important, well this morning I woke up with part of a worship song going through my mind on repeat. Not in an annoying way, but in a reassuring and comforting way. The song was ‘It is well‘ by Kristene DiMarco, and the part of the song that I kept on singing both in my head and out loud throughout the day was ‘through it all, through it all, my eyes are on You. Through it all, through it all, it is well.‘

I felt that God was saying that whatever circumstances I go through, I need to keep my eyes on God, just like the Psalmist says “I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:1-2. I need to keep looking towards God with expectation and hope. I need to lift my eyes upwards. No hanging the head in fear and shame, eyes downcast and furtive, but eyes gazing heavenward in awe and wonder, waiting for God to move.

So my encouragement to you is whatever you are going through to look upwards in faith and expectation to the God who loves you with an everlasting love. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“- Romans 8:38-39.

Please also be praying for us at Llandudno Youth for Christ and joining with us in expectation for Him to move in the lives of the young people that come to our different events. Join with us in prayer for God to send more people to join us in seeing young people’s lives changed by Jesus. Join us in praying for God to financially provide for all that we are doing to reach out with the gospel in Llandudno and beyond.

Have a great first week of November and be blessed!

Ignite the light and let it shine…

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The title of this post is taken from pop singer Katy Perry’s song ‘Firework‘. It’s a really encouraging song, with a catchy tune. In the lyrics she encourages the listeners by singing “You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine. Just own the night like the Fourth of July; ’cause, baby, you’re a firework, come on, show ’em what you’re worth. Make ’em go, “ah, ah, ah”, as you shoot across the sky.”

It makes me think of Jesus’ encouragement for us to let our shine: “‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.'” – Matthew 5:14-16.

Last night in Llandudno the annual fireworks display was held with hundreds of people flocking to watch it. The whole town was abuzz with excitement and anticipation. Everyone was eagerly looking up at the dark night sky to see the pyrotechnics start and fill the air above them with blazing light and brilliant colour.

In the metaphorical darkness of the world around us, God wants the light of Christ that is in believers’ lives to shine out and fill the world around them with blazing light and brilliant colour. Especially at this time of year when the nights get darker and the air gets colder; let’s blaze like fireworks, illuminating the darkness.

I love how the Message version puts this passage from the gospel of Matthew; “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16.

Let’s be generous with our lives and love those we find around us. Being used by God to open others up to himself so that they can enter into relationship with this generous Father in heaven.

Also, please be praying for the young people that come to the events we hold at Llandudno Youth for Christ. For those that are already followers of Christ to be bold and courageous and let their light shine, and for those that have yet to put their trust in Jesus to be drawn closer to Him.

Have a great start to the winter season.

Let your light shine & 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.

Standing at the portal of the opening of the year!

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So, as we bid a final farewell to 2017 and look ahead to 2018; I thought it would be good to be reminded through the lyrics of the hymn ‘Standing at the portal‘ of God’s goodness and faithfulness. To take all of the fears, trepidations and excitement we have as we bravely face another year and hand them all up to God, knowing that He will never fail us. That He is big enough and strong enough to keep us in 2018.

I love the fact that the hymn is called ‘Standing at the portal‘, it makes me think of the 4 Pevensie children from the ‘Lion the Witch & the Wardrobe‘ as they stepped into that wondrous wardrobe which would transport them from earth to Narnia. They were standing at the portal to another realm and must have been filled with a sense of fear and wonder in that instant before they crossed the threshold. The same goes for everyone of us as we look back at 2017 and look forward to 2018.

What will 2018 hold for you? What will 2018 hold in store for Llandudno Youth for Christ?

One thing I know, the God who has faithfully held us and supported us, will still do so in 2018. The generational God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob will continue to use the work of LLYFC to reach out to young lives with the life changing gospel of Jesus. The ever present great ‘I am’ will be ever present with us through every part of 2018.

So “Onward, then, and fear not, Children of the day; For His Word shall never, Never pass away.” God will be with us as we step into 2018, He has promised to never leave us or forsake us, and when we do cross the threshold of the year, we will find ourselves at home because God is with us, and wherever God is, there our home is, there our heart is. “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:20-21.

So as we step into 2018, say prayers of thanks to our faithful God for all the ways in which He has shown His faithfulness and then pray for His wisdom, His guidance, His provision for you in 2018, and finally praise Him for His presence with you as you step into 2018, hand in hand with the Creator of the Universe –

“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.” – Isaiah 41:10

Be blessed and Happy New Year!

Don’t vent over advent!

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This Sunday, the 3rd of December marks the start of the season of Advent. It is indeed the first Sunday of Advent. The time when we start preparing our hearts for celebrating the coming of Jesus. It is a time of joyful anticipation, however it can become a time of stress and dread for many as they head towards the season of peace and goodwill.

Instead of thinking about the amazing news of God coming to earth as a tiny baby to be the Saviour of all mankind, they are faced with shopping queues, mounting debt, fights with relatives and friends, the remembrance of lost loved ones and loneliness. It is not a time of joy, hope, peace & love.

I think that is because we lose sight of the Saviour amidst all of the tinsel, turkey & trimmings, and the season loses its meaning. Loses its reason. It just becomes something to be endured and not cherished.

There is no life to it without the life-giver.

The stress and fear that people of Israel were under when Jesus was born in Bethlehem is similar to how people feel in troubled parts of the world today; places where there is oppression and war. The Jews had been conquered, yet again, by a foreign power, this time the Romans and they were being ruled by a puppet monarchy. They were oppressed, like in the days of Moses, and were crying out to God for a deliverer. The song ‘O come, o come emmanuel’ resounds with this sentiment.

God in His goodness, mercy, faithfulness & grace heard their cries and sent Himself to be their Saviour, though he came in a way they could have never imagined.

So this advent, don’t allow the pressures to build up and lead you to ‘vent‘, but instead take time with Jesus, ‘Emmanuel – God with us’ and refocus upon the reason for the season (I know it sounds a bit trite, but it’s true) and allow his love to bring the peace to you that your heart needs.

Just like the Jewish people did all those many years ago, as you call our to God, He will be faithful to hear your cries and respond.

Let him know about your fears, your loneliness, your family troubles, your grief. He is big enough and strong enough to handle them all and bring the comfort you need.

Also if you want more information about Advent, perhaps you might like to check out a great resource from Youth for Christ – our Request website.

I’ll leave you now with a lovely song by Bebo Norman called Born to Die.

Be blessed and have a peaceful advent!