S.O.S

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“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” – Matthew 8:23-27

On the 3rd of November in 1906 at the second International Radiotelegraphic Convention in Berlin, it was decided that Germany’s ‘Notzeichen’ (distress signal) be accepted and used as the international standard. It was explained as; “Ships in distress shall use the following signal: · · · – – – · · ·  repeated at brief intervals”. The first ship to actually use the S.O.S was Cunard Line’s RMS Slavonia on 11th June in 1909, when she ran aground off Punta dos Fenais in the Azores. Everyone onboard was saved by two other ships that responded to the distress call.

Like the disciples in the passage above who cried out to Jesus to save them; the distress call went out, was heard and responded to, and lives were saved as a result.

When God speaks to Moses out of the burning bush; He demonstrates how He hears our cries for help when He says “I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.” – Exodus 3:7-8.

“He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.” – Psalm 91:15 is even more direct in letting us know that God hears our cries for help and answers.

He hears our cries of S.O.S.

“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – Romans 10:12-13

At Llandudno Youth for Christ, we want to be used by God, like the two ships that rescued the passengers aboard the RMS Slavonia. We want to be part of His S.O.S plan for the young people of Llandudno and beyond.

To better do that, we need to partner with Christians in our local area; people who will support us faithfully in prayer; cheerfully in finances and generously with their time. In 2016 & 2017 we want to…

Reach further to connect with every young person at Ysgol John Bright.

Reach further to ensure that no young Christian feels isolated and alone.

Reach further to provide a weekly space for any young seeker to hear and respond to Jesus.

Reach further to develop and train a whole generation of young Welsh leaders.

Reach further and call every church in this area to pray regularly for the young people in the community around us.

If you want to partner with us in Reaching further with the good news of Jesus to Llandudno and beyond, then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Grace & Peace.

LLYFC

Heroes Day!

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On the 20th of October in Kenya, they celebrate ‘Heroes Day‘, or ‘Mashujaa Day’ –“mashujaa” is Swahili for “heroes”. This is a national holiday in Kenya, which is observed to collectively honour all those who contributed towards the struggle for Kenya’s independence or positively contributed in the post independence Kenya.

It is a day for all Kenyans to honour those who have worked and contributed towards the peace and prosperity of their nation.

It made me think of the list of Heroes of the faith that are described in Hebrew chapter 11. The write of Hebrews then goes on to encourage his readers that “since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1

The example given by the heroes of the faith, who despite, opposition, setbacks and persecution that in some cases even led to their deaths, they stayed faithful to God and followed His call upon their lives right until the end, encourages us to do likewise.

Today we have even more heroes of the faith whose lives we can look at to give us encouragement and courage to stay strong and faithful in trials and temptations. People such as  Hudson Taylor, William Wilberforce, Gladys Aylward &  Mary Slessor. Heroes that blazed a trail of faith and devotion as they followed their Saviour.

But we also have heroes of the faith in our own personal lives, people whose faithful obedience has impacted our lives, such as the person who first told you about Jesus.

Today, on the 20th of October, spend some time thanking God for those people that He sent into our world and into our lives to make a difference.

Thank Him for those who selflessly serve and obey Him.

Thank Him for those He has placed in leadership over us, both spiritually and also nationally.

Pray for them too, that God’s will would be done in their lives.

Who are your heroes today?

How can you honour them and thank God for them?

Ultimately let us remember and thank the greatest hero of them all; Jesus.

“Asifiwe Mungu, Baba wa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo! Kwa rehema yake kuu ametufanya tuzaliwe upya ili tupate tumaini lenye uzima kwa kufufuka kwa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo kutoka kwa wafu” – 1 Peter 1:3 in Kiswahili (the national language of Kenya).

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”  – 1 Peter 1:3

Who is the greatest?

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“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said:‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:1-5

The opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Paralympics was held last night at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio De Janeiro. It was a wonderful spectacle with dance, stunts, music and the lighting of the Olympic flame.

During the Paralympics, just as with the Olympics, each sports-person is competing to win the gold, to see who is the ‘greatest’ at their respective sport. It is a wonderful and thrilling time for all of us spectators as we watch these titans clash.

We love watching competition it seems.  Like all of the cooking, sewing and talent shows on the television; such as ‘the great british bake-off’ or ‘the X-factor’. We are watching to see who will win, who will succeed, who is the ‘greatest’.

This can also spill over into our lives, where we look at those around us as we compare ourselves with them. What kind of car do they drive, where do they live, what is their job, what is their family like?

Compare, compare, compare.

We are so competitive.

We want to be the greatest.

It makes us feel good about ourselves, but it comes from the wrong source.

Jesus’ disciples were asking the same question and as always, Jesus took their question as an opportunity to declare the kingdom of God. Turning all of their wrong ideas on their head to reveal the heart of God.

Jesus took the smallest, youngest, most inexperienced and unqualified person to show who was the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

A child.

A little child is dependant on their parents for love, protection, provision, support. A little child is teachable, open to learn and discover. A little child is full of wonder at the world around them. A little child is humble.

Jesus was challenging the disciples to drop their own success, self-effort and self-righteousness. In God’s kingdom we rely totally on our heavenly Father. Dependant on Him, like little children.

Our comparisons and competitions drop to the floor when we see how loved we are and that our worth comes from what God thinks about us, not how ‘great’ we are.

From that place of receiving God’s love comes a freedom to love and accept others in turn.

“And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:5

“The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

When we do this, we see the Kingdom of God at work.

If you want to get involved in some work that is all about building the Kingdom of God, we at Llandudno Youth for Christ are always looking for volunteers to support what we do.

Whether it is at our Saturday Cafe, our Reverb – Youth Space after-school drop-in club, or Redefine, our Sunday evening youth Bible Study, or being a champion in your congregation promoting the work we do, we would love to hear from you and find out how you can get involved.

Contact us on tel: 07517 429 763. email: llandudnoyfc@gmail.com.

Freedom!!!!

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On the 8th of August in 1991, John McCarthy, Britain’s longest-held hostage in Lebanon, was freed after more than five years in captivity. He had been held hostage since April 17, 1986 – a total of 1,943 days.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

This scripture is a great call out to us to stand firm in the freedom that Jesus won for us on the cross.

In looking at images to go along with this post I can across an image which is taken from the ‘Freedom Wall’ on the west side of the National World War II Memorial in Washington DC. On the wall itself the following words are inscribed ‘Freedom is not free’. The freedom we have from the tyranny that the Nazi party was trying to impose upon the world, cost a great many lives. We enjoy the peace and freedom that was bought with the shed blood of so many war veterans.

As Christians, the freedom we experience in Jesus comes to us as a free gift, but it cost Jesus everything. It is his shed blood that paid the price for our freedom. Freedom from sin and our past, but more importantly, in the context of Galatians; freedom from the law. Freedom from having to make ourselves right with God by our own efforts; a task that is impossible, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. So “no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” Romans 3:20. The list of dos and don’ts of God’s law just show us how utterly flawed and sinful we are and how we are in desperate need of a Saviour, even “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” Isaiah 64:6.

Paul is exhorting and encouraging the Christians in Galatia to not return to the performance model of trying to make themselves right with God by their own morality, but to continue to trust Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

As well as being set free from things by Jesus, we are set free ‘for’ things, namely ‘freedom’. The freedom here is the greek word eleutheria – ἐλευθερίᾳ. This word is used in 2 Corinthians 3:17 by Paul; “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom“, to convey the work and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Our freedom in Christ is one where we are no-longer slaves to sin, or slaves to legalism, or addiction, or fear, or our past.

We are free.

We are now adopted sons and daughters of the King.

Living a free life ‘FOR’ our King.  A life of freedom that demonstrates Jesus and the power of the cross for those around us.

In ‘Delirious?’s song ‘Jesus’ Blood‘ Martin Smith sings

There’s a secret I must tell
Of all the love I’ve found
And it’s hidden in my heart
The day you tore my world apart
Hallelujah, King forever, friend and Saviour
Jesus’ blood never fails me,
Jesus’ blood never fails me,
Jesus’ blood, Jesus’ blood
And this secret, it will run
To the corners of the earth
Where every woman, every son
Will carry high their chains undone
 Let us carry high our undone chains proudly and in gratitude to our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who has won the victory and bought for us our freedom at such a great cost.

“Let the little children come to me”

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Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

nspcc-headerOn the 8th July in 1884 the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was founded in London.

This all came about because of one man; Thomas Agnew a business man from Liverpool visited New York on a trip in 1881 and whilst he was there, he visited the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (founded in 1874, and the world’s first child protection agency). He was so taken with the work they were doing, that he returned to the UK inspired to provide similar help for children in Liverpool. So in 1883 he set up the Liverpool Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (LSPCC).

Soon, other towns and cities followed, and in 1884 the London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (London SPCC) was founded by Lord Shaftesbury, Reverend Edward Rudolf and Reverend Benjamin Waugh.

Five years later Parliament passed the first ever UK law to protect children from abuse and neglect in 1889. This was a great triumph for the organisation and the culmination of their many years of tireless effort in changing the way society in Victorian times saw and treated children. By 1889, the London SPCC was renamed the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children due to having many branches now that covered Great Britain and Ireland.

It’s work did not go unnoticed and Queen Victoria became its first Royal Patron in 1895 when she granted the organisation its Royal Charter.

It has continued to champion the rights and welfare of children in the UK, often with hard hitting advertising campaigns.

We see that from the above quote from the gospel of Matthew that children are important to God. Another time where we see Jesus’ heart for children is when the disciples are asking about who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus calls a little child to him and explains to the disciples that “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:3-5. He goes on to sternly warn that “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matthew 18:6.

Another charity that cares for the needs of children is ‘Compassion‘, which has as its motto, “Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.” Just like with the NSPCC, Compassion was founded by the work of one man.  Rev. Everett Swanson made a ministry trip in the 1952 to South Korea to comfort the American troops, whilst he was there he grew increasingly troubled by the sight of hundreds of war orphans living on the streets, abandoned by society. Out of his desire to save the lives of these children ‘Compassion’ was born.

Its amazing what God can do with one man or woman who responds to God’s heart and call to seek and save the least, the last and the lost.

Do you feel that God is calling you to help with the work that we do at LLYFC?

If you like the Rev. Everett Swanson or Thomas Agnew want to help make a difference in the lives of the young people in North Wales, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

God bless.

It’s called ‘Good News’ for a reason.

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Coronation_portrait_of_Queen_Victoria_-_Hayter_1838On the 20th June 1837 Queen Victoria ascended the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until her death on the 22nd January 1901.

This period of times was known as the ‘Victorian Era’.  It was a time of great change, socially, economically, technologically, and spiritually.

During this period of history there were major events that impacted the world; such as the Irish Famine, the abolition of slavery in the UK, the Crimean War, the publication of Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origins of the Species’, Sir Alexander Graham Bell patented the first telephone.

These are just a very small selection of the events that shook, awed, and transformed the world.

However, during this time of history, whose impact we still feel today, many men and women rose up to make a stand for God and His Kingdom.

Men and women who saw all that was happening around them, and answered God’s call to share the ‘Gospel’; the good news of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus.

One such man was William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. William Booth, saw the desperate need of those around him to meet with Jesus. He was not satisfied to stay safe and preach to the converted in churches and chapels, but took Jesus’ life changing message to the highways and byways of Britain. Initially he worked in and around the east end of London, but by the beginning of the 20th century, the Salvation Army was becoming international in its scope and impact.

Booth was often criticised and lampooned for the work he was doing, but that never deterred him from sharing Jesus with those around him, whether in word or deed.

NeilOBoyleIn a recent interview with Premier Youthwork magazine, the director of YFC in the UK, Neil O’Boyle has written a great article about the decline of ‘evangelism’ in youthwork in the last 25 years, and gives a great rallying call for its necessity in today’s world. Please read the article here. Neil, like William Booth, sees the need for people to hear about and connect with Jesus. For in a world of upheaval and change, Jesus is the only true constant: Unwavering, unfailing and faithful. Jesus is the solid rock that we all need to be grounded upon. “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I shall never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2

I love that the motto or tag-line of Llandudno Youth for Christ is ‘taking the Good News relevantly to every young person in Llandudno.’ Amongst so much doom & gloom that permeates the media and life in general, young people, indeed everyone, needs to hear some good news. And God’s transforming, forgiving, and redeeming love, as demonstrated in and through His Son Jesus Christ is not just ‘good news’, I believe it is the best news ever.

So let’s as the Apostle Peter encourages us to do: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15-16

Let it GROW!

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On May 25th in 1977 ‘Star Wars’ was shown for the first time.  This film which was the creation of a film school graduate and Californian stationary shop owner’s son; George Lucas. The film became, at the time, the highest grossing film; and the film franchise itself became a pop-culture phenomenon that has grown into a creative empire that changed film-making as a whole.

To date 7 films have been made with a total production cost of $438.2 million dollars and a worldwide box office gross takings of $6,394,819,524. Films, TV series, books, comics, magazines, video games, toys, clothing etc. have been made about and around this universe of heroes and villains that came out of the imagination of one aspiring film-maker.

It is amazing how much it has grown from that small beginning.

Also, on the 25th May 1595 Filippo Romolo Neri died. An Italian priest known as the Apostle of Rome, founded the organisation known as the ‘Congregation of the Oratory’.

From a young age he discovered a passion to spend time alone with God in prayer and during one of these times he had a powerful encounter with God that inspired him to work at the hospital of the incurables and speak to others about God; everyone from beggars to bankers. This life spent serving God in prayer and by helping others impacted so many lives in Rome and indeed Italy that the above organisation was started. Quite radical in its time, there are now 70 ‘Oratories‘ around the world based upon the precepts he established.

It’s amazing how much the little that He gave to God has grown.

Jesus spoke about this: “God’s kingdom is like a pine nut that a farmer plants. It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years it g
rows into a huge pine tree, and eagles build nests in it“. Matt 13:31-32.

When we give God our little, He can make it grown into something extraordinary that will bless, comfort, protect & shelter others.

A great visual example God has put in nature are Sequoia Trees. They are the largest tree on the planet, but they grow from very small seeds.

The feeding of the 5,000 is another example of how when we give our little to God he grows it into something incredible and life changing.

At LLYFC we feel the same way about all of support we receive. We trust that the little that everyone gives in time, people, resources, money, prayer etc. is received by God and becomes something far greater and more impactful than we could ever imagine.

We also feel the same way about every young person that comes to the events and meetings we hold. We pray that as they discover God and enter into a relationship with Him, their lives are grown, transformed and changed into something truly incredible and remarkable.

God can do that in your life, He can take the little seed you give Him and grow it into a mighty tree like the Sequoia. (Col2:7)

What are you holding in your hand that God can grow.

Perhaps it’s time to give it to Him and let it grow!

Word Alive!

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I was looking up an on this day webpage and it stated that on this day (May 6th) in 1536 King Henry VIII ordered that English language Bibles be placed in every church.

Wow!

That was such a revolutionary move at the time.

A radical move, and a departure from what the church at that time was allowing.

And despite the fact that the Great Bible of King Henry VIII wasn’t printed until 1539, it was still a dangerous and revolutionary idea to hold.

King Henry VIII was inspired by the work of William Tyndale who had been working on a translation of the New Testament into English from the original Greek and Aramaic texts. This was such a dangerous thing for the established church of the time that they had Tyndal tried and executed on charges of heresy.

The threat that the established church felt from Tyndale’s Bible can best be summed up by his own avowed reason for creating his translation in the first place. Tyndale wanted to “[cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more scripture] than the clergy of the day.” It was an issue of power.  The church would no-longer be the sole interpreters of scripture, and would no-longer be the sole mediators between the people and God.

Tyndale’s last words as he was dying are quoted in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs as being “Lord! Open the King of England’s eyes.”

His prayer was swiftly answered.

Though the printing of this Bible was not totally due to a spiritual awakening by King Henry VIII methinks.

King Henry VIII had requested that the Pope permit him to divorce his wife and marry his mistress. The Pope obviously refused and King Henry responded by marrying his mistress anyway, and thumbing his nose at the Pope by renouncing Roman Catholicism, taking England out from under Rome’s religious control, and declaring himself as the reigning head of State to also be the new head of the Church in England.

This new branch of the Christian Church, became known as the Anglican Church or the Church of England. King Henry acting as its head funded the printing and distribution of the Bible in English.  Doing this was not only due to him wanting to make the Word of God accessible to everyone, but was also a way of defying the Pope in Rome.

Whatever his true intentions, God used the King’s actions for the good of all people in the British Isles.

“The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; He guides it wherever he pleases.” Proverbs 21:1

I loved reading about this, as it reminds me that God is sovereign and is actively at work in history to bring people to himself.  Healing, restoring, delivering, comforting and saving people.

He is a good God who loves to speak to us and reveal more about Himself to us.

The Bible is our great go-to to find out more about this amazing God.

As two slightly cheesy acronyms for the ‘Bible’ go, it is the ‘Brilliant.Instruction.Book.for.Life.Everlasting’ or ‘Brilliant.Instructions.Before.Leaving.Earth.’

I love that we can read the Bible so readily, and easily today.

I love that we have so many resources at our fingertips, and that the Bible, that so many people, like William Tyndale, died to bring to us in a language we can understand, is there for us to get stuck into.

So let’s get stuck into God’s word and see what He has to say.

Check out more resources to help you get into God’s Word below (these are by no-means exhaustive, but they will hopefully help get you started):

https://www.biblegateway.com/

http://request.org.uk/

https://www.yfcresources.co.uk/

https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/

http://www.beibl.net/

https://dailyaudiobible.com/

http://www.biblehub.com/

Extravaganza Bonanza!

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This Saturday in Llandudno we are celebrating our annual Victorian extravaganza. It’s a great fun filled event that lots of people attend regularly. People dress in Victorian attire and there are vintage vehicles and a funfair.

Thinking about the extravaganza spurred me to ponder about the lives and impact of Victorian Christians on the world around them and how they can encourage us to be the salt and light in our generation.

One such Christian that stood out was Charles Haddon Suprgeon, known as the “Prince of Preachers.” He was a Baptist pastor who had a great influence not only in his time, but his words and work are still being used by God today to touch hearts and lives with the Gospel.

In his lifetime he published 49 volumes of commentaries, anecdotes and devotionals; the largest set of books by a single author in the history of Christianity. Which includes his published sermons that fill a staggering 63 volumes.

He is estimated to have preached to about 10 million people, that is a great impact upon so many lives. He was a pastor in London for almost 40 years, and was one of the most well-known pastors of his day. Even today he continues to be an important and influential voice across denominations in the Church.

“If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing; go in your sins, they are your livery. Your ruin is your argument for mercy; your poverty is your plea for heavenly alms; and your need is the motive for heavenly goodness. Go as you are, and let your miseries plead for you.”

“Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone, for justification, sanctification, and eternal life by virtue of God’s grace.”

The above are two great quotes by Spurgeon that clearly demonstrate his earnest heart to share God great good news of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus.

He was a great preacher that was always aware of keeping Jesus central and also of building a legacy of faith for the future. He saw the need to pass on the baton to the next generation and create a generation of history makers that would impact their world with the transforming love of Jesus.

“You may speak but a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian Church in years to come.”

“Train up a child in the way he should go – but be sure you go that way yourself.”

I love the two quotes above. At Llandudno Youth for Christ this really resonates with everything that we do. We want to see God transform lives with His love and leave a legacy for future generations.

Would you consider partnering with us in prayer, provision and people to see a generation of young people passionate about their Saviour rise up and change our nation?

We pray you will.