From April 4–6 a group of around 70 young people met for a weekend on the site of All Nations Christian College in Hertfordshire to consider ways of getting involved in evangelism and mission.
This annual event of the Grace Baptist Churches in South East England for Christians aged 15-25, celebrated its tenth anniversary with moving times of worship, helpful workshops, excellent Bible teaching, and lots of opportunities for fellowship.
Word on the street
Pete Woodcock, pastor of Cornerstone Church Kingston, led the main sessions with four talks from Acts 17 that were described by attendees as ‘particularly moving and in-depth’.
The theme this year was ‘Word on the Street’, and the weekend was geared toward equipping those present with the biblical tools for engaging people they know in the culture around them. Attendees were given the choice of two of four helpful workshops: ‘The Word on Science’ with Dr Stephen Lloyd; ‘The Word on sexuality’ with Dr Stefan Cantore; ‘The Word on Christ’s uniqueness’ with Neil Richardson; and ‘The Word on justice’ with Simon Pethick. One teenage man, attending for the first time, told me that the workshops he attended (on sexuality and science) definitely left him more able and confident to talk with his classmates about the Scriptures.
Representatives from several mission organisations were on hand to tell, over hot drinks and muffins, about various opportunities for service. A prayer walk was also organised in which participants spent a period of time at each organisation’s display table, learned about their work and prayed specifically for points highlighted.
‘10/10. Would come again’, one person wrote on their feedback form. Perhaps you know people aged 15-25 who would benefit from a weekend like this. Why not encourage them to come along? Next year’s event is again at All Nations Christian College, from March 27–29. David Hircock, pastor of Hayes Lane Baptist Church in Bromley, will be the main speaker and the theme will look at the work of the Holy Spirit in conversion.
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