20:20 & Fusion

I have tried putting Romania into words for you, but honestly its impossible! I could talk about the 22hr  journey there, the thunder storms which kept us in Church, trying to wash 19 people with very little water, trying to get 11 girls to sleep, the children at the kids club, painting ceilings and mixing concrete, horse and cart rides, BBQs, Amys 21^st birthday, campfires, throwing up due to the terrible roads, the ‘natural spas’, washing dishes for 250 people 3 times a day, setting up a kids camp half way up a mountain, crayons melting in the sun, goats invading our clubs, listening to 125 boys singing ‘Awesome God’ at the tops of their voices in Romanian, each child we came in contact with, the families we stayed with, watching the sun set in Hungary as we travelled 10hrs back to start the long haul home, putting 5hrs in at Luton airport twice, Mafia, Empires, bug bites, 35 degree heat, or singing! I could talk about any of those things in depth but I think as a member of WPC I want to tell you that you should be more than proud of each and every person who was part of our team!

From the word go, we have had 19 people who have not caused any major problems, 19 people who love God and want to serve Him, 19 people who can make you scream but also make you laugh 2 minutes later, 19 people who were willing to let God use them for His work and now 19 people who have had their lives changed due to this Exodus team without a shadow of a doubt!

In Romania, while all these things were going on, we had a tight community who prayed for one another, laughed with one another, cried with one another, made fun of one another but most importantly loved one another! I feel we have come to a point where we cant go back! The team was for sure the highlight of my trip, God changed lives in front of my eyes and I was privileged to be part of it.

Thank you for your prayers and support over the last 7 months, it didn’t go to waste, infact it was life changing! 

We had a Barbeque last night to celebrate the end of a great year with Fusion & 20:20. Good food, banter, some worship and a few awards! The night finished as we chilled out around a couple of fire-pits - hard to beat it!

I am incredibly blessed to work with such a fantastic group of young people and look forward to things kicking off again in September!

Thought i would keep you informed of a couple of things that you need to get signed up for ASAP!

The first thing is Summer Madness which is happening from 27th June - 1st July. If you are interested in going with our group then its important that you have completed and returned a consent form (from me) with payment of £68.50 by next Friday 2nd May. The reason for the haste is that after that date the price will increase to £73.50.

We are also planning to take a bus to the last Ulster Rugby game of the season against Cardiff Blues on Friday 9th May. Consent forms are available from me. Places will be limited so please return forms and money to me ASAP. Cost will be £5.

Fusion (7-9pm) and 20:20 will be as normal this week so i will see you all there!

So I have been suffering from the back to school blues this week! It's sometimes hard to go back into the 'ordinary' world when you've had a break, or when you've been away! Some of us were skiing over Easter, and as soon as I sat down in class on Monday morning I immediately missed the crisp, cold air, the slopes, the craic, the community and, of course, the feeling of snow in your face as you tumble head first down the slope!

Maybe most of all though, I missed waking up to the magnificent views of God's mighty creation!

So if you have been feeling the same this week, enjoy these pics! If you weren't away, then just look and be in awe...

Do we ever put Jesus in a box? Do we restrict Him and hinder His work in us by the lack of our own imagination? Are we holding on to a traditional image of Jesus that we learned as children - gentle Jesus meek and mild etc?

Let me tell you how I got to that point! The picture to the left is of the legendary Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones; the whip wielding, snake hating, Nazi fighting archaeologist! What does that have to do with Jesus and what I'm thinking about?

Well, in John Chapter 2 v 15, we are painted a picture of a Jesus that differs from one you may have in your head...

"Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables."

Jesus wielding a whip? Throwing tables around? Maybe it is time we took another look at who Jesus was... Do you keep Him in a box?

Hey wednesday adams just wanted to say I've been spreading your fan base here in South Africa. And also wanted to say sorry I never got to see the airing of the ATL show on tv cause they don't get those channels here for some reason!!! But when I get home i'll have to borrow someones copy. Raging I missed it!

Hey everyone, hello from S.A. I hear you may have heard my email last night. I hope everyone is well and enjoyed Castlewellen? God has been opening my eyes to his power and presence everywhere in South Africa. I have joined a church called Harvest Christian Church, it is just overflowing with God I can't wait to get to church every week. Last night though was the opening night of their on campus ministry and guess what guys.....it's called:

Twenty20Destiny | Campus Ministry
A Student Revolution Impacting the Nation by Bringing About Positive Change
It just showed me how God works across continents, and it encouraged me so much and made me think of everybody at 20:20 at home. I miss all of you and look forward to getting back into WPC. For the first time I have truly understood what a church family is and it is the most wonderful feeling. Thank you all for your prayers I am safe and well and am making good friends here. God answers prayer! I joined a cell of girls from harvest and we've been discussing how to lead a person to Christ....What should you say when someone asks why are you a Christian or why should i become a Christian? So it has been really great as its something I have never felt very confidant in.

Last night at the twenty20destiny night some of our friends were in a drama that I just have to get a copy of for you. It blew me away....the most powerful thing I have ever watched. I don't wanna spoil it but it was about how 'other things' can separate us from God. God spoke right to my heart that moment and said 'I've always been here, waiting for you, wanting to be with you. I've been trying to reach out to you but things of this world have tempted you away. Please come back to me, I love you.' I was brought to tears at how I always seem to put other things before God and I recommitted my life when they asked people to stand as I just wanted God, nothing else, nothing else can satisfy, and I longed for Him, His presence beside my all the time.

Guys I just wanna say God holds out His hand to us at ever step in our lives and it's our responsibility to put our hand into His and say 'God I trust you, not my will but yours be done'.

Here are the details for the Castlewellan Retreat next weekend! Apologies I forgot to print this off and distribute on Friday night!

We will be departing from Waringstown Presbyterian Church Car Park at 6pm on Friday 22nd February. We will arrive back at WPC car park on Sunday 24th February at 3.30pm.

CONSENT FORM MUST BE COMPLETED & RETURNED TO NEIL

Things to bring:

• Sleeping bag & pillow
• Warm clothing
• Older clothing for Saturday afternoon activities & late night ‘Capture the Flag’
• Towel & wash kit
• Bible, notebook & pen
• Snack Food:
• Torch & batteries
• Sense of humour

We had our Christmas night out with Fusion & 20:20 before Christmas. We went to the Panto and had a great nights craic! I had decided that at a time of year when we spend so much money on ourselves it would be good for our young people to give some away to helps people less fortunate in other countries. So i gave them some advance warning that we would be taking donation in the hope that we could buy a herd of goats (cost £60) for a family in Afghanistan from Present Aid. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of a group of young people mostly aged 11-18. The total raised was a fantastic £211 which meant we were able to buy the goats as well as pigs for a family in Nicaragua, ducks for a family in Bangladesh, a bike for an outreach worker in Malawi and a water tap for a community in Nicaragua! How amazing is that! If you haven't visited the Present Aid website then you really should - use the link above. Maybe you could purchase an ethical gift for a friend or family member.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had an exciting new year's eve, bringing the New Year in with style. I welcomed in the new year on Portstewart Strand and it was fantastic! In the dark all you could hear was the roar of the waves and the sound of footsteps on the sand!

So as the new year begins I am drawn to think of the year gone by - and to remember the many ways in which God has been good to me, and the many times when I didn't deserve his goodness! There are so many blessings that come to my mind!

And as I think on the year that is to come I see many things which I will face and struggle with. I need to lay these before an Almighty God, and believe that just as He was with me in 2007, so He will be with me in 2008!

So let us pray for all that 2008 may hold: school and exams, starting university, new jobs, Fusion, 20:20, discipleship program and Romania trip, 20:20 weekend in February, holidays. The Lord holds all these in His hands. And as we look around the world and see conflict and strife we must remember, the Lord holds all these in His hands.

So let us listen and hear the Lord say to me, and to you:

Here is the Patience video we showed last week in 20:20. I know some of you couldn't be there and I'm sure all of you would like to see it again anyway!



I've posted a couple of the thoughts and quotes i shared on Patience on my own blog so just click here.

It's been ages since i have posted here but thought i would share a bit about the activities of last weekend! 20:20 celebrated the 18th Birthday of Jessy Stoddart on Friday night with a 60's party in the church hall! It was awesome craic and special mention has to go to the female leaders who put extra special effort in to their costumes as The Supremes. Alas i have no pictures of this to share with you but if anyone has some pics then let me know!

On Saturday we had a 20:20 Day trip to Dublin. The highlight of this was the Surprise Mystery Event! This had built up quite a suspense amongst the young people for the 2 weeks leading up to the trip and i don't think they were disappointed. We had booked the Viking Splash Tour, a trip around Dublin on WW2 amphibious (yes land and water!) vehicles called DUKW's. Here's a few pics to give you an idea! All and all it was a great day's craic with the young people who made it along!

Have you ever done something really stupid only to later sit back and wonder why you did it? To recollect the events only to find that you can provide no explanation as to why you took a certain course of action? Perhaps this is a common feeling for some of us, but not for me. However, as of last week I can now be counted part of the club!

Why? Because last week, in a moment of blind stupidity, I ran full smack into a window. I was in a cafe and in such a rush to get outside I must have decided that the door was clearly not an option. The clever man goes for the window instead!! Now in my defense the window was very clean, and one could easily have not realised that it was glass and not air in that gap! Like I said, I have often tried to explain what went on in my head, but I can't - it's just one of those things I suppose! The bonus is, since I broke the window, no one else will be running through it anytime soon!

But anyway, as I lay there half embarrassed to death and with concussion probably making up the rest, a thought came over me! Despite what's just happened I should thank God for small mercies:
- I had legs which enabled me to run, even into a window
- Had I required it, there was a hospital 2 minutes down the road
- I had friends around me who took care of me (while laughing hysterically I should add)
- I went home and had a bed to lie on

So next time you're stuck outside in the rain, Thank God that we have enough water. The next time you complain about homework, Thank God that you can go to school. And should the unfortunate happen to you and you run into a window, say thanks to God for all the many things you still enjoy, and perhaps most especially, the gift of Shatterproof Glass. . .

As some of you may know I was in Norway over the Summer and I thought I'd show you all a photo and share something that I learned! I think Norway must be one of the most beautiful places in the world - a fine display of God's artistry and creativity with Creation! In fact, surrounded by that Creation I felt the presence of God more than anywhere I've ever been! What was the natural response to that? I prayed, and it seemed like God was only an arm's length away! I was in a 'Cathedral' of Creation - whose walls were mountains and the floor was still water, and God was there with me! And yet, God was no closer to me there then He is right now! He was no closer then than He is when I'm having that crap day, when I feel like I couldn't be bothered, when the weight of the world is on me, when frankly God seems a million miles away! And so the next time you have one of those days, remember God and remember that He hasn't gone anywhere!!!!!

I recently read a wonderful thought on why we pray and I thought I'd share it with you! It's written by an old guy called C H Spurgeon:

"Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer that it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the holy exercise of prayer. Prayer thins the feathers of God's young eaglets, so that they can learn to soar above the clouds. Prayer readies God's warriors and sends them out to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. The praying believer comes out of his closet, even as the sun rises from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like an athlete about to race... Prayer equips human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives the peace of God to troubled souls. We do not know what prayer cannot do!"

What a great thought! Why do we ever stop praying?

Thought i would post up a few photos of the leaders retreat last weekend and the Beach BBQ last night to launch Fusion & 20:20 for the year. I've written a bit more about each of these on my own blog. Click here if you are interested!

Photos of Leaders Retreat in Donegal






























Isn't this one fantastic!














Photos of Beach BBQ at Murlough...

Hello there folks, Fusion and 20:20 will be launching this terms activities this Friday night with a Barbeque at Murlough Beach. We will be meeting at the church car park at 6pm and should return around 10.30pm. The cost will be £3. If you would like to come along then please download a consent form by clicking this link. This also includes my contact details so you can let me know if you are going by WEDNESDAY 12TH SEPT.

See ya there!!!

Apologies for the lack of posting on this site in the last month but i have been away on holidays and at an SU Camp but you can read more about this by clicking here. Youth week (20th-24th August) is fast approaching and i wanted to inform you all that you need to get...
...forms into me by Sunday 12th August. Please, please do this so i have an idea of what numbers to expect!

If you want to see a programme and get an application form they can be downloaded from the church website by clicking here.

See ya there!