YouthAwake09

Daily Devotion 42: New Horizon

Prayer at New Horizons
During the recent On the Edge programme at New Horizons I watched as I saw one of the most powerful things I’ve ever seen. A leader on the team had hurt his back a day earlier, and the hospital had given him heavy duty pain killers, and he was told to rest for several weeks. Seizing the opportunity at that evening’s event, he was brought on stage and standing well over 6ft he towered above about 150 young people who came on stage to pray for healing for his back. We didn’t know if any young people would come forward, but instead there was barely enough room on the stage, and God really honoured their prayers. The very next night, the whole venue saw the power of prayer as Chris did star-jumps around the stage when the night before he could barely walk. God can do amazing things through prayer, and through young people, if we just open up the possibilities for him to work and step out in faith a little more.

Daily Devotion 41: St John’s

Over the Christmas period our youth group decided to provide something a little more creative than the usual nativity scene. Christmas is a time that we so easily get drawn into the business of the season, buying presents and rushing around like headless turkeys that by the time we hit Christmas day our stress levels are through the roof. Calm, reflective, serenity was the order of the day, not words usually attributed to church youth groups (especially if you know my lot) but for 4 days before Christmas it’s what they transformed our church halls into.

Firstly our children’s prayer room. I don’t know if anyone reading this is a parent, but I am, and even in my line of work I do sometimes find it difficult to pray with my children. We had lots of activities for kids and their parents – a shredder to get rid of the things we are sorry for, buns to ice for the people we wanted to thank and a huge tent full of cushions and stars to just chill out and chat to God.

In our main prayer room we provided a quiet space for prayer and reflection. Quotes and bible verses adorned the walls as did a map of the world and a great big ‘wailing wall’ for people to write their own prayer requests and pray for the ones others had written. There was a great sense of the spiritual in the room, not that a bit of black cloth and a few candles do anything magical, but they created an atmosphere where prayer became easy and God felt close.

Finally we had ‘the labyrinth’, no David Bowie music, it was something much better. Based on the journey of the wise men, it is a spiritual walk which encourages the participant to meditate on a variety of things as they journey through the maze. Thoughts about star gazing, baggage, life and gifts guide the journey to the manger while thoughts of the world, justice and support inspire us as we leave the stable and return to everyday life.

The few days reminded me how easy it is for our prayer lives to become stale, formulaic or even just like another to-do in the diary. But if prayer is just another chore, then what’s the point…

Daily Devotion 40: Fitzroy

Mission on our Doorstep
Through engaging the local community in a holiday Bible club and partnership with our local Primary School, Fitzroy Presbyterian Church has formed a strong relationship with the Romanian community in the Holy Lands area of Belfast. Our greatest mission effort at the minute is right on our doorstep: numerous Romanian children are a constant presence at Fitzroy, and we have begun integrating them into our Friday Frenzy Youth Club for children in P4-P7, providing for their physical and spiritual needs. We have already seen progress here, and feel that our mission calling is providing a safe space for these Romanian children and encouraging understanding, reconciliation and unity between Fitzroy and the Romanian population in the area.

Prayer points:
• Pray that our children and young people will be increasingly open to engagement with people that are different from themselves.
• Pray that Fitzroy’s relationship with the local community will become stronger in the weeks and months that lie ahead.
• Pray for all those in leadership at Fitzroy and at government level as they make key decisions that will help us all proceed with this vital work.

Daily Devotion 39: 1st Saintfield

Czech Republic Mission Trip – July 2008
The hammer and sickle are gone... but will they hear about a Cross? During the past eighteen years the Czech Republic has experienced change on an unprecedented scale. This generation of young people are the first to grow up without any experience of communism; they live in a changing world their parents never knew – a place charged with instability and confusion. A world filled with opportunity and freedom.

This was a unique opportunity for our young people to be directly involved in cross-cultural relationships through the teaching of English. They were involved in ‘hands on’ evangelism. It was a transforming experience, and many team members have shared testimonies of the change that occurred in their lives as a result of their investment in the young people of the Czech Republic.

Josiah Venture is the missionary organisation we partnered with. JV works to equip local churches in Central & Eastern Europe to effectively reach out to young people. Summer camps are just part of a year long strategy. Central & Eastern Europe desperately needs its own Josiah; young men and women who will lead the way as this young king did.

English Camp
Most of the young people who come to the camps are non-Christians, many of whom have never met young Christians or been exposed to the truth of Christianity and the Bible.The camps have a balanced schedule of activities where team members and young Czech Christians can Cultivate relationships with young people, Plant spiritual seeds and help Reap the harvest in the lives of those God is drawing to Himself.

Prayer points:
• Give Thanks for what God has done and is doing!
• For the young Czech’s who came to faith in Christ.
• For team members who have heard God’s call on their lives to mission and future service.
• for those who have a deeper, stronger faith in light of this mission experience.
• Pray for our 2009 mission trip. We hope to return to the Czech Republic in July.
• Pray for our preparation, training and fundraising.