Youth for Christ

With no fewer than 4 different teams YFC used sport, music, drama and film to engage with young people where they were at during the mission week at Saint Augustine’s. Significantly, pupils and teachers were impacted by what God was doing and the YFC teams themselves were totally blown away by the great opportunity that the mission afforded them. The Rhythm, Nomad, Crux Media and Crux Theatre teams worked tirelessly and engaged with countless pupils over the course of the week. Crux Theatre’s play “End of my world: remixed” was seen by every year group and the pupils really took to the drama production and drama workshops. One young person said “Crux Theatre changed my view on life. The team opened my eyes to what can and does happen to people and the story was very powerful with an important message.” Another year 11 student added “A saying that I remember from yesterday helped me realise how the whole community working together makes everyone’s life a better place – when the community works together, the rubbish is taken out of people’s lives.”

 

Reverend Paul Smith, Assistant Priest in the local Catholic Church and School Chaplain at Saint Augustine’s described the drama team as “the real powerhouse behind everything”, before adding, “The trouble with a lot of Religion is that it is presented in a way that doesn’t connect with people

where they are at, yet the drama was talking about faith and commitment on our young people’s level.”

The Film Team; Crux Media, used film to convey messages about hope and love and also allowed young people to learn about the process of film-making. One pupil, Tyler said “We learned how to make different films and technical stuff about shoot modes and close-ups which was really good.”

While another boy, Dom, really connected with the themes of hope and love, “It has made me realise how important they are”. Both boys felt “strengthened in faith” as a result of working with Crux Media during the week. Others were impacted through music as the Rhythm Team ran sessions with pupils exploring percussion and creating different rhythms. Team members then shared their own testimonies of how God had rescued them and given them a new rhythm for their lives. For Reverend Smith another highlight was watching the Nomad team using sport to draw alongside and engage with young people. “When one lad said ‘what’s Jesus got to do with football?’ the team were able to show him its relevance and make that connection. YFC have bought a freshness to talking about God and allowing young people to think about faith and this kind of mission really challenges young people about what their idea of Christianity is.”

 

After overseeing and leading the week, Nathan Iles – YFC Mission Senior Manager said, “We had such a warm reception, the staff and everyone were fantastic.” But with such diverse teams didn’t the mission become disjointed? “There was a real oneness to the mission event even

though we ministered to young people through different teams.” In addition to a great atmosphere in the school, Nathan described the privilege of leading a staff meeting, “We asked the staff if they needed prayer and as we set up prayer stations and gave them room to pray there was such a sense of the presence of God, it was a powerful moment.”

 

Many staff queued to write the names of students whom they wished to seek prayer for whilst others joined together to sing Amazing Grace at the end of the meeting. It is easy to underestimate the significance of such times as the Lord worked in and through the corridors of the school. The staff were affirmed as missionaries of hope for the children entrusted to their care and were supported in personal and private prayer. From football in the cage, drama in assemblies, filming in workshops and exploring rhythm, young people were presented with a diversity of methods but one clear message throughout the week. As Nathan says, “Our heart was to share the Gospel and see young people in the school moving forward with Jesus.” The effect on pupils was noted by the Head of Saint Augustine’s, Mrs Yvonne Brennan, who was “thrilled to have seen young people encountering Christ throughout the corridors of the School – in the dinner hall, classrooms, hallways and in the playground.” At the end of the week Kieran McCullough, Head of R.E. and instrumental in organising the mission, concluded by saying “I would recommend YFC mission teams highly. They are professional, pro-active, helpful and adaptable and we have already been talking about hopefully working together again in the future.” After such an amazing mission the only question that remains is… where next?