I’m not long back from New Horizon where I was part of team Engage who had the responsibility of ministering to a group of over 100 young people each day aged 13-14.

We had a ball.  We laughed, danced, played, cried and worshiped together for 5 days straight.  Our theme for the week was Jesus: Encounters.  We looked at people in the Bible who encountered Jesus…never to be the same again.  The women caught in adultery, the rich young ruler, the woman who anointed Jesus with her tears, blind Bartimaeus…

All encountered Jesus and amazing things happened as Jesus spoke and acted out Truth and Grace.

We all encountered Jesus during the week.  I believe we encountered him again in a fresh way.  His Spirit was at work in us as a team and in the young people.  One thing I keep thinking about is this – only Jesus can rescue, heal, forgive and provide our deepest needs.  When a life genuinely encounters Him one thing is for sure: transformation will happen.

We shot a video that told the ‘cardboard testimonies’ of the young people involved.  It blew me away. These young people are living in all parts and corners of our wee country and so I truly believe that what we were involved in last week will have national significance as these young people carry the transforming message of Jesus back to their villages, towns, cities, schools, clubs…so take heart!

Here are some of their short stories of before and after encountering Jesus.  Please read on:

Dead…Born again

Self-conscious…beautiful in God’s eyes

Lost…Found

I was first…I am now second

Shy and scared…Confident and brave

Alone…With Jesus

I followed the crowd…I follow the cross

I was drowning in sin…He has rescued me

Unsettled…Now at peace

My soul was captive…And now it’s free

Puzzled…Solved

Dead in sin…Alive in Him

Trouble…At peace

Wrecked…Restored fully

Self-centred…God-centred

No purpose in life…Life to live for Jesus

Broken…Renewed

Empty…Full

I was Lord…Jesus is Lord

Going nowhere…Going somewhere

Low self-worth…A daughter of the King

Sinner…Saved sinner

Rejected…Accepted

Lonely…Friend for life

Broken…Complete

Dark…Light

Thank you Jesus.

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM SAMI CULLEN WHO IS COORDINATING THE SUMMER SCHEME AT SUNNYLANDS YOUTH CENTRE. THIS MESSAGE IS FROM TUES 20TH JULY:

Sunnylands Summer Scheme has well and truly started! Our first day was yesterday and we started with 34 young people aged 7-13 attending. Today we had 46 young people through our doors! So far the atmosphere has been good, the young people have had a chance to play basketball, play unihoc, try gardening, make finger puppets and have a first trip to Carnfunnock, just to name a few….It has been encouraging to see young people build friendships and open up to each other. I am grateful for a team of Staff Volunteers who are committed to making Summer Scheme 2011 the best it can be. Thinking about you guys at New Horizon. Enjoy it, be blessed and enjoy the banter!

Over and out.

Sami

An update from the New Horizon team will follow soon!

Stuart