Latest News from CYM

 

Following on from the success of Gsus Live, CYM has delivered lessons in schools on prayer, sex, relationships and marriage. It is a privilege to take a class of young people and tell them about the wholeness God offers in relationships and how they have free access to talk to God. This past term we have seen over 150 yr 7’s actively praying in their classroom, through the use of creative prayer. 

 

We have also done presentations to over 200 young people at Kesgrave High School on the Sanctity of Life and on Relationships. It is amazing to talk and openly declare the love and forgiveness God has for young people – concepts that many of them struggle with.

 

Please pray as we approach schools to take lessons next term on the life, death and passion of Jesus, linked to ‘A Passion For Life’ and that schools would be open to us.

 

So often we tell young people to talk to their friends about God and yet we fail to explain to them why and how.

 

So this year’s series at The Platform has been taking a look at what does it mean to testify and WHY God calls us to be involved in His mission, what does it mean to show and explain to our friends and people around us who God is through our words, action, and behaviour. Next we’ll be looking at the truth of Christianity.

 

With over 40 regular attendees aged 11-16 years we hope that we are equipping and empowering young people to go and share who Jesus is in a radical, relevant way.

 

 

Last year we launched 5 new CUs in September, and all are still running. We’ve been able to run a CU in Kesgrave High School for the young years, and in St Albans for the older years, and a new CU was launched at Westbourne High School which is incredibly exciting. Please pray for these groups, and encourage your young people to attend. For young people, this is a safe place to come and talk about their faith, problems, questions, and explore answers.

 

It’s a tough world out there. It never ceases to amaze me the courage, strength, and determination the young people who attend CUs have as they stand up for God in what is a challenging environment. 

 

 

Bring over 60 young people together at Sizewell, and you’re bound to end up with noise, excitement, energy and mess. And that’s exactly what we had. With a variety of team challenges that included donuts and general mess, a 70’s and 80’s theme night, and lots of activities and workshops to be involved in, the weekend was a great opportunity to have fun in the most luminous way.

 

The greatest thing about the weekend is the time you get. Time to chat and build relationships, time to invest in young people, time to chat over issues, explore faith and help them in their walk with God.

 

God doesn’t waste anything. Whether it’s through the silliness of brussel sprout bobbing or the teaching, God was at work in these young people.

 

Eight runs on Friday nights (8-10pm) at The Key with a dedicated team of volunteers. It is a safe and relaxing place for young people (14-18s) to explore God. There have been plenty of new ideas... in the café and multi-media events. eight is a fantastic place for young people to come on Friday nights and the team would love to welcome any new young people.   

 

 

The Interns are core to the running of CYM and it has been a privilege to see them learn, grow and bring their own gifts and characters to the CYM team. They are been involved with all aspects of CYM’s work including leading at ‘African Adventure’, Platform, eight, Sizewell weekends, CU’s as well as helping with much of the admin and preparation for this work.  

 

As part of the Formation year, they take part in our discipleship and training programme, includeing weekly Bible studies and training. Along with Josh and Rachel (gap years) from CYO, the Interns have been looking at the Biblical Basis of Mission and studying how this impacts our work with young people. In the afternoons we have been focussing on understanding ourselves and young people to equip us for the work. 

 

We have had a brilliant term together with plenty of coffee, food, laughs and tears … and we look forward to what God has planned for the rest of the year ahead.  

 

I am looking forward to another year of excitement in the CYM office. It is rarely quiet and the ever increasing popularity of ‘African Adventure’ adds to the pressure.

 

We have 4 excellent part time volunteer secretaries and I know ‘I’m sad’ but I do get a buzz from doing the accounts. Your letters of encouragement, which often come with cheques are a constant source of joy and I have been corresponding with some of you for 25 years so do keep your letters and cheques coming.

 

Robert Hanks (age 85), who had been voluntarily cleaning our offices for many years until recently, has gone to be with The Lord. What a servant, he is sadly missed by us all.