I think I'm spending more time in a tent than in my house this month...is that nromal?

Wow...what a month!!

After new wine, I'm now gearing up for Soul Survivor. With all there is to do over the next two weeks, I wonder if I'll even make it alive to september!
Anyway, here it goes:

This Saturday the 18th four churches from Bognor will leave for Soul Survivor, a yearly christian festival with a number of events going on with the aim of encouraging young people aged 12 to 19. I believe this is such a needed event in the lives of so many young people. Recently in the news results were given from a study of young people in this age range, and when compared to similar studies done in the rest of Europe, a few key things stood out to me:

Young people in England have been found to be the most violent. In all of Europe, British teens have the the record for committing violent crimes, and one look at the BBC news really brings the reality home. A huge factor of this is due to such widespread underage drinking. One of the papers here today reported that kids as young as ten are getting drunk, and the knock on effect is that as they grow up without the discipline needed, they form a lifestyle of "anything goes".

British teens have the highest teen pregnancy rate. Underage relations is happening in just about every culture, but in comparison to other countries here in Europe, the scene is worst overall here in Britain.

These are just a few of the problems facing young people here, and I believe the only real hope they have is in the gospel. Please pray that our time at Soul Survivor would bear good long term fruit in the lives of everyone going (the leaders as well as the young people).

After Soul Survivor I will have a few days to reorganize myself for the next event: YOB camp. This is an event that we at Vineyard are doing for kids aged 7-11. Again, there is a real opportunity to teach and to share who God is and we need your prayers. Please pray for me specifically that God would use my short talk on the sower (Matt. 13).

After YOB camp and sometime in September I will be reviewing my contract with the church here. I don't know how this is going to go, but as of right now I think it may fall to me to decide whether to stay or move on. Please pray that God would show me/us what He wants to do.

Please pray for the weather to be kind and not rain over these two weeks! I don't mind camping, but camping in the rain just isn't my cup of tea. Please pray for my attitude as well. I know that when I get stresssed I can be a sour apple to be around! It'll take an act of God for me to be pleasant with all that's happening right now :-)

God bless! I miss you all and am looking forward to Christmas and coming home to visit again!

Till next time,
Paul

Post New Wine and pre Soul Survivor

It's amazing what a week away can do...

On July 27th I arrived at New Wine (a large Christian conference. John Wimber had a pretty big hand in some of the direction of new wine years ago). This year I thought it might be a good idea to apply for serving on a team (team members go for free and have most of their meals taken care of during the week). Back in march, it sounded like a good deal to me.

I had no idea that I would be in a dry place in life. At the start of the week I was pretty drained and didn't feel like serving. A situation all too familiar if you have spent anytime in just about any capacity of service. Just another time of forgetting why I serve and what my motives should be.

As the week progressed though, the leaders were very encouraging in the time we spent on our own to be refreshed and recharged. Most of what was said in the main sessions for the young people and in the team meetings in the mornings really resounded with me. By Thursday night I felt like I had come back to some familliar place in my personal walk with God, and felt more equipped to serve and pray for the young people.

One of the consistant themes they hit on was the fact that being at New Wine (or any big God centered conference) is time spent in a bit of a bubble. While being away gave me some new tools and perspectives on my life, I find that coming back to reality is quite difficult. I'm still waiting on God for direction and giving the best I can in the way I serve. I really hate em, but low points are great teachers too. They show me that I need God more than I ever thought I did, and I find to at times I'm really surprised by how much God does through me when I'm feeling low and have nothing to give. I'm also aware that for as bad as things seem with me, I don't have the worst of circumstances to contend with.

It's been hard at times to find people to really confide in. While I do have friends here and people who I can share a laugh with, it's hard to find someone I really connect with. If you know me you know how much I value that connection. It's in my personality...I may be a bit introverted, but the ones who I do open up to are very dear to me and I value that bond very highly. Heh heh, I love being an INFP...

I had a fairly relaxing week though since coming back from New Wine. As hard as it was being on team, I've taken most of this week off to recover. I can't believe it's friday already, but I guess time stops for no one. The plus side is that the rain is holding off and we may have a bit of a dry spell here in the wake of all that flooding. I'm glad I live near the coast. Did I mention that Bognor has recorded the most hours of sunlight in the last 100 years or so? Yeah, pretty sweet...

I hope this finds you all well. It's the best way I know how to communicate, so my apologies if it seems impersonal and distant.

Till next time,
Paul