Celebrate the day!

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Merry Christmas to all our amazing volunteers and supporters!

We pray God’s richest blessings upon you as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world!

Be blessed!

The holidays are here!

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Well, we’ve only got just over 1 week left of 2019. It’s been a great year for us here at Llandudno Youth for Christ. We’ve seen young people make decisions to follow Jesus, we’ve seen others grow and develop in their relationship with God. We’ve shared the good news of Jesus with thousands of young people.

In our different projects we’ve seen God graciously growing a community of young people that are engaging with questions of faith.

We’ve seen God come through for us in so many areas including financially. It truly has been a blessed year.

So much so, that we are moving into 2020 with expectant hearts, looking forward to seeing and partaking in all that God has in store for us.

Please do continue to support us in prayer, with finances and with your time. We really do appreciate it, and let’s see God do amazing things in the lives of young people in Llandudno and beyond in 2020.

Have a truly blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year from everyone here at Llandudno Youth for Christ!

Celebrate Good Times!

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Last Sunday night we held the last Redefine of 2019, in fact it was the last Redefine of the decade. Wow!

To celebrate we had a sumptuous banquet of Christmassy food and an epic Christmas Quiz!

We had decorated the main hall for the evening with Christmas trees and fairy lights festooning the walls. It was brilliant!

Everyone got stuck into both the food and the quiz.

It was so much fun and the brilliant send off to what has been a fantastic year.

This season we have looked at what worship is. How we worship God, how we encourage ourselves in our worship of God and how we encourage each other in our worship of God. We’ve also looked at who Jesus is in the lead up to Christmas and gone through our brilliant ‘We believe’ series.

It has truly been a brilliant and blessed year and we are so grateful to God for all that He has done in and through the work of Llandudno Youth for Christ.

We thank you for all your support in 2019. Support that allows us the privilege to share the amazing good news of Jesus with an amazing bunch of young people. Thank you.

That said, let us look forwards to a blessed and prosperous 2020.

Be blessed!

Noel!

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Well, Christmas is almost upon us. Only 22 – 23 days to go. I’ve put up my Christmas decorations and soon will be up to my elbows in wrapping paper. Here at Llandudno Youth for Christ we are also preparing for Christmas. We’ve just finished our series looking at what worship is at Redefine and for the next 3 weeks we will be looking at the Christmas story and its significance for us as Christians.

We will be especially looking at the fact that Jesus is Emmanuel – God with us.

We will be looking at His Godhood and His humanity. What does it really mean for Jesus to be both fully God and fully man? Why does He need to be fully God and fully man?

I love this time of the year, where we get to sing songs about Jesus and we focus on the amazing truth that God himself became a baby. Weak, little & dependent upon Mary & Joseph to look after and care for Him.

Wow!

God comes to us in the most unobtrusive and humble way, but that is more often the case, that God meets us in our day to day lives, not with fanfare and pomp, but in humility and love. Coming to meet us where we are at to bring us hope, joy & love. To lift us up to where He is.

We have such an amazing God and Saviour.

Please be praying for us at this Christmas time. Praying that the young people will be excited by the Christmas story. That they will see how amazing God’s love is and why Jesus had to come as a little baby.

Thank you and Be blessed!

From the heavens to the nations

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Last Sunday night we concluded our series on worship at Redefine. We looked at the topic ‘Worship Out‘. This was speaking about how during worship we are to encourage each other in our worship of God. Our worship, as well as being directed towards God, is also focussed outwards to encourage those around us to worship God.

The title of this blog post is a line from the Hillsong worship song ‘Hear our Praises‘. In the chorus, the song lyrics go like this ‘from the mountains to the valleys, hear our praises rise to You. From the heavens to the nations, hear the singing fill the air‘. The worship is not only aimed at God, but is focussed outwards calling all of creation to join in worshipping God.

This is like the Psalmist in Psalm 148, who calls different parts of creation to worship God. From angels, to the sun, moon & stars, all are called upon to worship God. Interestingly enough another Hillsong worship song is based upon this psalm: ‘Great in Power‘. The psalm goes on to call upon all creatures, kings and nations, young and old to worship God. There is no-one and nothing that is not called upon to worship God.

So when we get together to worship God, our focus is inward to encourage ourselves to worship God, upwards to put all our focus on worshipping God for who He is and outwards as we encourage others and indeed the whole of creation to worship the Creator and Saviour of us all.

We have loved leading the young people through this series, giving them a greater understanding of what worship is and how worship touches upon all aspects of life. Please be praying for the young people, that having been encouraged by this teaching series, they will grow in a develop their own worship of God that is inward, upward and outward.

Be blessed!

Worship Up!

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At ‘Redefine’ we are currently doing a series looking at worship.

Before the half-term we looked at ‘Worship In‘: how we encourage ourselves to worship God. We focus inwards to encourage ourselves to worship God, despite how we are feeling. As King David says in Psalm 103 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:..” Just like David we remember in worship the goodness of God and all the blessings He showers upon us and this helps us refocus on God as both the source and goal of our worship.

This Sunday evening just gone we looked at ‘Worship Up‘. This is where all of our attention and focus is upon God in worship. In Psalm 121, the Psalmist encourages us to lift up our heads, to look up, above our circumstances and situations to the God who is stronger and mightier than mountains.

After the teaching on worship, which was taken from Psalm 63, where we looked at how King David, despite being in a desert, had a longing for God that was greater than his need for water; we finished our time of teaching by responding in worship ourselves and singing together the song ‘Waymaker’.

Next week we will be looking at ‘Worship Out’. This is where we look outwards in our worship to encourage those around us to worship God. As seen ins Psalm 117, everyone is encouraged to praise God.

It’s really great giving the young people that come to Redefine a good foundation in worship. Please do be praying for us as we finish this series on worship and then start preparing for celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Thank you and be blessed!

The light shines in the darkness

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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:1-5

At this time of year when the clocks have gone back an hour and the nights are drawing in, it’s encouraging to know that Jesus is the light of the world and that He is the light that the darkness cannot overcome. The darkness can do its worst to Him, but it can never defeat or overcome Him.

Indeed, when we look at the cross, where the darkness and sin of the Universe was placed upon the Son of God, we see Jesus victorious; defeating sin and darkness. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”– 1 Peter 2:22-24

That is why we celebrate Christmas when we do. It’s because the shortest day is on December 21st and any day after that is getting lighter and the days are getting longer. So Jesus, the light of the world has come into our darkness with His light, to bring us freedom and victory. Freedom from sin and victory over the darkness. That is why we celebrate on December 25th His coming into the world. It is also why Halloween or All Hallows Eve is followed by All Saints Day.

In Christianity, wherever you see darkness, you see God’s light overcoming it. Jesus is the light of the world and He has overcome the darkness.

At Llandudno Youth for Christ, we want all the young people to know that Jesus is the light of the world and that He can bring light to dark parts of their lives. To bring freedom, healing and life. To know that He is the only one who will bring freedom, victory and life to their lives.

At this time of the year, when the nights are dark and we are preparing to celebrate Christmas; the light of the world taking on flesh and entering into our world. Please be praying for the young people that attend the different events we hold at Llandudno Youth for Christ. Pray that they would encounter the light of the world. That Jesus would become more than a historical figure to them. That he would be the light of their world, for that is what He truly is.

Be blessed!

 

Baby You’re a Firework

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Well on the 30th of November there was a magnificent Fireworks display in Llandudno that certainly wowed everyone. We too, here at Llandudno Youth for Christ are going to be having our very own mini fireworks display on the 3rd of November.

It’s great at this time of year when the nights are lengthening and the temperatures are dropping to fill the dark sky with light, colour and noise. Also, what fireworks display would be complete without Toffee Apples and Sausage butties? We’re going to be having both at our Fireworks night. Sunday 3rd November 6-8pm at the Lighthouse Church in the West Shore of Llandudno.

Please do be praying for us as we hold this event for the young people who attend Redefine (our Sunday evening Bible Study). Pray that everyone stays safe and has an enjoyable time.

In writing this article, the title is taken from a song by pop singer Katy Perry called ‘Firework‘. In the lyrics she encourages the listeners that feel lost and alienated, to let their light shine, like a firework shooting across the sky. For the listeners to the song to know that they have worth and are valued.

Just like in the lyrics of the song, at Llandudno Youth for Christ, we want the young people that attend our events to know how much worth they have in God’s eyes and for them to let their light shine. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16

Please pray they will be blessed and encouraged.

Be blessed!

Pioneering Youth Ministry

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This last Saturday morning at the Ty Llywelyn Community Centre, Llandudno Youth for Christ held the first of our ‘Explore Pioneering Youth Ministry‘ training days.

It was a brilliant event led by our director Mr Tim Gough. Tim is a youth work author and has a first class MA in Pioneering Ministry and Church Planting; so he knows what he’s talking about.

Not only did the attendees receive some first class training, they were also treated to a sumptuous and lavish continental breakfast. We certainly do not do things by half here at Llandudno Youth for Christ.

In total we are going to have 3 training days. The first on October 19th looked at the subject of ‘Starting from scratch – the heartbeat of Pioneering‘. Boldly going where no-one has gone before. Reaching into communities where young people are growing up with no concept whatsoever of the Christian faith.

All who attended this training said how much they enjoyed it and got so much out of the training materials.

The next 2 training sessions are on November 16th and December 14th. In November we will be looking at ‘Managing behaviour and building community – Pioneering as a group‘ and in December, ‘Pioneering for permanence – Establishing a group that will last.’

The great thing about these training sessions is that they can be taken as a whole 3 part training course, or looked at individually. so whether you are able to attend all 3 or you can only attend 1 out of the 3, then you’ll go away having received some top class training that will be of invaluable help to you as you reach out to young people in you area with the good news of Jesus Christ.

At Llandudno Youth for Christ we love being able to resource and train others to reach more young people with the love of God, and wouldn’t be able to put on such training days without the help and support of those in the local community and beyond that faithfully uphold us in prayer and faithfully donate finances to the charitable work that we are doing.

Thank you and do come along to one or both of the next training days that we will be holding.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrew 10:23-25

Be blessed!

We’re in this together.

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“And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrew 10:24-25

Last Sunday night we held the last of our ‘We Believe‘ teaching series. This week we were looking at “You can’t do life alone“. It was a great evening that was really well attended.

We had lots of fun playing games and worshipping together. We were doing lots of activities together, which was great considering we were looking at how God puts us together as believers, to support and encourage each other. To care for and love each other. “A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35.

We looked at how we were never intended to do life alone. In fact we are created in the image of a God that is not alone, but is a trinity. We were created out of love and for love. We were made for community, with each other and with God.

It was really great seeing how the young people really got into the Bible study time and how they are growing together as a community of young believers, demonstrating the love that Jesus commanded us to live in and show.

With the end of our ‘We believe‘ series, we are going to be moving on to looking at worship, before preparing for Christmas.

I am so excited by what I am seeing God doing at ‘Redefine’ our Sunday evening discipleship Bible Study group. It is great seeing young people growing in and discovering a relationship with God.

Please do continue to support us in prayer, with finances and by volunteering at our various events. We cannot do this ministry without your much needed support. Thank you for being such amazing supporters.

Be blessed!