This Saturday, nearly 300 Presbyterian young people will be commissioned to take part in summer camps, outreach teams and overseas groups working all around Ireland and in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central America.
The special service, organised by the Presbyterian Youth Board which administers the schemes, will take place at Ballyhenry Presbyterian Church, Glengormley, on Saturday 21 June at 7.00pm and will be conducted by Moderator Dr Ivan McKay.
200 of the young people have volunteered to be part of 12 Summer Outreach Teams. These last for about a week and involve the volunteers in supporting special outreach activities organised by local congregations around Ireland as far apart as Newry and Carlow, Letterkenny and Woodvale in Belfast. Activities involved will include running holiday bible clubs, taking part in street theatre and involvement in local church evangelism projects.
Also being commissioned are the leaders of six residential camps to be held at the Presbyterian Youth Centres at Rostrevor and Guysmere. Around 300 are expected to attend these week long teenage camps which focus on sports activities, creative arts, and watersports. Described as opportunities to ' discover who you really are' the advice for those coming to the camps is to 'prepare to be blown away - not just by yourself but by Jesus! Escape the sofa, find the fun, find Jesus. Your life will never be the same again!'
Furthest travelled group will be the team of 12 going to Uganda. Led by Presbyterian minister Rev Ian McDonald from New Mossely and former missionary in Indonesia Joan Hanna they will spend three weeks working in Kampala as the guests of the 'Jesus Cares for All' ministry. Their two fold purpose will be to continue the building work at the Jagala Christian Centre, a base for working with street kid's which is supported by the Presbyterian Board of Social Witness, and to help with evangelistic programmes at the Stephen Jota Children's Centre, which is a Christian school catering for orphan children.
'What a wonderful way to spend the summer' says Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ivan McKay. 'Not only having fun and experiencing new things but for those involved I know their faith will be deepened as they serve God and tell others of His love for them.'
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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