By Andy Hughes
On Saturday 11th May, we were pleased to welcome 65 people to this event in Old Colwyn including leaders, supporters, camp volunteers, pray-ers, donors and eight young people who served and played their part brilliantly.
People were welcomed with drinks and an opportunity to chat and browse our exhibition area before being seated at tables and welcomed by Graham Thomas, chair or Urban Saints Wales. This was followed by a quiz on the story of Crusaders/Urban Saints so far, both in the UK and here in Wales, including sharing some of the exciting things that are happening right now in the North Wales region.
Young people from Kinmel Bay appeared on a video sharing some shocking statistics about the lives of young people in Wales and their families. This was followed by a vox-pop video where young people from all of the North Wales groups shared what they like about coming to their Group and how it helps them.
We then heard from six of our Group leaders about what belonging to Urban Saints means to them before I shared a little about what’s happening across Urban Saints more widely and presented several ways that those present can partner with us and get further involved.
And so, to a splendid afternoon tea provided by a local caterer and served by the young people who sat at each table with our guests. The afternoon programme was rounded off by a time of worship led by Rhys (our son) and creative prayer led by one of our National Leadership Team Cymru members. Programme over, many were still around chatting sometime later.
Responses so far include a number of camp and events volunteers, three people interested in talking further about new Groups, one person interested in joining the team for a recently launched Group, one person enquiring about joining NLT Cymru, a chef offering to cook for a camp without one, a new prayer supporter, one off and new regular donations, and several people who are pondering how they can get further involved.
In the run-up to this event, we discovered that the pastor of the church it was held in came to Christ on a Crusaders camp that I led in the 1990’s and we are now talking with him about a new Group based in their community. You can watch his story at https://youtu.be/3dbiyLd9an4
In summary, this was a great event for us. We look forward to journeying together in partnership with those who joined us.