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YOUTH OUTREACH

Belfast blessing

Four young Christians look back on the events of 2004 and reveal how a week, spent on the streets of Belfast, became the highlight of their year. LORRAINE WYLIE reports

Together with hundreds of other young students, James Draper, Rachel McWilliams, Tom Tate and Heather Torney took part in the Streetreach programme.

A spin-off from Summer Madness, Streetreach aimed to demonstrate the serving nature of the Church by going into the community and helping local people. Local churches acted in a supportive role, providing the various teams of ‘workers’ with food and shelter.

At the end of the week, groups returned to the Summer Madness base, bringing along new friends to share in an evening of praise and worship as well as a farewell barbecue! So far the project has been a huge success.

James Draper, an 18-year-old student from Elim’s Letchworth Christian Fellowship, explained his feelings about the Streetreach project. “For me, it was a totally amazing experience! It was a unique opportunity to share the love of Jesus in a practical way with the people of Belfast.

"The community-based programme aims to serve people in a way the wider Church has failed to do. As we cleaned, tidied and prayed, the whole spiritual atmosphere seemed to change, and with it came the opportunity to witness. By working hard with actions, we built up the integrity to share Jesus with words. The best thing about Streetreach is that it works alongside local churches that are already the salt and light within their communities."

Based in the Willowfield parish area of Belfast, Rachel McWilliams (18) – who hopes to enter Bible college after her gap year – shares James’s enthusiasm: “It was brilliant getting to know the local people and helping them in any way I could, even if it meant painting walls, clearing back alleys or getting rid of old washing machines.

"Sometimes there were just some lonely people who needed a cuppa and a good old chin wag. However, the best part for me was when we asked individuals if we could pray for them and they really welcomed it. The hardest part wasn’t the work, it was walking away, knowing a quick fix wasn’t the answer for most of them.

"Yet the churches in the area were really keen to keep up the connections we had made, and pray for the people we had met. We may not be there anymore but God is and he is faithful. God taught me a lot about loving people. This week in my life was probably the most worthwhile thing I’ve done all year."

Based in Belfast’s notorious Shankill Road, Tom Tate (19) – who entered Belfast Bible College in September – had this to say:

"This was my second year of Streetreach, and I have to say that both occasions have been very different. It was brilliant to discover the individuals behind the stereotypes. I loved getting out into the community, interacting with people and sharing the Gospel with them.

"By helping out, we made friends of all ages. In fact, the Streetreach experience had such an effect on me that I decided to take part in a year long outreach programme with Youth With a Mission.

"It's wonderful to spend time as well as energy making an impact on people’s lives and really caring for them - you also learn a lot about yourself! I guess to sum it up is to simply say that Streetreach is the chance to put your beliefs into action, that’s the real test of faith."

Heather Torney (18), now involved on a discipleship training programme before taking her place at Bible college, can’t wait for next year’s Streetreach. "I love people, and Streetreach is all about people. Many areas in Belfast are socially, as well as spiritually, deprived.

"If you are willing to help individuals in a practical way, they are more willing to listen about spiritual needs. The work wasn’t as bad as you might think because we were in teams and there was always time for a laugh. I got to know this old lady who told me she was part of a forgotten people. That made me sad. We went one day and her husband had died. I was so sorry for her. I told her about God and left her to him. He can do more than me."

Lorraine Wylie works for Summer Madness

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		YOUTH OUTREACH Belfast blessing Four young Christians look back on the events of 2004 and reveal how a week, spent on the streets of Belfast, became the highlight of their year. LORRAINE WYLIE reports Together with hundreds of other young students, James Draper, Rachel McWilliams, Tom Tate and Heather Torney took part in the Streetreach programme. A spin-off from Summer Madness, Streetreach aimed to demonstrate the serving nature of the Church by going into the community and helping local people. Local churches acted in a supportive role, providing the various teams of ‘workers’ with food and shelter. At the end of the week, groups returned to the Summer Madness base, bringing along new friends to share in an evening of praise and worship as well as a farewell barbecue! So far the project has been a huge success. James Draper, an 18-year-old student from Elim’s Letchworth Christian Fellowship, explained his feelings about the Streetreach project. “For me, it was a totally amazing experience! It was a unique opportunity to share the love of Jesus in a practical way with the people of Belfast. "The community-based programme aims to serve people in a way the wider Church has failed to do. As we cleaned, tidied and prayed, the whole spiritual atmosphere seemed to change, and with it came the opportunity to witness. By working hard with actions, we built up the integrity to share Jesus with words. The best thing about Streetreach is that it works alongside local churches that are already the salt and light within their communities." Based in the Willowfield parish area of Belfast, Rachel McWilliams (18) – who hopes to enter Bible college after her gap year – shares James’s enthusiasm: “It was brilliant getting to know the local people and helping them in any way I could, even if it meant painting walls, clearing back alleys or getting rid of old washing machines. "Sometimes there were just some lonely people who needed a cuppa and a good old chin wag. However, the best part for me was when we asked individuals if we could pray for them and they really welcomed it. The hardest part wasn’t the work, it was walking away, knowing a quick fix wasn’t the answer for most of them. "Yet the churches in the area were really keen to keep up the connections we had made, and pray for the people we had met. We may not be there anymore but God is and he is faithful. God taught me a lot about loving people. This week in my life was probably the most worthwhile thing I’ve done all year." Based in Belfast’s notorious Shankill Road, Tom Tate (19) – who entered Belfast Bible College in September – had this to say: "This was my second year of Streetreach, and I have to say that both occasions have been very different. It was brilliant to discover the individuals behind the stereotypes. I loved getting out into the community, interacting with people and sharing the Gospel with them. "By helping out, we made friends of all ages. In fact, the Streetreach experience had such an effect on me that I decided to take part in a year long outreach programme with Youth With a Mission. "It's wonderful to spend time as well as energy making an impact on people’s lives and really caring for them - you also learn a lot about yourself! I guess to sum it up is to simply say that Streetreach is the chance to put your beliefs into action, that’s the real test of faith." Heather Torney (18), now involved on a discipleship training programme before taking her place at Bible college, can’t wait for next year’s Streetreach. "I love people, and Streetreach is all about people. Many areas in Belfast are socially, as well as spiritually, deprived. "If you are willing to help individuals in a practical way, they are more willing to listen about spiritual needs. The work wasn’t as bad as you might think because we were in teams and there was always time for a laugh. I got to know this old lady who told me she was part of a forgotten people. That made me sad. We went one day and her husband had died. I was so sorry for her. I told her about God and left her to him. He can do more than me." Lorraine Wylie works for Summer Madness © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.