Categories: uncategorized
Date: 29 March 2007 11:56:56
Last Sunday I wrote about a man that we keep hearing about. He is a youthworker with a "vision" for the area we live in. I put the "" around vision because I am a cynical person by nature. During my youth I was encouraged, by various people, to question everything and to take nothing for granted. Test every theory or proposition that you are given. Accept nothing at face value.
So today, as its a little quiet at work, I took time out and decided to investigate a little into this guy. Isn't the internet a wonderful way of snooping into other people's lives. I've believed that you are not "something" until you find something about yourself on the internet. However it only applies if its something posted by another person or body - self publicity does not count, nor mere name checking.
What I discovered was that he was someone I'd heard about through articiles and magazines but never met. The name rang a bell but only in the far reaches of my mind - it is a rather large area to cover by your mere human standards ;-)
He is a hoody! Well that's the picture I found. Then I found an article on the BBC which shed even more light. He was one of the people who set up the Youth Bus that tour(s) St Mellons in Cardiff providing a place for kids to meet and have fun. A non threatening environment and one that does not immediately scream CHURCH at them. He is also a member of Ignite, the youth centred outreach mission.
Now this is someone I can immediately relate to. Someone who does what I believe most Christians should be doing, getting in touch with their communities. Making a difference in the lives of those around them. Not living in a Christian world hermetically sealed off from the great unwashed, like something out of Logan's Run. The overall mission that we have is to reach out to the disadvantaged and weak; those who are marginalised by society because they come from less well off estates and families.
I remember a minister from Penarth coming to our Chapel and asking the question: "How many non Christian friends do you have?" I thought about what he'd said and hen realised that my non-Christian friends were greater in number than my Christian ones. It was rather easy as I have few people I class as friends, acquaintances plenty, but few real friends. Even my non Christian acquaintances were greater.
Now I think that God is giving me a hint of what He wants me to do. The plan isn't clear but the idea is certainly taking root.