JOE'S SPRINGTIME ESCAPADES

Hello friends!

My second term has finished and there's so much to thank God for and to share with you about what I've been doing in my role as youth worker. This term has been very busy with King’s Youth, Young Life, and the Young Life DayCamp.

King’s Church Youth

This term we have been continuing our studies in James alongside the main teaching sessions and we have worked our way through most of the lessons found in that wonderful book, learning about what it looks like to live out our faith, to 'listen and do' and what prayer looks like.

We are continuing with our Sunday morning teaching sessions once a month, as well as our action packed games and study nights every Thursday. Thank you to all those who came to help with those sessions. We also have had a tremendous amount of fun with some exciting additions to the schedule including a movie night, a board game night, a nerf war and even a sleepover in the church centre. (Still needing prayer to recover from that).

Our fire pit at the youth sleepover

We have seen numbers continuing to grow as young people invite their friends which has been such a blessing and we pray that this would continue to happen.

I've also been involved in meeting with other youth workers across the city at the 'Gather' meetings organised by Southampton City Mission and Scripture Union, which has been a really valuable way to link in with others and develop partnerships.

Young Life

I have also been continuing to work for Young Life (YL), I am now visiting Oasis Academy, Lordshill on 4 days each week during term time. I've been getting to know probably around 100 young people by name and building relationships.

With the help of Riyah, who leads Young Life in the city, we have started a lunchtime club at Oasis called Dropzone: About Life and Faith. Prior to the launch of this club I was given the opportunity to do some assemblies where I shared my testimony and was able to invite people to come to the club. In the first week we had almost 35 kids show up. Praise God. (Now, the temptation of donuts may have been a big draw but many continued to come, faithfully attending and listening.) We now see between 20-30 young people each week (only 6-7 of whom would say they have chosen to live following Jesus) most of whom are really interested to hear the good news. Many who initially told me how they were only there for donuts and they don’t believe in God are now getting more engaged and are asking insightful questions.

We are also hoping to collaborate with local churches in Lordshill and run a drop in club after school to help develop relationships outside of a school context. We are also still running our regular Young Life clubs in Highfield and Newtown, seeing growth in numbers and joy within the young people, even when they are going through tough times as individuals. If you are interested in reaching young people in the community then please contact me.

Young Life Southampton, 2025

Young Life DayCamp

One of the most exciting things that happened this term was the YL DayCamp. Over February half term we spent the whole week with young people, running a daytime club at one of the churches in the city centre. Within the span of the week we had 60 kids come and hear the good news, and were able to share God's love with them. Young people of a range of ages, backgrounds and faiths came and played games with us, some of which have continued coming to the regular weekday clubs so we are able to continue walking their faith journey with them.

Thank you so much for all your continued support and prayer, once again there have been some challenges this term but I have seen God working in some amazing ways. If you would like to meet up for a coffee to catch about what I’m up to please catch me at church!

God bless,

Joe