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Dear All

Please imagine with me running through a meadow on a beautiful spring day. The fresh grass and spring flowers fill the air with wonderful smells (sorry if you suffer with hay fever). The birds’ songs are a chorus of praise and with friends your laughter just adds to God’s delight as he watches. As you continue the meadow drops over a brow and a gentle incline becomes greater until your legs are only just keeping up with your forward motion. An exhilarating experience where somehow being on the edge of falling adds to that experience yet a concern of falling or “lets slow down here” is always there.

Well that’s a long winded ‘fluffy’ way of describing how my autumn has been as the youth work and especially the schools work at Okehampton college has continued to blossom. I now have the joy of working with Ruth Skittrall, the Connect trainee this year. Together we now run ‘prayer space’ a time on a Wednesday break time when 10 -15 students come together to pray for each other, their college peers and staff and other things that are in their hearts. Believe me a time I am very honoured to be part of as I observe young people in honesty and faith with God. We also run a lunch time club, ‘Re-act’ where we look at and discuss topical issues and add a Christian point of view. Another successful time when young people with a Christian faith are bringing their friends to explore issue they wish to explore

We both continue to support staff and students in a variety of lessons. Religious Education has been rebranded ‘Beliefs and Values’ to be more inclusive and approachable for students. I feel this is a positive move and allows for young people to learn, discus and consider personal belief rather than ‘others’ Religion’s. We have been very much included in these lessons often being asked for our Christian views. This input included organising a team of Christian clergy, youth workers and readers to talk to year 10 students about Christian marriage and relationships, all amazing opportunities to share our faith and God’s love.

The youth group ‘Olli ‘continues to go from strength to strength. I am currently planning a weekend away with them at the end of November, another chance to allow the group to have a fun weekend, bonding as a group with the chance to explore further their faith together. We are staying at Torrington Baptist and part of the weekend we will be joined by the young people from Torrington as well as taking part of the their Sunday morning Service. Make sure and ask the young people how they got on.

Future plans and prayer points

Plans are under way for Stowford camp however we are changing the date of the weekend to fit with a few particular things in 2012. Please prayer as we consider this and plan the camp.

Ignite (Stowford camp reunion/warm up event) 28th January Halwill Junction.

Youth Work South West Conference. A brilliant chance to get some fresh ideas, resources and meet other people in youth work. For anyone involved or keen on youth work. I have more details

Soul Survivor 2012. 7th – 12th August. Put it in your diaries!

This is just a glimpse of all that is going on so please pray for me, the large team of youth and children’s leaders across the circuit ad area and children and young people as we continue down the hill and feel God carrying us on His wings.

Be God’s and Happy Christmas

Kevin

~ DIARY DATES ~

Winkleigh Youth Emmaus:

meets every other Monday evening @ 4 Lendon Way.

For further details please look at the relevant page on the Winkleigh Chapel site