Page 10 - Contact Autumn 2017

S U M M E R

MADNE S S

Few things in life are more guaranteed than The weekend, as always, was even greater
rain at Summer Madness! And so it was on than we could ever imagine. Tonnes of fun
Friday 30th June that 42 leaders and young was had, many legs were tired after hours of
people descended on a very soggy but beautiful raving, many voices lost shouting loud for Jack
Glenarm Castle Estate for the 4 nights, 5 days, Spence and his bid to win an Avalon guitar
30th anniversary celebration of Ireland’s in the emerging singer / songwriter contest,
largest Christian youth festival. new friendships were formed and old ones
strengthened in a way that only these festivals
Ready to embrace all the cold camping, endless and camps seem to be able to do.
walks through slushy mud (and by the end of
the week, submerged tents) but also some However, greatest of all was the simple fact
pretty exciting things too as the festival that the presence of God was so tangible as
explored “The Time Of Your Life”. We were He moved, revealing more of Himself to us;
each ready to have an incredible weekend of encouraging us that He does not love a future
great craic with one another; inspiring teaching version of us, but loves us in the here & now;
from Mainstage speakers such as Rachel spurring us on with the reminder that heaven
Gardener and Matt Chandler, plus so many roars us on in our lives of faith and service; and
others in the vast array of amazing seminars armouring us with the truth, that if our God
offered throughout the weekend with intimate is for us what could ever separate us from His
encounters with our Heavenly Father as we love and who could ever stand against us!?
worshipped, prayed, responded and simply
spent time in His presence. So many lives were touched, healed, restored,
transformed as young people in The Movement
but also from plenty of other churches and
places too, made brave steps of faith, faced
difficult moments in the knowledge of the
bigness and loving presence of the Father and
simply spent time allowing Jesus to fill them.
Few things in life are more beautiful than these
moments of seeing the Kingdom come, dreams
being birthed and hopes rising for the future of
the church and this land. They certainly make
the cold camping, endless walks through slushy
mud and the submerged tents worth it!