Connor Streetreach 2016 allowed young people from across the diocese to live out their discipleship together while working with local communities in north Belfast. John 13 v 34-35 says “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The young people who made up the Connor Streetreach 2016 team were involved in running kids’ clubs, gardening, providing activities in homes for the elderly, praying for others, hosting community festivals and bringing the love of God to all they encountered.
The team was made up of young people age 15 plus from parishes including Ballymena, Antrim, Belfast and Lisburn. Some of the team had taken part in Streetreach 2015 and for others this type of experience was brand new.
Many of the young people started Streetreach feeling anxious about new and different experiences outside of their comfort zone, but as the team bonded during morning team time, each young person jumped into each new challenge expectant at what God would do through them.
Diocesan Youth Officer Christina Baillie said: “We saw children learn about our incredible God, young people challenged through the witness of faithful disciples, our team praying for individuals in the community with various needs and we saw prayers being answered.
We are incredibly thankful for the partnership with the Rev Emma Rutherford and the Rev Tracey McRoberts and their parishes in supporting the team through hospitality and connections within the local community.”
Christina continued: “The Streetreach team is glad to be part of the continuing witness within these communities and the team will continue to pray for all that is being done through the local parishes. Thank you to all who prayed for the team, we are so grateful!”
The Connor Streetreach 2016 team, as well as working in the community, were encouraged to put their discipleship into practice every day, even after Streetreach has finished.
Each young person left Connor Streetreach 2016 with a devotional with 14 sessions to help them personally consider the experience of Streetreach and how it can impact the rest of their lives. Please pray as the young people continue to use these over the summer and put their discipleship into practice each and every day.
The Engage Connor Youth team is thankful for all those who support this valuable missional opportunity for the young people in the diocese which sees lives transformed and faith developing in just a few short days.
Streetreach 2017 will take place from 4th – 7th July and the diocesan youth council is inviting expressions of interest from any parishes across the diocese who would like to host it.
Christina Baillie said: “We plan to locate Streetreach in one area for the next two years and would love to share this opportunity across the diocese. The Streetreach team has partnered with parishes in the Mid Belfast Rural Deanery over the past two years and the young people benefited from serving in a local community.
We believe this is a great opportunity for any parish, or group of parishes, to have young people from across the diocese serving in their local area and an opportunity for those in the parish to get involved as well.”
Download an expression of interest form here which will give more information about what is required from the host parish. To discuss this opportunity further, please contact Christina on 07753 312405 or email christina@connor.anglican.org.
