Holiday Club (2)

As well as the Holiday Club itself today, we held a 'Games Night' this evening.

It's an evening of fun for all the family - a way of including the parents and siblings of those who're along at the Club. The folk all divide into teams and over the course of an hour or so, with a 2 minute burst at each, they tackle the challenge of something like 18 games. Easy enough for any to play, but awkward enough to be fun and a laugh for all.

Every year there are more people out at this night. Tonight we completely lost track of the numbers once we'd counted over ninety children present - and most of them had at least one, sometimes two or three folk with them. The hall was mobbed, and milling with folk having fun.

It's a brilliant opportunity to have time with folk and the chance for a bit of a chat.

I sometimes think that in five short days of the Holiday Club we build more in the way of bridges than some would attain in a year.

"If you want to hold the Holiday Club for two weeks rather than one - that would be fine by me!" said one of the Mums. "And one in the summer as well, if you like!" she added.

But the thing that most people notice - people who aren't here usually - the thing that most people notice and comment upon is the number of youngsters involved.

"Are they all from the church?" I'm asked again and again by incredulous parents, who hadn't quite grasped that following Jesus is actually fun and that at least some of the youth of today have their heads screwed on enough to recognise the fact and find out for themselves.

And, yes, the answer is they are all from the church: this local church. There are loads of them here. They're a brilliant bunch. Hard-working, fun, helpful, kind: and always so eager to learn themselves.

It's one of the great things there is about these Holiday Clubs. They're an asset in all sorts of ways: and we see such times as a God-given way to be fostering their faith in the Lord.

They learn from the older folk they're with: genuine friendships are formed. And at the same time these young teenage girls and boys are really wonderful role models for the younger children who come along.

They come along to the meeting each morning where the team have a time of prayer and praise: they listen, they learn, they pray.

They're up at the crack of dawn - at least it's the crack of dawn so far as they are concerned, given that this is them all on holiday. Committed.

One of the Mums was saying how much she valued just that for her little boy and girl. The fact that there are youngsters like that around: befriending their children. Helping them grow in the way of Jesus.

Seeing that it's OK and fun and street-level wise to follow Jesus, even as a teenager. We value it hugely, too.