Well, I'm back in Coventry after a week at the annual YFC national conference in Manchester, and without a doubt it's been my best conference experience of the 12 years that I've been going along, so I thought I'd write down a few of the highlights that made is kinda special.
1. Family
If you know anything about Youth for Christ, you'll probably know that there are lots of local expressions of the organisation and conference is one of the few opportunities in any given year to meet up with a whole load of people who are in similar situations to yourself and be mutually encouraged, challenged and just be together as a larger extended family. I can't quite explain why this year was different to previous ones, other than to say that being together this time felt less like that slightly awkward extended family gathering that we all know so well, and more like, well, just family. It was so refreshing.
2. Team
The truth is, this has been a bit of a breakthrough year for me. In my (nearly) 8 years with CYFC for various reasons we've seen a fairly high staff turnover, meaning that every conference experience has been with a different (or no) CYFC team. I remember sitting at conference with a fairly small but committed team at the start of 2015 and feeling that as director if I wasn't able to sustain this team for another 12 months (i.e. If the same team weren't at this year's conference) then maybe it was time to reconsider my effectiveness in my current role. So it was an absolute delight to at conference 2016 with not only the same team members, but also some previous team who've rejoined us and some new volunteers too. And yes, they rib me and wind me up at every opportunity, but it really feels like team and it's so good. God is so good!!
3. Vision
Another change since last year's conference has been to the overall leadership of British YFC. We have a new national director and it's been so refreshing to hear his vision and strategy for making YFC all that it can be in this nation. There have been various other significant changes to the national staff team, but I'm convinced that this is a VERY exciting time to be a part of this organisation. I'm sure the next 12 months will be totally challenging but totally fruitful as we refocus on our core values of evangelism and prayer (among others). To spend a week thinking talking and praying into these areas has been so refreshing.
4. Laughter
I'm not ashamed to admit that I love using YFC conference as a massive oportunity to both network and have some fun with likeminded people. I seem to have built myself a bit of a reputation as the guy who always has something new to engage people in fun at the end of each long day of teaching. A definite highlight for me this year was sitting with a friend on a couple of occasions with a ukulele and improvising songs together. I don't think I've laughed so hard in a very long time. I'm convinced that there's something significant about the synergy of praying, playing and staying together in teams, but also as a rule for life in general.
5. Opportunity
This isn't totally conference related, but it's stuff I've been pondering a lot over the week so figured I'd mention it. As I come into week 2 of 2016 and prepare for re-entry into the regular work of CYFC, there are a number of opportunities that sit on the horizon both personally and as a team. I am genuinely (not “generally”) excited about the next few weeks and months as we pitch for all kinds of new initiatives and projects. If you pray, please be praying for the CYFC team throughout January. Our primary desire is to take the opportunities that God places in front of us and never miss a chance to share the hope we have. Prayer is often what opens those doors.
And that's it. Time to head home and say hi to my amazing family. I'm already excited for conference 2017, but we have so much to do before that. Here's to a highly fruitful 2016.
“I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:8 NIV)
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