This is a text-only version of an article first published on Sunday, 3 July 2016. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
AFTER three years of Around the Deaneries, during which the Door ran a full page feature on every Deanery in the Diocese, we are now focusing on our four Archdeaconries.
Inspired by the Archdeaconry Plans the page features a range of stories each month from across the Archdeaconries on a particular theme.
This month is youth work. by Andrew GilmourFor several months, youth leaders in Oxford had been planning and praying together towards the launch of an inter-church youth worship event in the city. The evening saw 200 young people from around 20 different churches in the region meet at St Aldate's for the launch of Nightlife. The vision for the evening was to see young people from lots of different churches get a chance to spend time together, be empowered to share the gospel with their friends, and to spend time worshipping together. As the venue began to fill up, many discovered friends from school that they didn't even realise went to church.
It was brilliant to see youth from lots of different groups mixing together as unity was at the top of our agenda. We kicked off the night with a time of worship together.
As well as a number of the band being young people, the MCs for the evening were also teenagers.
We heard a couple of amazing testimonies of God working in people's lives, which was a huge encouragement to everybody present. As well as unity and worship being at the top of the agenda, giving young people a chance to hear the Good News of Jesus was also central to the night.
We heard an engaging talk about Zacchaeus and how Jesus loved him, regardless of what he had done and despite being disliked by others.
The message was a powerful reminder of the unfailing love of God and the power of that love to change our lives. Time was set aside after the talk to allow the young people to respond and to be prayed for.
This was a really moving time and it was obvious that many young people were meeting with God in prayer and worship.
The evening was topped off with a pot of ice cream each (generously provided free by George and Danver's café next door), some group photos, and more time just to enjoy everyone's company. We are really excited to see how God is going to use Nightlife in the future.
We are currently building towards our second event in October.
We pray that it develops into something that energises local youth groups and also as somewhere that young people might hear the gospel and begin to follow Jesus.
Please pray for the future of the event, that God would do something really brilliant through it in the region. If you'd like to find out any more information about the next Nightlife, please contact us at nightlifeox@gmail. com.
We'd love to see you and your youth group at the next event!Andrew Gilmour is the Youth Pastor at Oxford's St Aldate's Church.
New venue for Yellow Braces
THE flying kiwi, abseiling, shooting, low ropes, climbing and mountain boarding are among the activities that will be on offer for the first time at Yellow Braces - the annual Diocesan youth camp. The flying Kiwi sees participants dangle from a wire as their team mates use ropes to control their ride through the air.It is one of a host of adventures that young people can take part in at Oakwood Youth Challenge. This year Yellow Braces is taking place at the Christian adventure centre for the first time.
The event, headed up by Ian Macdonald, the Diocesan Youth Advisor, has something for everyone - games, crafts, challenges and competitions.
Young people from school years seven to 11 will be able to enjoy Oakwood Youth Challenge's adventure facilities. Oakwood was founded by Tony Pudner, an entrepreneur and engineer who was led by God to buy the former pig farm and turn it into a residential conference centre. "Tony bought the land, set up a climbing tower and it's grown and grown," says Ang Wood, one of the Oakwood team.
She spoke to me during a few minutes out from doing administration for Oakwood and leading teams of young people aged eight to 18 on various adventures.
Ang is just one of a team of committed Christians who work at Oakwood.
They have links with Adventure Plus in Oxfordshire, sharing staff for certain activities.
Adventure Plus is a similar organisation, combining outdoor adventure with Christian teaching and worship.
It has been featured in the Door as it is developing a centre similar to Oakwood in Oxfordshire. Ang said: " We have people come from church groups, schools and a pupil referral unit who come, and we have team building sessions for year seven pupils from a local secondary school. "We are hoping God will continue to grow the centre," said Ang.
"We are in the process of building an indoor climbing centre. "Yellow Braces takes place from July 8 to 10.
Getting to know God in Heyford Park
IN Heyford Park, near Bicester, Sally Anne Mildenhall has just re-started the youth work.Between 6pm and 8pm three Wednesdays out of every four, young people get together to enjoy some food before looking at something Bible related. They are making a banner with the name of the group - God's Gang - and when I spoke to Sally Anne she was hoping that the following evening they would be doing some water-colour painting as an after-dinner activity. "One of the girls is from Fiji and we have asked her to pray in Fijian before our meal.
We have no idea what she's saying but we know she's praying. "Groups like this are important because there are generations of people who don't know God.
When I was 14 or 15 I became a Sunday School teacher and I think we need to help our young people know that there is a God out there for them. We hope that one day if they ask Christ into their lives they will get to know the Lord Jesus better. "
Football and the Bible in Maids Moreton
FOOTBALL is combined with Bible studies for teenagers at St Edmund's, Maids Moreton. "We have almost all boys so we start with football.The little ones play by themselves, maybe doing some crafts and the teenagers play for half an hour to 40 minutes before a short worship time and different groups that work through youth materials from Scripture Union," says Trudi Tarling, the leader.
The church's Sunday morning sessions cater for all children and young people aged five to 17. The church also holds a monthly youth group on a Friday evening, with 20 minute Bible and prayer slots, as well as a variety of games and activities. "I think it's really important as when young people hear the gospel because when they are young they are very open.
It's not easy for teenagers as they grow up and we make sure our sessions are fun, but with some serious moments too," Trudi added.