Colchester Collective is a wonderful event and opportunity for young people from across churches, traditions, and backgrounds to come together for food, friendship, fun, and faith. The last event was on 8th March at Lifehouse, where 32 young people from 5 different churches attended.
There was a real buzz in the building as young people spent time getting to know one another through Speed Friending and other games. The team had felt to speak about putting God first in our lives, and had asked me to speak. I spoke briefly on making those daily, moment by moment decisions to put God first, and how it impacts and shapes all areas of our lives – focusing on the call to live differently and be holy as found in 1 Peter 1:14-16. Then 6 of leaders shared short testimonies of different times they had needed to make a decision to put God first; from selling an Xbox, to ending a relationship, to choosing the narrow path at uni, to sharing faith with others despite a battle with illness.
I then encouraged the young people to split into small groups and share openly about an area in their life they needed to put God first, and to pray for one another. It was a great moment seeing teenagers from different churches mixing, sharing, and holding eachother in prayer.
And then the decision moment…”If you’d like to make a decision today to put God first, whether for the first time or 100th time, please stand…”
….silence…
and then one young person stood…and then 5…and then 15…
and then everyone was standing and making a declaration “from this moment onwards I will put God first!” Holding back the tears I asked the leaders in the room to gather and pray over the 32 young people that were standing. A holy, beautiful moment.
The event came to a close with food and a brilliant quiz led by one of the young people (and it was really hard!). Please pray that God would strengthen and encourage those young people. Please pray that God would bless them. Please pray for the youth leaders as they continue conversations and journeying with their groups. Please pray for the Colchester Collective team as we seek to build on this momentum. God is on the move, and He is equipping and empowering young people to live wholeheartedly for Him.
written by Sam Fowler