Once again in November a small group of us set out to organise an Esgyn weekend (Welsh for ‘Ascend’) for young people, following the buzz and blessing experienced during the first in February.
As we set about organising this second get-together there’s no doubt there was concern, despite the success of the last one. But through God’s blessing and recruitment work from the team in their areas, over 40 names came into the BUW office, some returning for a second time and some new, and all very much looking forward to travelling to Treharris.
There are several special things about Esgyn. Teenagers coming together to enjoy and worship Jesus. Enthusiastic young leaders show the crew what following Jesus offers. And one other thing that’s important to the whole team is the fact that Esgyn is bilingual and there’s a place for Welsh as well as English in the worship and activities.
So at the end of the autumn a group from across South Wales came together to enjoy a packed weekend of activities at the Rock UK Centre in Treharris. Yes, the deluge came through ‘Storm Bert’, and everyone was soaking wet as they went about archery, venturing on the high ropes and the climbing wall. But despite the weather, there was a special spirit in this group that had come together. Everyone smiled, laughed and enjoyed as they faced the storm we encountered.
And beyond the enjoyment of the activities, a feeling of special solidarity came over the group, both young people and leaders, during the worship sessions. Thanks to Tim Moody for arranging opportunities for the young crew to hear the story of several of those who were leading. We heard about their background and also their journey to become followers of Jesus, including the storms of life that had hit them.
The young people came to understand that these leaders have been through the same problems and regrets they have. But by becoming followers of Jesus, by trusting in our Lord there is new hope. And listening to Tim deliver the gospel through Jesus’ ‘loss’ parables – the sheep, the coin and the son who went missing – he showed that everyone loses their way at times, but that Jesus is there, searching and ready to receive us back, even though we wander away from him.
At the end of the weekend everyone went home from Treharris with joy in their hearts and hope for the future.
No one is quite sure what’s to come for this exciting project, but one thing is for sure, we feel that God is behind it and blessed the whole weekend, despite the storm that came our way. We ask everyone to pray for the future of Esgyn, as we are convinced that it has something to offer the future of the church in Wales.
Sian-Elin Thomas, Crymych