Joel Virgo writes: I’m writing the day after Newday 08. This event (which about 7000 attended this year) gathers young people from all over the UK – and beyond – each August, to worship God, receive his word and Spirit, and hit the urban areas around with the gospel. Newday has gained momentum since beginning in 2004, not only in attendance but in terms of the numbers of people making first time commitments to Christ. This year it was about 315 who did so. Besides this, many were healed physically – including two cases of hearing being restored.

 

It was a privilege to work with the team to lead this again. For me, being involved in Newday is a lot of fun, but it is twenty times more fun because I get to work with people like Stuart and Livy Gibbs, Stef Liston, Adrian Holloway, Matt Simmonds and PJ Smyth – who has joined us from Johannesburg two years in a row. These people are world class and (as are all the management team, who see that it all holds together practically) and great friends too.

 

Next year Newday will change location. Our season at Uttoxeter has come to an end, and we will host the event at Norfolk Showground, on the doorstep of Norwich and in the middle of East Anglia. There are a number of churches in the region we can serve – not least Kings Church Norwich, led by Goff Hope and his team.

 

The young people gathered are an extraordinary crowd. Their expressions of worship to Jesus are so full-on and care-free. You see this in the massive meetings when Simon Brading, Lou Fellingham, and Paul Oakley lead brilliantly. You also see it in the way they enthusiastically get their hands dirty with urban mission in the afternoons. And you also see it in the way they give financially to church planting. We set a target of £100K this year (the most we’ve made is about £97K) When we announced a total of £112,000 last night there was a shout like I have never heard in my life.

 

I get encouraged about this because of what it represents: thousand of teenagers in our churches, not missing the point but gladly wasting their lives on Jesus and his great mission. This shouldn’t be taken for granted but seen for the wonder it is. A generation is emerging.

 

The last night also featured a goodbye to Paul Oakley, who led worship for his final time at Newday. It was his 14th consecutive annual Newfrontiers event as a lead-worshipper. The young people spontaneously rose to applaud him and his family as we got them on stage to pray for them. Over the years Paul has been a huge gift to these events, showing a sense of awe in the presence of God and helping us to worship. This not least through the truly great songs God has used him to write. I can only think that God gave Paul a unique ability to make him able to pen songs like Jesus, Lover of my Soul; and Who is There Like You?; and Because of You; and I Will Never Be The Same (in my opinion one of the best songs ever written about the cross of Jesus Christ); and Be Lifted Up; and Father Me…

 

The fact is I could go on… and on and on… I genuinely thank God for Paul Oakley. (And he’s a good friend too!) I’m so glad he’ll be involved in www.worshipschool.com also.

 

Anyway, Kate and the children and I are hitting the road tomorrow for a summer break. We look forward to being back in circulation for the start of a new season at CCK. I won’t say too much here, but this autumn is going to rock. With well over 220 people having responded to Christ already at CCK this year, we know God is at work in our city.