Starting YFC One

On the 5th September, I started my gap year with youth for Christ (YFC). The gap year is called YFC one. This started with a training conference in lichfield (near Birmingham) called ETC. At the ETC we stayed at an activity centre for 10 days where we had training meetings.

The training covered many different aspects of what we should know for the next year. We had meetings on what YFC as a charity is, including having a question panel with the YFC leadership team. This was really good as we were able to see why they work for YFC and why they do youth work. We also had training sessions on youth work which covered many different aspects of youth work from key issues for young people to schools work to child protection. This gave us the initial training we need for youth work, but we are having more trading throughout the year. I really enjoyed the theology sessions, because I haven't really looked into theology in depth before. Over 4 sessions, we had a look at the whole bible, looking at the main themes and events, many of which I had never thought about. We also looked at worship. 

As well as having training sessions, we also had sessions to help us personally grow in faith, including now to share our testimony to others. We also had celebrations most evenings where we would have worship and a talk, similar structure to a church service.

Throughout the year, I will be doing a level 3 qualification in engaging with applied theology (EAT) . This course is by Moorlands bible college. We will be doing this at various points in the year, by going to training days in London. We had our first session at ETC, with the session being on mentoring. The next session is on the 6th October. 

As well as this being a training conference, it was also a great way to get to know everyone who was doing this gap year. Before going to ETC I had met the other two gap year people who were also going to Norwich (Gemma and Anthony) , but I had not really met anyone else. I shared a room with 3 girls who I had never met before, but were really nice. We had free time, where we played a lot of cricket as a very big group and card games! By the end of the conference we had become close, almost like a family, which made it very hard for us to leave.

Prayer points

All the YFC one team settle in well to their placements

I will not struggle to much with the EAT work

I will be able to share my faith with the young people I work with