Year in Review: 2020

YEAR IN REVIEW : 2020 FINDING

DECEMBER 2020

THE

HIGHLIGHTS

OF

A

CHALLENGING

YEAR

CHRISTA CURRY

DECEMBER 2020

CHRISTA CURRY

THE LONGEST YEAR Are we there yet? Is it truly the end of 2020? When I think back to memories of 2019 it honestly feels like many years have passed since then and quite possibly, for the first time in history, every corner of the world can relate. In the midst of the madness I've found myself hopeful that there could be a revival of empathy in our world and a revelation of our need for God's Sovereignty in each of our lives. Hardship is a key ingredient in the sharpening and shaping of character. So that begs the question, what is our character like in these latter days of this arduous year?

For me 2020 has been one of the most illuminating years because it made room for me to unwind from unhealthy patterns that had disguised themselves as "normal" and helped me realise I was actually deteriorating inside. At the beginning of the initial lockdown in Northern Ireland I found myself conversing with God about how I wanted to use my time to its fullest potential so the days didn't slip away from me. What shocked me was that

sometimes that meant coming up with innovative ways to

reach out beyond the walls of my house to make a difference, but other days it meant

accepting there was nothing I could do but be still and attempt what they

call "rest." Apparently rest isn't always restful when you're loaded with years of baggage that needs off-loaded. Rest can actually involve a lot of work.

I often describe the flow of life as being launched into space and sent into orbit.

Year after year you just get used to that trajectory and unless something comes into your path, it's really hard to get out of orbit. Because the pandemic interfered with my orbit, it forced me out of what was familiar, removed all distractions and coping mechanisms and reminded me of who I was beyond what I DID that made me feel valuable or effective.

With this packet I will be talking a lot about the tangible things that were accomplished in the past year, but in all honesty, the invisible inward stuff is what I'm most proud of. Going into 2021 my prayer is that the lessons we learned in this challenging year wouldn't be wasted. May we be people who are willing to wrestle against the injustices within both our outer and inner worlds, surrendering all of our questions and responses to the Holy One who is Sovereign above all creation.

In His service,

Christa Noel Curry

DECEMBER 20

CHRISTA CURRY

WALES video TRIP JANUARY 2020 Almost

as

soon

as

I

returned

to

Northern

Ireland from last year's Christmas break I set off to Wales to film a promotional video for a friend who is pioneering a YWAM team in Cardiff. around

I

spent

close

different

interviewing

to

a

corners

people,

week of

capturing

running

the the

city most

scenic parts of the city and sort of creating a promotional video on the fly as there wasn't much

time

to

prepare.

The

footage

we

collected was enough to actually produce multiple videos! The video is now featured on YWAM

Cardiff's

youtube

channel

and

also

their Instagram: @ywamcardiff Filming a future YWAM Cardiff staffer

prague CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 2020 In February I made the trek to Czechia to attend the European Leadership Gathering (ELG), along with a large representation of YWAM

Ireland.

The

ELG

is

a

time

when

teams from around Europe come together to seek God's heart for the continent and share what God is doing in each of their specific locations. We learned about the martyred Jon Huss

who was a local to

Prague and was burned at the stake in the city centre for his faith many decades ago.

As flames rose he yelled, "Truth prevails!"

Truth was a big topic of discussion at this year's

gathering.

participate

in

the

I

was

also

distribution

around the city as well.

able of

to

Bibles Some of my YWAM Ireland mates in the City Centre, around the corner from where Jon Huss was martyred

Borderwalk: year 8 AUGUST 2020

: @borderwalk20_ : @BorderWalkYWAMireland

The fact that we organised a 200 mile prayer walk during a worldwide pandemic will be a story I tell for the

rest

of

my

life!

God

made

a

way

for

us

to

complete year 8 safely by splitting the route into 4 separate weekends with two small staff teams taking different parts of the chronological route each day.

There were powerful and encouraging moments in both big and small ways and we believe both bless the heart of God.

The video is on YWAM Ireland's

youtube if you want to see for yourself!

We made a whole 2nd cross so two teams could walk each day!

Team reunited at the end of the route

DECEMBER 20

CHRISTA CURRY

YWAM-ATHON Live!

JULY 2020 When the lockdown hit we had two sponsor trainees

on

the

Arts

&

Media

DTS

that

weren't able to do fundraising to cover the cost of their schooling, so I implemented an idea using my video degree to help them. We used the worship hall to set up studio-style sets

Directing the crew before showtime

and

different

did talks

a

live

and

broadcast

talents

from

featuring our

staff.

People were able to pledge money as the 2 hour show played out. We were able to not only raise some money but also do something that really lifted spirits both in and outside our building. Seeing the base celebrate with cheers, smiles, jumping and hugs at the end of the successful broadcast was a highlight of my year!

TEACHING WEEK APRIL 2020 For the first time since joining YWAM I was asked to teach a full week on the Arts & Media DTS! I taught on Media in Missions and how to use the technology we have access to for the Kingdom of God. I felt it was important to teach the students how to

apply

basic

industry

technology

standard like

techniques

iPhones

and

to

social

media. Quality doesn't have to be limited to how much money you have! I also taught on The Hero's Journey and how to look at your life as a story God is telling through you. I've taught this many times over the years and it is actually a great tool for not only storytelling but for personal revelations about

identity

and

God's

redemption in all our stories.

heart

for A student's homework assignment practicing composition, colour and expressing emotion

CHRISTA CURRY

FOOD PARCEL PROGRAM SUMMER 2020 One of the best projects I was a part of this

year

was

the

creation

of

the

Food

Parcel Program with our friends in South Africa.

After

I

heard

one

of

our

former

sponsor students was out of food due to COVID I went to my friend Christy to ask for her insight on how to help since she lives there, and before we knew it we were raising money to try and feed at least 50 families in the Durban area! I created a campaign was

£1000

God!)

that

and

brought

more

than

because

in

our

of

£3000

(which

target,

praise

its

success

the

program is still going on today! Close to 200

parcels

have

been

delivered

to

various communities. In my eyes Sandile, Christy

and

Mthoko

have

been

beyond

inspirational as they do this work. Seeing the trucks filled with food being delivered to so many people in need makes my heart so happy!

Former YWAM Ireland sponsor trainees from different years of DTS coming together to help make deliveries

Christy and her son unloading the delivery truck

A family receiving a food parcel delivery!

DECEMBER 20

CHRISTA CURRY

BARISTA VOLUNTEER AUTUMN 2020 As many of you know, I'm part of a team planning to establish a coffee shop as a part of the new ministry vision I have for a town called Newry in Northern Ireland. (more info in this packet) When we heard that a cafe within the town of Newry was needing help running their cafe we decided it would be a great opportunity to get out into the new community, people

who

meet were

new

people

in

tight

a

and

spot

as

serve well.

Myself and a few teammates donated our time for a little over a month before the new regulations shut down the cafes again, but it was great being able to help while we could!

On shift at the Velveteen Rabbit Cafe

BORDERWALK TALKS MARCH 2020 Part of preparing for BorderWalk season is planning times of connection with people to

let

them

know

that

the

walk

is

happening, what God is doing through it and how people can join to be a part of it.

This

year

we

had

so

much

interest

from

new churches that were willing to host us

Youth at Vibe Church writing prayers on the BW cross

on various Sundays and I was able to speak at one at Every Nation Church in Belfast!

Vibe

also

evening

hosted

and

a

us

at

highlight

a

young

was

adults

seeing

so

many of the local young adults going up to write prayers for God to do a new thing in their land. The more we share about what God

is

doing

through

our

obedience

in

walking, the more people believe that He is doing something new and want to be a part of it!

Speaking at Every Nation Church in Belfast

DECEMBER 2020

CHRISTA CURRY

SOCIAL FARMING MARCH 2020 One of the last outreaches we got to go on before Social

lockdown Farm.

through

a

encounter

I

hit

met

was the

rather years

to

folks

divinely

ago

and

the

Annagh

that

run

it

appointed we've

been

working with them ever since. They use their farm to work with people that have Autism through

art

therapy

and

farming

the

land

with them. It's a beautiful way to empower people and create a sense of community.

Years

ago

we

helped

them

design

centrepieces based on the Fruits of the Spirit for a fruit maze they were building. We like to go back a few times every year to help weed and tend to the maze as it grows!

The Jenga-style centrepiece for "Self-Control"

LILiAS FLOWER FARM SPRING + SUMMER 2020 When

all

of

cancelled

our

we

summer

spent

a

outreaches lot

of

our

got time

helping in the flower field of one of our friends who started a flower farm ministry.

We

would

plant

use

flowers

spoons

that

she

to

dig

had

holes

started

and from

seedlings. I learned a lot about how hard it is to grow things, especially when there are SLUGS

involved!!

meaningful uncertainty

that we

I

found

during

were

a

it

really

time

prioritising

of

planting

things with the anticipation that they would grow. It was like an act of faith that the future would still be there and these little plants would one day fulfill their destiny of becoming beautiful flowers. All proceeds from

the

flowers

goes

towards

helping

people in need in central/eastern Africa.

Speaking at Every Nation Church in Belfast

CHRISTA CURRY

art auction fundraiser SEPTEMBER 2020 Living overseas always makes me feel like I'm

constantly

in

state

of

adapting

to

everything around me. I've lived in Northern Ireland since 2013 and have always had to rely on base and rental cars for transport.

Every time I get in a car I have to reacquaint myself diesel

with or

how

the

unleaded,

blinkers

where

work,

the

if

it's

headlights

are, how that specific shifting system works, etc. So, in an attempt to create something more consistent in my life that would relieve a lot of stress, my friend Kadie and I put on an art auction to raise money that could go towards buying a new car that we could share, especially since we're moving to a new

town!

We

managed

to

raise

around

$4300, which is amazing! It was fun being able to buckle down and create so many colourful pieces with the time that we had at home. Soon we shall have a car to share!

Kadie working on one of her pieces

One of my favourite pieces I sold during the auction

Pulling inspiration from some of my favourite films

DECEMBER 2020

CHRISTA CURRY

AMDTS Promo video NOVEMBER 2020 This video was shot in probably record time when considering that it was actually a more complex

storyline

than

other

videos

I've

made. I had to fly home in a few days and so this video was shot and edited VERY quickly.

The tide ended up coming in much quicker than I anticipated, so we weren't able to get

Shooting at iconic local places for the video

the shots I had originally storyboarded, but we made it work and I think the end piece turned out decent! It was so fun working with a team comprised of different generations of Arts & Media staff and students! I used to have to make videos by myself, so having a small team to help me actually means a lot.

Check out YWAM Ireland's youtube for the finished piece.

ALBUM COVER DESIGN ALL YEAR 2020 This project has actually been in the works for over a year now. As you might have guessed by now, COVID threw off the timeline quite a bit! I'm such a broken record, but it's true. My friend Alex works in YWAM with me and for the second time

we

partnered

up

to

create

another album design for his new CD. It's available on iTunes if you look

up

Alex

Atwell,

"Walking

Home" and eventually they will be printed

and

available

for

hard

copy purchase as well! This will be the

fourth

designed years!

in

album the

past

cover couple

I've of

The road may look empty, but it was actually really busy and slightly dangerous as cars were flying by us on the shoot!

DECEMBER 2020

CHRISTA CURRY

12th of july outreach JULY 2020 This is an outreach I help to organise every year in partnership with YWAM Belfast. It's a complex

situation

to

explain,

but

essentially

the 12th of July is a rather contentious holiday that celebrates the victory of a Protestant King over the Catholics in a battle many hundreds Prayer walks at the peace wall and around bonfires

of

years

include palettes

ago. the that

Today

the

burning

of

result

in

celebrations massive

often

piles

dangerously

of

large

bonfires. There is also a lot of drunkenness and violence that occur as well. I've seen it with my own eyes, so that's not out of speculation. We take teams in to not only pray for God's peace but to also learn more about the conflict that affects the land that we serve in.

vibe church supply drive MAY 2020 Vibe is an amazing church based out of a town called Armagh (arrmah)

in

needed

Northern help

Ireland.

sorting

They

through

donations of all kinds that would go out to people in need in the community. families

We

were

heard

living

that

off

of

some solely

cereal since the pandemic had set in, so they were doing an great job of collecting not only food but also clothes

and

other

household

essentials to help people in need.

A

small

crew

from

the

base

volunteered to come help us sort and we got through a lot of items!

Sorting through donations at Vibe