update summer 10
ventures@cpas.org.uk
Strengthening faith Growing as a Christian
Feeding the 4,500! Catering on a Venture
Praying for Ventures Ideas for you and your church
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This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6 TNIV
One afternoon I managed to catch a brief part of a mystery drama. Perhaps I’d seen it before but it was definitely lacking in both mystery and drama. It does have to keep me guessing if it’s going to hold my attention. Lots of things about Ventures hold my attention because of the apparent mystery they retain! The continual sacrifices leaders make to ensure we run high quality Christian residential holidays seem incomprehensible to many. Of course anybody who has experienced leadership on one of our Ventures will know why the sacrifice is worthwhile. And this goes some way to explain why as well as giving up their time our leaders are also generous with their finances. Your gifts too make a real difference to the success of our ministry. It is remarkable that so many lives are still transformed by Ventures each year considering our ministry has changed little since its inception. At each of our centrally run training days this year we’ve encouraged leaders to ensure their Ventures are rooted in the gospel, relevant to contemporary culture and integrated with the local church. Your partnership in prayer will be another aspect of mystery. As we proclaim the gospel message we know your prayers will unlock the doors of people’s hearts so
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they can discover Christ. Please pray God will take the work of our hearts, hands and minds and use it to achieve his purposes. It is a mystery that God uses your prayers to ensure our labour is not in vain. We’d be fantastically grateful if you involved members of your church in praying that this summer would not be without fruit, and that children who join our holidays would be kept safe. Like all the best dramas some aspects of the story are never quite resolved to our satisfaction. Issues remain that we never fully understand. I am always encouraged by stories of the long-term impact of our ministry. The reasons for some mysteries are not revealed this side of eternity and not everything happens in the timescales we would like. With around 60 days to go before the first summer Venture starts, there are still opportunities for young people to have a holiday which could change the future direction of their life and their destiny for eternity. Let’s not miss the chance to make a life-changing difference to a young person’s life.
David Hart Director of Ventures and Falcon Camps
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Strengthening faith This summer Latifah Makuyi will attend Windermere Venture for the fifth successive year. Attending this Venture over the past few summers has not only given her an enjoyable week of activities, food and time with God, but also introduced her to a network of other young Christians from her local area. Latifah is aged 16 and attends Discovery Church in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, but is often too busy with A Levels and part-time work to attend youth group meetings. She also sometimes goes to the youth service at All Saints, Ilkley, where Carol Stewart, main overall leader at Windermere, is a youth leader. Even though she did not initially attend the Venture as part of a group, there are now about ten other young Christians who attend Windermere that Latifah knows of in the Ilkley area. She said: ‘Going to any camp is a great way to meet new people, but to meet them on a Venture is even better. Everyone is able to relate to everyone else’s stories about their faith, which is a good way to become more secure in your own belief.
recommend this place to anyone. Go just to strengthen your faith and build it up, or even learn more about it.’ Latifah is already looking ahead to next year, which will either be her last as a member or her first as a junior leader or helper. She added: ‘I would maybe like to be one of the helpers, because they’re really committed to their faith and help us all by talking about God.’ Many members who attend Ventures testify to making life-long friends. It happens so naturally because of the way in which the dorm structure is a fundamental building block of Ventures ministry. Windermere is a CYFA Venture for 14-18s and runs from 1-8 August. For more information, please visit www.ventures.org.uk.
‘Going to Windermere helps reinforce my faith and keep me going after I return home. Everyone has a heart of true gold and is tapped into God. I would
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From member to leader: leading for the first time Claire Rodemark will be a leader on this year’s Maidwell 2 Venture having attended Ventures as a member for four years. She said: ‘As a teenager I became a Christian on a Venture and had a brilliant time each year I went. Now I am itching to go back and lead!
‘Everything on Ventures is so good, and I learnt so much from the Bible studies. The experience and wisdom of the leaders was fantastic and they were a great example of what it means to be a godly leader. Every year I came away on fire for God, wanting to live my life for him more and more. ‘The thing I loved most about Ventures was the opportunity to build relationships with the leaders, to share my life with them as they took a real interest in me and my spiritual development. I am looking forward to doing the same thing with other young people as I lead. ‘I feel I have a responsibility to be a good example as a leader and to model godly character. At first I felt being a leader might be a bit overwhelming, but now think it could be something God wants me to do, and more doors may open for me in the future.’
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Find out how Claire got on this summer in the autumn edition of Catalyst. Please contact supporter.relations@cpas. org.uk if you would like a copy or visit www.cpas.org.uk/catalyst. Please pray: • For Claire and Dave (see right) this summer. Along with the hundreds of other fantastic volunteers like them without which Ventures could not take place. • That any first-time leaders, such as Claire, will be able to settle quickly into their roles and it will be a positive step in their growth as Christian leaders. • Thank God for his work through Ventures and ask that he will continue to use them to help more young people discover Jesus for themselves. To find out more about getting involved with Ventures, please get in touch with the Ventures team on ventures@cpas.org.uk.
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Feeding the 4,500!
Each year th e caterers on Venture h olidays produce ove r 150,000 meals!
Prayer Bookmark Praying for Ventures May
The Blaithwaite 1 and 2 Ventures run simultaneously during the first week of August and cover the full 11-18 age range. With over 70 young people taking part in a range of outdoor activities each day, good food is vital! Dave Pamphilon is responsible for catering for the week.
Please pray any last remaining places on this year’s Ventures will be filled.
June Ask God to help leaders preparing talks and leading dorm groups to proclaim ‘the mystery of Christ clearly’.
July Pray that all final preparations go smoothly, and pray specifically for any people leading for the first time.
August Please pray for the thousands of children and young people attending Ventures. Pray they
He explains his role: ‘Being the caterer involves ordering the food, co-ordinating the menu, and managing the catering team – it can get very tiring at times! But it is really worthwhile and I’ve very much enjoyed the three years that I’ve been involved so far. There is always a really good team atmosphere and it is great to meet and work with people from different backgrounds, and see how God blends us together.
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him better.
September Pray for those who have responded to the good news of Jesus Christ for the first time this summer.
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‘I believe that Ventures are a tremendous opportunity for young people to be away from their usual surroundings, and have time and space to think and talk about their beliefs in a safe environment. It’s encouraging to hear their conversations with each other and the leaders, and a real privilege to be part of the team.’
would meet Jesus and get to know
www.ventures.org.uk
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Prayer Bookmark Praying for Ventures Sunday
Devote yourselves to prayer
Please pray many children and young people would hear and
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
respond to the Bible’s message of redemption.
Monday Pray for the volunteer Venture leaders, and particularly the overall leaders. Ask God to help them lead
Colossians 4:2-3 TNIV
with diligence.
Tuesday
Let’s use Paul’s exhortation to the church in Colossae to encourage us in our own prayers for the children, young people and leaders on Ventures this summer. Please pray many children and young people would respond to the gospel message for the first time, grow in their faith, and be equipped to proclaim the ‘mystery of Christ’ clearly to their friends and families.
Please pray all children and leaders would remain safe while travelling and taking part in different activities.
Wednesday Pray for any children who may have difficulty adjusting to being away from home.
Please pray for Ventures:
Thursday Thank God for the generous
• At your church
donations given to the Ventures
Download this year’s free prayer PowerPoint from www.ventures.org.uk to help your church pray for Ventures. Why not use it as part of the intercessions?
subsidy fund allowing many children to experience a life-changing holiday.
• In your small groups
Friday
Cut out the prayer bookmark and use Paul’s words from Colossians to inspire your small group. Please use the articles in this update to help you pray for the children, young people and leaders taking part in Ventures this summer.
Please pray children and young people would be equipped to tell their friends and families about God’s love.
• On your own
Saturday dedication of the Venture leaders.
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Thank God for the enthusiasm and
Put the prayer bookmark in your Bible, and pray for Ventures as part of your own time with God each day.
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Everything has changed. Nothing has changed. CPAS has always understood that reaching young people is all about supporting and resourcing great leaders. Nothing’s changed there. And that’s why CPAS has developed: Growing Leaders – Youth Edition equipping a new generation. Youth leadership advisers expert advice and support. Online resources and podcasts CPAS quality at the click of a mouse.
still have a s e r tu n e V e Som ft! few places le It’s not too late to encourage a young person you know to come on a Venture in 2010, but please hurry as places are limited. We don’t want anyone to miss out on a life-changing holiday!
More information at www.cpas.org.uk/youthleaders
Go to www.ventures.org.uk to check the latest availability, and to reserve a place online.
Please also help others to pray for Ventures! We have a number of different resources and materials to enable you to help others to pray. Please contact us on 01926 458456 or email ventures@cpas.org.uk to request posters, postcards, display materials, the 2010 prayer PowerPoint or more information about Ventures.
Thank you for praying for Ventures!
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17/11/2009
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Visit www.twitter.com/cpasnews each day in the summer to view the daily Ventures prayer point.
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Please help a child attend a Venture in 2010! Name Address Postcode Tel Email Here is my gift of £15
£25
£40
Your own amount £
I enclose a cheque/PO/charity voucher made payabe to CPV Ltd. I would like to make a regular donation. Please send me a standing order form. I would like to make my gift by: Mastercard/Visa/ charity card/Delta (delete as appropriate) Card no:
Valid from:
Expiry date:
Issue number (Delta only): Name on card:
The value of your gift can be increased at no extra cost to you. If you pay UK tax equivalent to or greater than that reclaimed on your donation, simply complete the declaration below. Yes, please claim Gift Aid on this and all my future donations, until I notify you otherwise. Signed:
Signed: Date:
Date: Please return your completed form together with your donation to: Friends of Ventures, CPAS, FREEPOST, NAT14853 WARWICK CV34 6BR.
Thank you for support
In order for the scheme to apply, you must ensure that you pay a total amount of Income and/or Capital Gains Tax equal to that which we reclaim – currently 28p in every £1 you give.
CPAS, Athena Drive, Tachbrook Park, WARWICK CV34 6NG T 01926 458456 E ventures@cpas.org.uk CYFA Pathfinder Ventures Ltd. Registered office at address above Registered charity no 271391 Registered in England no 1184850
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