I remember hearing this guy speak once and he had a one liner which has always stayed with me.  He said: “Sometimes it’s easier to travel to the other side of the world than to go to the other end of the street.”  I was just back from a mission trip to Asia at the time and the idea behind the phrase really challenged me – how prepared was I to get my hands dirty in the land that I lived?

That’s part of what I love about being part of the Woodvale PCI summer team in Belfast.  It’s about fifteen minutes up the road from where I live and it’s a place which almost inevitably gets under your skin.  God is on the move in our capital city and it’s been exciting to be a part of His story there; to see kids open up to the idea of following Jesus and to see people in the community touched by His Love.  Prayers prayed, tears wept and relationship-building over years is finally bringing about spiritual breakthrough.  And there’s more to come for this place which to me is crying out for a Love - to wipe out the hate so evident in its past.

And there are communities like this - and unlike this - across Ireland which the Presbyterian Church is sending teams to in summer 08.  From Newry to Lucan to Conlig, Randalstown, Kilcooley and many other places, God is seeking out people who are dying to see transformations brought about in our nation.

Maybe the thought of going on a team freaks you out.  But it’s not about being the most amazing Christian this planet has ever seen – it’s about being weak and small and letting God use you.  He would love to take the story He has given you and to use that to impact lives of young people, kids and adults you will meet this summer.  Whether it’s hanging out with young people in a park, or investing time with kids in a holiday Bible club or messing about in a game of football with a group of local guys – God wants to use you big-time.

Are you willing to ‘go to the end of the street’ or to another part of this island and to be A part of His story?  Would you be up for missing out on a more perhaps more exotic-sounding location to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with people on this island?  Would it excite you to break the stereotypes people in this country have of Christianity and to instead show them Jesus?

Revolutions are waiting to happen this summer…stories are ready to unfold…but are you willing to be a part of the miracle God has died to do on your doorstep?

NB: Application forms Application Forms available online www.pciyouth.org or from:
Presbyterian Youth and Children’s Office
Church House
Fisherwick Place
Belfast
BT1 6DW
028 90 322284