Youth Council Summer Outreach 2003 - Report by Judith York

            When we arrived at the John Lennon airport, the Rev. Smith greeted us along with his wife Gloria and one of their son’s, Samuel. The group immediately felt very welcome.

            That afternoon we went out for lunch; this gave everyone the opportunity of getting to know each other better. Also that afternoon Ruth and Hazel Sproule from Castlederg joined the outreach team. This was supposed to be surprise for Izzy, as she attends the same church as Ruth and Hazel, however Mr. Gray informed her before we left N.Ireland. The surprise was ruined!

            As we travelled over to Liverpool we brought 2, 000 John’s Gospels, which would be handed out during the course of the week. All of these John’s Gospels and tracts had to be stuck with sticky white labels, which had the address of the church on them. It was a long process but necessary if anyone wanted to contact the Church.

            Every morning in the Church we had devotions and a short time of prayer together, this prepared our hearts before going out to do the Lords Work, and also in the evening time back at the hotel.

            The next day we started the door-to-door work, but before going out Mr. Smith  warned us how the people would respond to the Gospel. He told us of the apathy and the indifference, of the people.

            Izzy and I went out on the doors together for the first couple of days, as I hadn’t done door-to-door work before, but as we started knocking the doors we saw for ourselves how disinterested the people were in the gospel. Many people refused the John’s Gospel and tract to our disappointment. However, there was a keen response to the opening of the Sunday school in September.  One woman in particular who owned a fruit shop agreed to put one of the Sunday school leaflets up on the shop window.

            We had many interesting conversations while out on the doors; some were successful and others weren’t. Countless times we would get a door closed in our face. One conversation that I recall was with a man called Terry. He lived in block of flats and he was the only person in the whole building that opened his door and listened to us. As we started to tell him about the Gospel, Terry explained that he was saved as a young man but turned from God because he had a bowel disorder. Terry hasn’t recovered from it unfortunately. I would ask you to pray for Terry, as I believe that God will work in his heart and bring the things of eternity real to his soul.

While over in Liverpool we hired 2 cars to transport us about, these were new Nissan Micra’s. Mr.Gray and Tim Price drove the cars, our should I say, rallied in them! One evening Wilson, Samuel, Izzy and I, found ourselves sailing up a one way street, with Tim in the drivers seat! Mr.Gray has a tendency to put the foot down while going over road bumps!!  We all survived, just about!

On Saturday we spent the day around the church, helping out in a practical way. The girls cleaned and tided inside the church, while the boys dug away grass at the front of the church. They also cleared out a building that will be converted into a prayer room.  That evening the congregation of the church kindly took us out for a picnic along the Merseyside. Everyone enjoyed themselves and had a good night of fellowship. We played a few rounds of football, and our team won as we had Clifford’s and Mr.Gray’s football skills!

Each member of the team participated in the Sunday services and Mr.Gray brought the word at each of these. In the evening service Mr.Gray spoke on “Paul’s zeal for souls”. This was challenging and it really spoke to my heart, as many of us have lost the burden for soul winning. 

Jn4:35 “ Say not, There are yet four months and then cometh the harvest ? behold I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look unto the fields; for they are white already to harvest”

            Throughout the rest of the week we continued to hand out the John’s Gospels and tracts. Many times we were mistaken as JW’s, as they have plagued the city of Liverpool with their literature.

            When sitting in the aeroplane coming home, I looked out the window and saw how many houses that still needed to be done, but it would have been impossible for us to do them all. More labourers and needed to do the Lords work in this part of the vineyard, pray that God would call men and women to go.

            Personally I really enjoyed the summer outreach. There was great unity in the group and I found that the week was good for me spiritually. I would encourage any young person to get involved with outreach work.