CONTENTS01 TONI’s REPORT

02 LATEST NEWS

03 WHAT QUESTION WOULD YOU ASK GOD?

04 CHRISTMAS PRAYER

Festive Offi ce:16 Crugan AvenueKinmel BayRHYLLL18 5DG

t: 01745 350107e: info@festive.org.ukw: www.festive.org.uk

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Babies, babies, babies! You should fi nd them in abundance in this issue – the Festive family just keeps on growing; all very exciting. These days we need to provide a crèche when we meet together, so a big thank you to Amy for volunteering to help with this when we meet together.

Festive itself was a baby ministry not so long ago – but just as these babies will grow we can report with thankful hearts that Festive has grown. It is fantastic to hear people from other young people’s and student ministries saying ‘Oh the people you want are Festive – they are the great at helping the 16 – 19 year age group at School and College’. This means that we have had many more contacts this year and therefore need great wisdom to know what to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to. It is also humbling because this is the Lord’s doing and we have the privilege of being part of it.

But more especially the Baby given the names ‘Jesus’ and ‘Emmanuel’ grew up and fulfi lled the ministry he was given so that we might be FREE. It is a struggle in Western

Europe to get opportunities to talk about Jesus openly and Christmas is certainly one of the best. So look on our website for 10 great ideas we have for CUs at this time of year.

It is, however, a tough call to get people to think about Jesus being more than a baby in a nice story. As Christmas approaches it is our aim to encourage and pray for the many young people and their staff who are going to share the news of Jesus, providing for as many as they can the chance to explore His life-changing offer. As we pray for our own witness, let’s pray for our local schools, sixth forms and colleges too.

Thank you so much for your partnership in this.

Toni Coulton(Director)

“Coming up to Mary and Joseph, Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about Jesus to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” Luke 2 v 38

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02LATEST NEWSFROM THE TREASURER’S

DEPARTMENTNew arrivals...Please join us in giving thanks for the safe arrival of Alaw Grace Bendith Iyanuoluwa George 8 Pounds 8 oz beautiful daughter to North Wales CU

Project Worker and Festive Vision and Strategy Team member Joseph AND Ethan Peter Cunningham 8 pounds 11 oz handsome son to Kath Cunningham, Vision and Strategy Team chair-person. Neil Povey from Inspired Designs, in charge of our website and design, is also expecting another child in February.

A rollercoaster ride...is the only way to describe Festive’s relationship with training young people to be ambassadors for Christ at College so far this term. There is no doubt that students want and need training; the question is how to deliver it….? This term we thank God for two fantastic day youth events: Sorted (London) and Sound (North West) which we were able to attend to highlight the work of Festive in their exhibits. Sound provided a great opportunity for informal training on the stand as we provided advice and answered many CU questions and at Sorted we had the opportunity to run a seminar on ‘Ten Top Tips for your CU’ although due to the room size many couldn’t get in!

I’m a Celebrity!...Karen received this delightful email in the Festive inbox this month from Lizzie Soole from Cardinal Newman College Preston who was interviewed in Festive News a few editions ago…..“just wanted to quickly tell you that I was at Northern Women’s Convention today and someone approached me saying that they read the article I did for you and were really encouraged and I was like wow! They must have recognised my face and seen my name badge or something!” Do send in your submissions for Festive News and who knows who may recognise you! P.S. If you were the person who recognized Lizzie thank you for saying hello; she was so encouraged.

Sometimes as I look back over what I’ve written for Festive News over the last few years I think “I haven’t said enough about money! What was I thinking about?” And yet there’s so much more that’s important! Just read this newsletter and be amazed!

Of course we need money; to pay staff, to maintain a website, to cover expenses at events such as Soul Survivor or Keswick. But the ministry of Festive, the contact with the students, the available resources, are so, so, SO much more important. I feel as administrator that what you really need is not appeals for money but encouragements to see what is being achieved with so little – and how much more could be achieved with a little more!

So can I just thank all of you who give, occasionally or regularly, sometimes sacrifi cially, to this wonderful, tough, frustrating, amazing ministry? And if you’ve never donated before, well can you think about it in relationship to all your other giving? We know the Lord loves a cheerful giver; maybe if we can’t give cheerfully and with a generous spirit we should send our gifts elsewhere!

But whatever you do, please, please, PLEASE pray for this cutting-edge ministry that reaches into a vast, virtually untouched mission fi eld. Thank you.

Eric Coulton(Administrator)

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Unfortunately h o w e v e r Equipped was c a n c e l l e d due to a lack of bookings and another event in Wales Cultivate had to be cancelled for the same reason. As we go to press another training event we know of is being scaled down.

We are on the case though and intend to make progress – students in Cheltenham want to organise a local event and there are early talks to do the same in the North West. Plans within Wales to work with SU and UCCF in 2013 also look promising. Do join us in prayer…

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Whether we have been Christians for many years or a few months we all have questions from time to time. For people that don’t know Jesus they often have many more. Earlier this year we were given 300 copies of Grill a Christian from 10ofthose.com to give away to sixth formers for free! So far we have passed on over 200. Here is one sixth former, Estera Boncea’s story of what she thought of her free copy and what she did with it:

I was given a copy of Grill a Christian a few months ago for free – Festive gave me the challenge to read it and then give it away – so I did!

It’s a very easy read and with deadlines always looming

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We recently attended a fantastic youth event in the North West called SOUND where we took the opportunity to ask 42 young people, ‘What question would YOU ask God?’ Here is a selection of their questions:

Why is there so much suffering?Why isn’t it possible for everyone to know God?If you change people’s hearts

why don’t you change everyone’s?

Why did you send Jesus if we are never faithful?

Why didn’t you invent modern technology when Jesus was on earth to provide those people who don’t believe with evidence?WWWWWWWWWWW ’t’t’’’’tttt llll

Can you save my Dad please?Do animals go to heaven?

How should we express Christianity with our friends for the first time?

If Christians go to heaven when they die where do non-Christians go? If they go straight to hell when are they judged?

ttttt tttttttWhen will Jesus’ second coming be?

Why are there other religions?

Can science and Christianity both be right?

Do I take the bible completely literally or is it just there to help us understand?

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What do you do for fun - you seem so busy?

Will I be a dancer, pass my exams; be OK.

What will I do next?

CCCChCChChCh ii ttttttttttiiii ??????????????

Where do you come from? How were you created?

Why was I chosen to know God?

easy is the key. The book deals with a really wide range of questions, from the big ones like ‘Why doesn’t God stop the trouble’ to the smaller frequent digs at the bible like ‘Doesn’t the Bible forbid eating prawns?’ and some which had never crossed my mind – ‘Is God bothered about our carbon footprint? ’. I have lots of friends that don’t

know Jesus and they ask so me so many questions - even the questions which I thought I could give an answer for often included points I had never thought of and it’s a great go to for a quick answer. All questions are answered really clearly and to the

point, always including bible references and some very knowledgeable quotes from a few impressive people. My favourite had to be ‘A little

science estranges men from God, but much science leads them back to Him’’- Luis Pasteur. (I want to study biomedicine at university!)

I also really liked the question and answer format, as opposed to chapters. It made the book more accessible, as you can just fl ick to a specifi c question rather than having to read it cover to cover. I also found, because of this, it was very easy to give away. I’ve given copies to a few non-Christian friends who seemed to really like the fact they didn’t have to read it cover to cover (so at least they will read something!)

If you’re a 6th former you can get one from Festive for free (it’s completely worth it) otherwise www.10ofthose.com sells them at a very low price. The only problem is when you keep giving them away you are left without one for yourself….!

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It’s nearly that time of year again when we remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Many Christian Unions and chaplains have and will take the opportunities that Christmas brings to speak the good news of Jesus.

We have compiled a list below of those who we know at the time of printing are planning events on certain days throughout December. Please do join us in prayer for them – maybe print this out and put it somewhere that will remind you on the day.

Do pray for Cirencester College, Marling Sixth Form and Newtown College who have great ideas but are awaiting confi rmation of dates and details.

There will be many others around the country in similar situations so do investigate what your local colleges are doing and pray for them.

Check out facebook and twitter for the latest prayer updates for college Christmas events.

Christmas PrayerChristmas Prayer

Date Please pray for... As they outreach...Week Beginning 3rd December

Park and EvOC College, Eastbourne Advertising next week’s event by handing out mince pies

10th December Sandwell College Carol Service in the main reception12th December Park and EvOC College, Eastbourne ‘What Is Christmas All About?’ event12th December Llandrillo College, Rhos on sea Carol Service12th December Cardinal Newman College, Preston ‘What’s Christmas All About?’ Event13th December Llandrillo College, Rhyl Carol Service13th December Runshaw College Christmas stall - Giving out gospels

and tracts along with some christmas cakes and goodies. Also, a post box where people can post questions which will be answered at a follow up event.

14th December Cheadle and Marple College Carol Concert17th December Farnborough College of technology A slot in the college Christmas open

mic event containing a fi lm clip and gospel presentation.

19th December Croydon College Informal carols and songs sung by the gospel choir in college reception. Silent videos explaining the gospel message will be played during. Handing out mince pies and cards.

20th December Luton College Christmas giveaway. Candy canes wrapped with bible verses with fl yers for local carol services.

It’s nearly that time of year a

Christmas picsLike the Christmas pictures in this edition? – A big thank you to SGMLifewords for making them available on their website for anyone to use – do check them out at http://www.sgmlifewords.com/christmas/downloads/