Twenty years of Christian youth festival Newday
9,000 people descended on the Norfolk Showground to attend Newday, a Christian youth festival featuring teaching, worship, fun and games that has been running for twenty years.
Helen Baldry reports
Row upon row of tents were set up across the Norfolk showground this week as thousands of young people have heard the gospel message, prayed and worshipped, many of them for the first time. 221 youth groups from across the country set up camp and soaked up the sun and summer festival atmosphere from 29th July - August 3. All groups have youth leaders with them, plus people to help with catering - often volunteers from the church. Many of the young people are 'church kids' who have grown up around the Christian faith, and Newday is an exciting opportunity for them to learn more in an environment totally geared to their age-group, worship independently, and possibly make a deeper commitment.
Thousands of the young people at Newday are 'unchurched' - they might be connected to a youth club in their local area, but the concept of meeting with Jesus is new. There was plenty of opportunity during the week for them to find about Jesus and to make a commitment to following Him. Youth Alpha ran every day, and there were sessions on topics such as 'why does God allow suffering?', 'how to hear God', 'does God have favourites?' 'Does science disprove the Bible?' and 'money and faith'.
Some people find structure difficult or large groups overwhelming, and the Engage team supports those fringes of the event. This team is made up of youth workers and professionals who have a passion to see those on the edge get integrated into the event and leave with a greater attachment to their church youth group.
Young people are divided into age groups (12 - 14s and 15 - 18s) for morning sessions with speakers Farriea Fernandes and Daniel MacLeod, which include silly games, gunge, music and a message. The afternoon is for free time - and there are dozens of activities on offer, including dodgeball, football, netball, dodgems, crazy golf, plus workshops and prayer zones. Christian bookstore 10 of those had lots of resources on offer at bargain prices, plus the Newday merchandise was popular.
There were also sessions aimed at youth leaders, covering topics including 'practical techniques for leading youth work', 'helping youth leaders talk about gender and sexuality' and 'Translating God (Understanding Gen Z)'
Everybody comes together in the evening in the big top. On Thursday evening a special healing service was held, and over 400 people were healed from pain and illnesses, including restored hearing and sight. The final big night on Friday is a theme night around superheroes - dressing up is encouraged!
It is twenty years since the first Newday took place at the Newark Showground. It then moved to Nottingham and Uttoxeter, before coming to Norfolk in 2009 due to the large amount of space needed. Some of the speakers commented that they had attended Newday as teenagers during the previous two decades, and it helped set them on the track to deepen their relationship with God and enter into ministry - evidence enough of the lasting legacy of this incredible festival.
newdaygeneration.org