Simon writes about Soul Survivor
- Simon Cragg
- Aug 21, 2008
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After a thrilling few days at Soul Survivor Christian festival with 11,000 other young Christians, the 26 young people and 8 leaders are now back. They may be tired, they may be wet, hungry and in need of a good bed, but they're full of life and a renewed passion for God.
The whole idea of Soul Survivor is that young people come together for a few days to camp in mud, to hang out together, but most of all to get to know God more. Despite the disappointments of losing our gazebo to the wind, going out in the second round of the football tournament, and having to endure bitterly cold showers, our group pushed through and got to know God in a completely new way.
Each day the young people were given the freedom to decide whether to use their time partaking in water fights, hanging out at the skate park, getting involved in basketball tournaments, or go to seminars, but we made sure that we all went together to the two sessions each day. These sessions were held in an incredibly large tent, and comprised of lots of loud worship led by a great band, a talk by one of the leaders, and then a time to respond and let God do what he wanted with us. During this time we saw some great things - young people speaking in tongues and prophesying for the first time (using the gifts that God has given), young people laying hands on one another and praying for each other, young people with tears slowly rolling down their cheeks as God ministered to them, young people sitting quietly and reading the Bible (which some had never picked up before), and six of our young people joining 600 others in going forward to commit their lives to Jesus. Some truly remarkable stuff!
We even had the privilege of two of our young people (Emily and Andrew) joining the band for three of the sessions on the main stage to be part of the youth choir.
For some Soul Survivor was just a great opportunity to meet new people and feel part of a youth group, and for some it was a great laugh. For some it opened up their eyes to something they had never experienced before, and for others it deepened a faith that needed to grow. But without doubt, everyone who went came away different - all of them experienced God in a new way and this few days would be one they would never forget.
To hear the personal testimonies of the young people who went, come to evening service this Sunday at 6.30pm.


