Well I must be getting old! Sat while Taste are soundchecking for the gig thinking ‘ooh this is a bit loud!’ But its great and once the venue is full of young people it will be fine! We’re in Herne working with the Fishermans Office who we’ve worked with before, being very well looked after!

Yesterday was a fairly relaxed day. We visited a school to view their facilities for an event later on in the year which Taste have been invited to play in. A really nice school, quite different to most schools in Germany-the kids have a lot of freedom and the chance decorate their own ‘learning space’-this seems to create a much greater sense of respect and want to look after things than we often see in England! One of the venues at the school is a drained swimming pool which has been converted into a cafe and where La Roche will be djing at the weekend in November. In the picture you can see the team having a practice! We had lunch out and then a meeting about ‘Konficamp’ – an event in October which Taste are taking part in. The meeting was half German and half English-a chance for me to see how much I can remember and understand from my GCSE days! Andy and I then headed into town for a trip to our favourite shops in Herne- ‘Woolworth’ (similar but definitely not the same!), ‘New Yorker’ (sort of a cheap H&M) and the Euro Shop (i.e. a pound shop!). There was also some live music and entertainment in the centre of the high street…we had to stop while Andy drooled over the digital sound desk! The evening consisted of a trip the the Bavarian Inn which we have been to before-the infamous litres of Bavarian beer. I upped my game from last years 0.3l to 0.5l this year, while the boys went for the whole 1l! We had lots of fun and laughs as a team and a late night McFlurry trip!

Today we had a lie in and then headed to the Lighthouse to set up and then a gig tonight.

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We’re mid way through the gig and its very very hot! About 40people all jumping around and enjoying the music and our attempts at speaking German! Jonny does a bit of singing in the next couple of songs so i’ll be let loose on the lights!

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Second break is for sausages! Then La Roche is doing a dj set, while my wonderful Andy is on lights, having just drummed very well!

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Back at the hotel after a great gig. Tomorrow we’re off to church in the morning and then Taste are doing some acoustic songs in a service at The Lighthouse in the evening. It’s now definitely time for sleep!

Back now after a fantastic week at Plockton High School. We met some awesome kids with challenging stories to tell and who were actively sharing their faith in the school. Plockton High has around 300 pupils, from a catchment area of 400 square miles. Dave Mockett is the SU worker there and worked us hard! It was quite a unique situation for us in that Dave knew most of the young people, the majority of them had some Church contact and many of them attended youth groups. The school was very supportive of what we were doing, including the RE teacher who is a strong Christian. The community had been praying for us and for the week for a long time and it really felt like we were part of the long-term picture.

We were staying in a holiday house belonging to the Harvey’s (everyone knew the Harvey’s when we mentioned it!) in Glenelg which is over an hour from the school through the most amazing mountain scenery.

This is a viewpoint on the way to school (although we didn’t see it very often as we mostly travelled in the dark!) of the snow topped mountains The Five Sisters.

We did a lot of travelling and were out every night so were on the go from 7am til 10.30pm which was exhausting but great at the same time. We saw each age group at the school more than once – taking RME, PSE and Music lessons. I got the opportunity to share my story several times and we performed All About Abi 3 times. The young people were really friendly and welcoming and we got to know some of them quite well, especially as we were visiting youth groups in the evenings too. The evening sessions were led by Dave and were looking at 1 Peter 3:15 ‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.’ Dave gave a short talk, 1 or 2 of our team shared their story and then the young people were encouraged to think what their story is and chat to one of us about it. We ended with a 60 second prayer time (which they do on a Wednesday breaktime at the school and regularly get around 20 pupils) where you sit in a circle and pass around a ‘holy item’ (e.g. Bible, mousemat, holepunch…!) and then each person can either pray for upto 60secs or pass the item along. It’s brilliant!!!

At the gig on Thursday night about 80 young people came, 23 of which responded that they would be interested in finding out more through a ‘Check It Out’ course that Dave is going to set up. For me, it was one of the best weeks we have done and that was largely due to the support from the community, and Dave’s passion for helping the young people reach a better understanding of God. On Wednesday we went to a prayer meeting with members from local churches which was well supported and great to see people passionate about praying for the young people in their community. Dave had also put a quick video edit of lessons we had done so far – songs, links, All About Abi and my story. Great, but embarrassing to see me up on the screen!

As a team we all get on really well, despite the fact we have quickly learnt who the most gullible member of the team is and exploit that at every opportunity!! Joy did well stepping in to sing, Andrew was a hit with all the girls, and Jonny did really well learning tech and performing in All About Abi. It was a really long journey back and we had a welcome few days off – but it was definitely all so worth it!

I’m now back at base catching up with everything I’ve missed and getting stuck into preparations for the upcoming Christmas events. This Sunday Keel is being baptised at Sawyers Church, Brentwood which is very exciting. Please pray for him this week, especially as he’s not feeling too well at the moment.

Thank you for all your support, please keep in touch!

I’ve been back 3 days now and loving it! So far it’s been lots of admin type bits, sending emails, creating folders and generally organising myself! Also been having meetings with various people within Viz-A-Viz Ministries. A new team is emerging which consists of Rich Powney, Claire Parry, Sam La Roche, Andrew Keel and myself. We’re currently working out exactly what our role is and how it will all work, which we probably won’t know for some months yet as we try things out! We’re existing to serve Viz-A-Viz Ministries in creating and delivering events, training sessions for the new Check It Out Team, retreats and Bible Studies. We’ve all got different skills and passions and will be pursuing these as well as combining them for God to use and do great things through us! It’s very exciting! We’re all under 30 and along with wisdom and experience from those above us hope to inject some enthusiasm, creativity and ‘newness’ into what Viz-A-Viz Ministries does through. We’re really seeking God to know what He wants us to do!

I’m settling in to my new abode, had a lovely housewarming on Monday night with Claire and Karen. I’ve got Holby City, Waterloo Road and Hollyoaks on Sky+ Series Link so I’m all set! I’m having to learn how to feed myself…any advice on living on a budget/cupboard essentials etc would be much appreciated!!!

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog!

I’m Laura, I’m 23 years old and live in Billericay, Essex.

I work full time for Arise Ministries as the operations assistant – involved in lots of things from administration to event planning and delivering. I am currently self-funded, for details on this visit my support page. Arise Ministries is all about helping churches pioneer new outreach to the children in their communities.

My home church is Braintree Elim which I love going back to as and when I can. My church family are lovely and very supportive of me and what I do. Whilst here in Billericay I attend Sawyers Church, occasionally helping out in the youth group and operating visuals when I’m around.

My parents and my dog live in Braintree, as does my sister Sarah and her husband Matt, my two beautiful nieces Maddie (5) and Emi (3) and my littlest nephew Billy (1). My brother Russell and his wife Becci live in Yeovil with my gorgeous niece and nephew, Chloe (13) and Sam (10).

Previous to this I was part of a touring youth team with Viz-A-Viz Ministries and before that I was a fitness instructor at Complete Fitness 

I have wanted to do what I am doing now since I was 14. I can remember sitting in a really boring school cathedral service and feeling really angry. Angry that there were almost 1000 girls in the service and for many of them this was their only experience of God and Church and it was so dull! I knew that being a Christian is not dull and knew I wanted to do something with my life to share this. The phrase going round in my head was ‘Make Church Fun’. I knew I wanted to go out to meet people where there are, share my experiences with them and hopefully challenge people on their view of God, Church and Christians.

I absolutely love what I do, it’s intense work but so rewarding. I have had so many fantastic experiences and look forward to many more!

I’m trusting God to provide my needs and guide my future.

Contact me on laurabayliss@ariseministries.org.uk

So over the past two years as I have been part of the Optimum Gap Year Programme at Viz-A-Viz Ministries.

I have had a fantastic time; I have been challenged and stretched, learnt so much about myself and about God and had some awesome experiences. I’m sure you have noticed a change in me! I have been privileged to be part of so many young people’s journey in faith, helping them to come to realise just how incredible they are and how much God loves them.

Over the past months I have been praying about the future and seeking God for what to do next. Ever since I joined Viz-A-Viz Ministries in September 2008 I felt like more than a gap year student and have been excited about the future of the charity and I guess I have always wanted to be a part of that. After several conversations and lots of prayer I feel it is right to stay on with Viz-A Viz Ministries for at least the next year.

My actual job description is still in the creating process which is very exciting! I will still be taking an active part in on-the-road touring with the Check It Out team as well as having creative input into events and clubs run by the children’s team Arise.  I will also spend some of my time at the ministry centre helping with some administration tasks and the preparation and delivering of Summer Festivals. I really want to continue to use drama where it will enhance the content of various events that Viz-A-Viz Ministries are involved in.

I’m moving in with Claire and Karen (both who are involved in Viz-A-Viz Ministries and SOLID) in Billericay which I’m very excited about! Next week involves painting my new room and furniture and moving in on September 4th.

I have a meeting with the leadership at Viz-A-Viz Ministries on Friday 3rd September at 12noon to discuss things in more detail, so please pray for me then. Currently there is no salary and so I am totally trusting God to provide my every need which is a huge, exciting, scary step!

I would really appreciate your prayers at this time, especially in regard to my finances. I will be updating with more details as soon as I have them!!