The JIMS Project - Youth Centre, Kilkeel

TRANSFORMERS…in Sligo, Ireland

For the second year in a row, JIMS led the youth end of a family conference on the west coast of Ireland. We took with us 11 great folks and have a blast with over 50 young people from all over the island of Ireland. With the theme of ‘Transformers’ we enjoyed looking at what God can do in our lives…and through our lives.

For a week in July, the JIMS team enjoyed a great time building new friendships with folks from all over Ireland…and we strenghtened our relationships with each other (when Peter and Gemma weren’t able to kill each other with laughter).

We had a great chance to walk alongside over 50 young people for a snippet of their spiritual journey. While realizing that we’re all family through Christ, we took at look at Romans 12, Galatians 5, and later 1 Corinthians 3. We interacted with culture via media: films and chart-topping songs. Through small groups we built each other’s confidence in prayer and words of encouragement.

Throughout our week as ‘Transformers’ we also were looking at an over-riding theme of LOVE. Both Ivan and I shared that through God’s love we’re transformed into something incredible…and that even when we don’t live out that transformation perfectly, we’re still in the arms of God’s love. Becca helped our small groups tease out what this love should look like in the Christian’s life: random acts of kindness, obedience to parents, sharing hugs, listening to others, and the like. [Did you realize that apparently the average person needs 8 hugs a day?]

I would like to say thanks to the JIMS committee for letting us do this adventure for the second time around. And thank you to all those who supported us with prayer, international texts, and the odd email here and there. Our team seriously appreciated you lifting us up from the distance yet in power.

…for any of you who were there at New Wine we’d love to hear what you thought about it – feel free to leave a wee comment in the space below for others to read.