Never having been camping before as a family we had little idea what we were in for when we signed up for a week at New Wine, but inspired by the testimony and commitment of members of our church who have been attending for many years we set off in anticipation to Peterborough.
We were amazed by how much was on offer across the week at the different venues, and in particular by the provision for children and young people. When Isaac rose early we made use of ‘Stepping Stones’, a large indoor play area with tea and toast for bleary-eyed parents. We would then take him to ‘Little Gems’, where he enjoyed playing games, singing songs and learning about David and Goliath, while we went to the morning celebration in the arena and joined with 5,000 other believers in worship, teaching and praying for one another. In the afternoon there were many seminars to choose from. The Tearfund social justice stream was very thought provoking. Throughout the day there were options such as bouncy castle play areas, skatepark, market town, cinema and various cafes, in the evenings a further choice of main meetings before live entertainment into the night. We also enjoyed time spent with our church family, especially the midweek barbeque where we shared testimonies of what we had been learning and what God had been doing so far in the week. If you would like more info, or to find out about booking for next year, please speak to us, or to Jacqui or Ian Dowdell. Pete and Julz Evans
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During the summer some of our youth went to Soul Survivor in Peterborough. Camping there provided an amazing opportunity for youth to meet with others and engage with God. This was my first year and, although my sisters have already been, I didn’t really know what to expect. However, it was incredible, and I got much out of it.
When we arrived the first challenge was to put up all the tents. It was a struggle in the blistering heat, but we managed it. Rosie and her friend, Jean, were our cooks for the week and they did a wonderful job. There were two main meetings in the Big Top every day, led by Mike Pilavachi and Andy Croft, where we worshipped, listened to a talk and were given an opportunity to meet with God and ask for prayer. A few times during the week Mike gave everyone an opportunity to give their lives to God. It was breath-taking to see how many people became Christians. Outside the main meeting times, there were many seminars available, covering a wide range of topics from Science vs God to Relationships. The atmosphere across the show ground was open and welcoming. There was plenty to do across the site, including grabbing a milkshake while playing board games, watching films, playing table tennis, or racing your friends in a giant inflatable obstacle course! We were blessed with the weather with highs of 32C. The last ever Soul Survivor came to an end with an incredible thunderstorm! The experience has really helped me in my journey of faith. Rachel Lockwood |