Ballymena youth 'UNITE' for Christ

Scripture Union’s Ballymena E3 Schools Worker, Rachel Sheppard, had been working along with Senior pupils from Scripture Union groups in Ballymena Academy, Cambridge House, Slemish College, Cullybackey High School, Dunclug College and Ballee Community High School to plan and organise the event since November and the student had been promoting the event and selling tickets in their schools for the last few weeks.

Looking back over the night, Rachel said: “Through UNITE we wanted to encourage Christian pupils to reach out to friends and classmates and invite them along but also for these pupils to be encouraged too as they joined with Christians from other schools.”

It was a fantastic night with worship led by the Colin Stitt Band from East Belfast and Roy Walker, the manager of Ballymena United speaking. The young people also had the chance to put Nathan McConnell, one of Ballymena United’s players and Lyndsay Neish who plays hockey for the UUJ Elks, in the hotseat as they texted in questions for the pair on the night.

These ranged from “what superpower they would like to have?” to “how do they share their faith with their team mates?”

FUEL, SPARK and SU camps and missions were also there to let the pupils know what they can be a part of in and around Ballymena this summer.

The night finished off with an acoustic cafe, giving some pupils a chance to share their musical talent.

Rachel added: “For me it was great that five young people made the decision to follow God but also to see young people praying with one another and having conversations with each other about God or living it out as a Christian.

“I feel that God really blessed the night as schools and churches worked together and I’m excited to see what he is going to do next year, so watch out for UNITE 2011!”