North East Scotland Youth for Christ
We were founded (as Aberdeen & District Youth for Christ) in May 1989, when a 'steering group' was established. The first summer mission took place in August 1991 - 'Granite Busters' which continued to be an annual event and was very successful. A PowerPoint rally was run in June 1992 and was a popular event at the centre of the Aberdeen & District Youth for Christ outreach for the rest of the decade bringing hundreds of young people together in worship. We also supported the student worship event Sonrise which was hugely popular during the late 90s.
We changed to North East Scotland Youth for Christ in 1998 to reflect our growing ministries outside the city of Aberdeen.
Rock Solid
The first Rock Solid Club for 10 - 12 age range started in Aberchirder in 1996 (the most northern Rock Solid club in the world!!!) The initiative proved massively successful across the North East with over 20 Rock Solid, RS2 and Mettle clubs at its height in city, towns and rural Aberdeenshire. Hundreds of young people connected with Jesus through this ministry.
Breathe
Breathe ran between 2000 and 2013, and provided a unique experience of God through interactive worship. The programme included challenges, games, drama, music and talky bits. Aimed at churched and unchurched young people, each Breathe event was held in a different area of the rural North East each month, with occasional events in Aberdeen city. A list of Breathe events can be found here.
We also supported several similar events being run by other churches and organisations by providing equipment, training, publicity and volunteers.
Mastrick
During 2009-2010 we took part in a partnership project with a number of churches in Mastrick, Middlefield and Northfield in Aberdeen. This saw a number of sports and street-work ministries where British Youth for Christ’s mission teams joined our local team, including two gap year volunteers from British Youth for Christ ETA year out programme. Please pray for the area and the young people who were reached by this work, and for the local churches who continue to work with them.
The Cage
Following a successful week-long mission in 2009 with British Youth for Christ's NOMAD team and football cage, in summer 2009 we ran a street mission centred around football and music alongside the Keswick in Buckie convention using a borrowed cage from England. A similar mission ran in Kemnay in 2011. In June 2012 we were able to buy our own cage, and launched a new football ministry, building on the success of the previous cage missions. Organised by Seaton Community church, the Cage was in action in Seaton on alternate Monday nights every fortnight, alongside the Outreach bus run by another charity. The Cage was also in action during the term time Spring to Autumn at St Machar Academy, with many young people coming along to participate, or just watch. It has helped us with building relationships with the young people, which would not be possible otherwise.
Tillydrone
Since 2015, we have been working mainly in Tillydrone/Seaton area of Aberdeen, with a full time youth worker as part of a concerted team ministry with other churches and charities. This is an area of great need, and already lives are being transformed, through regular work in schools and on the streets. We still help churches and other youth initiatives with missions and special events, mainly during the summer break.
British Youth for Christ
North East Scotland Youth for Christ is part of the British Youth for Christ ministries that have been bringing the good news of Jesus to young people for over 70 years. British Youth for Christ was founded by Billy Graham who brought the vision across from America when travelling with USA Youth for Christ.
Over the years the work of Youth for Christ International has mushroomed into an international organisation working in tens of countries with thousands staff world-wide. Britain now has over 60 established centres, each an independent charity operating under a charter with British Youth for Christ to focus on working with young people in a specific local area. British Youth for Christ also operates a number of national ministries such as mission teams and church resources. You can find out more about British Youth for Christ at www.yfc.co.uk.