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Thoughts and insights from Jubilee Church Wirral

Serving at Newday – what a privilege!

By Nicki Frodsham, Jubilee Church Wirral

Young people from Jubilee worshipping in the gigantic Big Top at Newday 2023

In 2004 Dave and I attended the first Newday camp at Newark with our 3 children.

We also took our only teenager in our church and her friend, plus two young people from Jubilee Church Liverpool and their youth leader.
 
For those of you who may not have heard of Newday, it is an annual youth camp, now hosted in Norwich organised by our family of churches, Newfrontiers.
 
My lasting memory of the first camp was when the site was flooded and having to evacuate our youth to a local sports centre overnight. We had a trailer tent and thought we would remain onsite but when our groundsheet was floating on the water we also decided to evacuate (especially as our youngest child was only 4 months old). Amazingly all the water went overnight and the camp resumed the next day.
 
I have only missed one Newday event since it has been running. Each year Dave and I go to serve at the camp. It is such a privilege to support this amazing event, seeing thousands of young people worshipping God. They also need over a thousand people to serve each year to make the event happen. I have had a few different roles: caterer, children’s worker (there is a children’s work for those serving at Newday), and this year I was stewarding in the enormous Big Top.
 
I know that Newday has been a really significant part of the lives of our three children and their walk with God. There have been many testimonies from our young people at Jubilee and the impact of Newday for them. This verse in the bible says:
 
Train up a child in the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
 
Please consider coming to serve at Newday next year – there are many roles to fill. Mon 29th July – Sat 3rd Aug 2024. We are happy to give you more information.
 
We are blessed to be a blessing to others.
God bless
Nicki
 
 
 

Suzy MacMaster came to serve for the first time this year and with her permission here is something she wrote about her Newday experience:

Newday kids work

 
A call to serve, made in March.
DBS hold up.
First time long-distance driving.
Arrival: collect your lanyard, get your wristband, get the T-shirt.
 
Camping with a small child, in a small tent.
Alice face-plants.
Banged-head.
First aid visit.
 
Problem solving.
Shopping trolley purchased.
Car surrendered.
Hermit life.
 
Preparing to meet fifteen 5-7 year olds.
Blackbeard the pirate.
A violent parrot puppet called Jack.
Hot shower, muddy floor.
 
Challenges.
Wind and rain.
A football through the kids’ club window, me showered with glass.
Team undaunted.
Teamwork wins.
The devil loses.
 
Rewards and small victories.
Fun and games.
Parachutes and dodgeballs.
7 out of 15 children make a commitment to follow Christ.
 
Walking 37 miles in a week.
Sleeping on an air bed.
Meals with Jubilee yoof.
Growing friendships and laughter.
Deeper trust in God.
 
A Bible verse in my phone case keeps me going.
Resilience and reaction.
I’m tougher than I thought.
 
The big top.
Thousands praising God.
Late nights and loud voices.
Sofas in a marquee.
 
Dreamless sleep.
Long days.
Miraculous weather changes.
Coffee and ice cream.
 
Remember your lanyard.
Change your T-shirt.
60 out of 140 5-7s commit or recommit to follow Jesus by the end of the week.
 
Saturday comes.
Long distance home.
Coffee and cake.
Driving through rain.
 
Home at last.
Unpack the car.
Hugs and reunions.
Tent out to dry.
 
Hot baths.
Back in our own beds
Sleep like a log.
Reflect and write this.
 
The verse in my phone case:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
 
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Nicki Frodsham and Dave Frodsham of Jubilee Church Wirral

Nicki Frodsham of Jubilee Church Wirral 

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