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SAY | Contact Us
SAY stands for Salvation Army Youth. The SAY programme at Birmingham Citadel is for people from the ages of 13 to 30. Anyone and everyone is welcome to be part of the SAY group as there is no need to be in uniform or a member of any of the different sections. At present we have almost 60 people within this age range. They are a very vibrant, deep thinking, spiritual group of young people. There is a team of people to help and support them and the SAY programme. This team has different roles to support the key areas. The support team is mainly within the SAY age range and this leads to opportunities in leadership which is crucial to the building of the church here at Birmingham.
Corps Youth Secretary: Matthew
Mynott
Support Team: Rachel Attwood Dixon, Anna Lamplough, Alex Pearce, Paul Dickinson,
Barrie Ellison.
The programme splits into the same key areas as the UK Salvation Army Youth, Alove: WORSHIP, MISSION, DISCIPLESHIP and SOCIAL ACTION.
Within the ages of 13 and 30 we have an eclectic group of young people; each has their own way and style of worshipping. To this end we attempt a number of different ways to ensure that all are fulfilled in their styles. As well as the traditional music groups in our corps, we also have a contemporary music group (CMG) and a gospel choir, a dance group, drama group and many other groups that meet. Once a month we hold an Arts Night. Although this is for rehearsal, it is also an opportunity to meet socially as a group. The Arts Night is fairly fresh as a venture - there is opportunity to participate in games, bible study, worship with the CMG and prayer time.
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Prayer is vital as part of the worship within the SAY programme. There is a real spirit within the youth to ensure that worship and prayer isn’t stale and allows everyone to have a close relationship with Jesus Christ.
Praise Parties are another aspect of our worship; they are the brainchild of our Arts Co-ordinator, Anna Lamplough. These parties are regularly attended by around 200 people from all ages. The Praise Parties have their own website - www.praiseparty.co.uk
As a group we are determined to make sure that Jesus is the priority in our lives. As we live our lives we try to put Jesus into the centre of everything we do. Our aim is to let the world know that Jesus is the one who can save us from the problems of the world. The different events that we have running are geared to allow people who don’t follow, understand or have any knowledge of Jesus, an opportunity to learn more about him.
We have an award-winning football team which is in the Birmingham AFA. They hold regular training sessions, which are open to all abilities and ages. This is another aspect of mission that we are engaged in. More information can be found within the website for this team.
Following Sunday morning worship, two groups called 13+ and 16+ meet for teaching and discussion. This is for young people who wish to develop their spiritual life. Christianity is presented in a relevant way and all are encouraged to give their point of view on the issues under discussion and everyone present is valued and given respect. Throughout the year everyone in the group is given the responsibility to close in prayer and everyone is asked to suggest subjects for prayer. Barrie Ellison, Mark Mansfield, Rachel Attwood Dixon and Matthew Mynott are the leaders of these groups.
As the SAY group is large, we try to meet together. Youth Fellowship is one way of doing this and is held either on Sunday afternoon or evening on a regular basis. Sunday afternoon starts with lunch to relax with friends, then there is a time of worship where we sing and praise God with songs which are not used as often in the main worship time. We pray as a group for ourselves and our church, as well as subjects suggested when we start praying. A time is set aside afterwards for Bible study.
Evening Youth Fellowship is at the home of one of the group and is a relaxing time with a ‘thought for the day’ at some point. At certain times of the year there is a more concentrated time of teaching for the whole group. The leaders of the SAY group are always available to talk to the youth and to pray with them and for them, and care very much for everyone in the group.
We attend regional and national events organised by The Salvation Army with youth in mind. Recently we participated in the Alove Field Day called Recreate where we won many trophies for both individual and team events.
We have a large number of students who are either studying in Birmingham or who originate from Birmingham and now study in other parts of the country. If you are linked to The Salvation Army, or would like to know more about us, or would like to link up with other SA students please get in touch. Joanne Dixon is the link with the students and helps setting up meals and lifts if required. It is the responsibility of all the team to ensure that the students are made to feel very much at home in Birmingham.
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Within our SAY group we try to think about groups that need further support fighting for those who don’t always have a voice to shout out their cause. We have added our names to the Anti–Gambling petition which was instrumental in changing the governments’ ideas and bill. We have also looked within our teaching at Restorative Justice, advertising of ‘gentlemen’s clubs’, Make Poverty History and many other issues. The SAY group sees it as an important part of their mission to help these and other such causes.
Words: Matthew Mynott
Photos: Gordon McKee
and
Matthew Mynott
SAY | Contact Us