REPORT HIGHER CAMBS 2018

‘Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of What a privilege to be involved in Higher Cambs, as the Lord rises to shine on you.’ the gospel was powerfully shared with thousands of Isaiah 60:1, NLT young people across the county!

Higher Cambs was founded on longstanding As you’ll see from this report, some of the response relationships and an incredibly strong team on the we have received from schools and from young ground. This team was made up of some remarkable people has been thrilling. We have sensed the leaders who dared to dream that thousands of opportunity presented by an unprecedented hunger young people could come to know Jesus Christ and for the truth, which now exists in our culture. the care of a local church. We have witnessed at first-hand the blessing that This unforgettable mission has, in many ways, God brings when his people work in unity. It is the redefined how The Message approaches partnership commitment, vision and generosity of our churches and kingdom collaboration. We are so grateful for in Cambridge and District that have made this everyone who partnered with us for Higher Cambs. mission possible.

My hope is that you are inspired by the amazing Those serving on our organising team are eager work of the youth workers, church leaders, mission to thank staff from The Message for their energy, teams, and organising committees. But more excellence and passion for the gospel that has importantly that you believe deep in your spirit that shone through every part of their work. Jesus is in the business of saving lives and will draw a generation back to himself. As we continue the critical work of making disciples of local young people, we know that this is just the Please do continue to pray for us as a movement as beginning. When we consider the grace and power we take Higher to South Wales, Yorkshire, and begin of our Lord Jesus, why would we not continue to to prepare for 2020 when we will be embarking on aim Higher? a UK-wide Higher Tour.

Alan McCormick Chair, Higher Cambs Delivery Team Tom Butler and CEO, Mission Direct Head of UK Mission, The Message Trust

1 Higher Cambs 2018 in figures

4 34 §13,120 mission teams days in school young people met Amongst Wolves, BrightLine, in school Galactus Jack and SoulBox 1,925 784 49 follow-up sessions young people at response packs being offered at local Higher gigs given away churches

2 ‘That night has ‘You have no idea changed me forever. how grateful I am I don’t know how to that my life has been thank you enough.’ changed, literally.’ Message from a young person Message from a young person

‘I just got out of your show tonight at ‘You visited my school today and you have Ely Cathedral feeling that I’m loved. I’ve helped me so much! When I woke up this not had the best of lives, many times I’ve morning I didn’t want to get up – I have wanted to end it all right then and there, depression and I am suicidal. I’m fostered but you made me rethink my mistakes. I – my mother and father both treated me was crying, really touched by the words wrong – and I thought, ‘what’s the point that were said. I seriously loved that night anymore?’ But when you came today, so much, it has changed me forever. When something strange happened. When you Jesus was put on the cross for us, so we spoke about Jesus I started to look at life a don’t have to put the blade to our own skin, different way. I feel so much better about that changed me a lot. I don’t know how to myself! I really do! I don’t feel like hurting thank you enough for tonight.’ myself for I can talk to God and he will help me through everything, no matter what. Thank you so much. You have no idea how grateful I am that my life has been changed, literally.’

3 ‘We saw a girl’s ‘She brought four swollen eye healed!’ of her friends to our Jon, SoulBox youth café’ Andy and Bev, youth leaders, Willingham Baptist

‘In one school, one ‘We run a youth group in our village and of the young people took eight new people to the Cambridge gig, including one girl who only found out asked me directly, about it that day. She responded to the “What can I do to gospel for the first time and then brought four of her friends to our youth café the get rid of the sin in following week! And we’ve had record my life?”’ numbers at our youth club since then.’ Daniel, BrightLine

4 ‘It was so exciting ‘They’re coming back to see him make a next week!’ response’ Natasha, Thrive Youth Café Sally, youth and schools worker, ‘Two girls who had responded at the Higher WCCYM Cambs gig turned up today as we were packing up our youth café. They had never ‘The schools tour was fantastic and I was heard of Jesus or been to church before, particularly impressed with how both but since the tour have started reading the bands handled some really deep and bible and wanted some help! I sat down difficult questions in a clear way. One sixth- there and then and went through the start former with a difficult home life has been of Mark with them, prayed and they’re exploring faith over recent months at our coming back next week!’ lunchtime group. It was so exciting to see him make a response at the gig along with many others.’

5 13,120 Young people met in school

EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE HUNTINGDONSHIRE 7 schools 6 schools

SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE 21 schools

6 EVENTS AND RESPONSE

1,925 Event attendance 784 Total recorded response

575 attendance 251 recorded response

E LY Ely Cathedral

ST NEOTS St Mary’s Eaton Socon

CAMBRIDGE The Junction

502 attendance 251 recorded response

848 attendance 282 recorded response

7 Schools visited during the tour

King’s Ely Coleridge Community College Hinchingbrooke Comberton Village College Abbey College Cottenham Village College St. Peter’s Romsey Mill Longsands Academy Netherhall School Sawston Village College Impington Village College Cromwell Community College Centre School St. Ivo School Parkside Community College Newmarket Academy St. Bede’s Mildenhall Academy North Cambridge Academy Ernulf Academy Stratton Upper School Huntingdon CRC Campus Bassingbourn Village College Ely College Cambridge Regional College LECA St. Faiths Cambourne Village College Hill’s Road Sixth Form College Trumpington Community College The Leys School St Mary’s Melbourn Village College

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