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South Norfolk youth ministry celebrates tenth birthday 

Integrate Youth For Christ in Diss is marking its tenth birthday and has issued an open invitation to join them at a celebration event on October 12.

The tenth anniversary celebration takes place at Hope Church, Vinces Road, Diss on Saturday October 12, from 5 to 7.30pm.
 
Trustee Ginni Brinkley said: “We’re hosting an afternoon tea with delicious sandwiches and scones, inflatables for children to play on, loads of (embarrassing) photos from the last ten years, and a worship service led by a talented local youth band, with guest speaker Thea Smith from National Youth for Christ. If you’ve ever been involved with Integrate, or you’d like to know more, then please come along.”
 
A decade of Integrate Youth for Christ followed several years before that of being intRGr8 and that was born from the SNOCCASH CAMP (South Norfolk Christian Camp at Sizewell Hall) around 35 years ago. Integrate camps are still legendary, jam packed with activities, worship and teaching, delicious food and the highly anticipated Simulation Game, says Ginni.
 
“Ten years have been spent always trying to follow where God leads. It started with a camp, going to an event or two and then a school lunchtime club and then another.  more2life – a Christian outlook (our lunchtime clubs) operate now in four High Schools in the area,” said Ginni.
 
“Then came Banham Youth café, a brilliant example of different organisations working together for the benefit of young people.  Burston Youth café was born because of the heart of one lady who approached Integrate Youth for Christ for help in doing something for the young people of the village. Our work has been expanding, and you can read more about the youth cafes and schools work, as well as new projects like student CAP money courses and supporting young people transitioning from primary to high school, at www.integrateyfc.org.uk
 
“Ten years ago we started by paying a young man just six hours a week, now by the grace of God we have a Centre Director and two school and area youth workers.
 
“It is difficult to calculate the impact of ten years, however, young people who have been part of the Integrate Youth for Christ story now lead churches, lead worship, lead hospitality, have made films, work for missional operations, and for so many more have a lifelong love of Jesus that will never end. 
 
“For that we are especially grateful to all those who have supported us in any way over the past ten years – for those who pray for our work, by so many brilliant volunteers and by those who financially support what we do – our thanks to all of them. Our hope for the future – is to see more young people introduced to the love of Jesus.  To do that we would love to see an area and schools worker for each of the High schools in our area. Our other desire is to witness just what God will do next and how we might be part of that,” said Ginni.
 
Ten events have been run this year to marks the anniversary. The year started with a quiz, which had everyone scratching their heads over some fiendishly difficult questions. Two cake stalls have brought delicious baked goods from volunteers to shoppers in Diss and Thetford. Encounter, a new youth worship night, has also run, and there was a barbecue to say thank you to our volunteers and supporters.
 
Two trustees and another brave volunteer walked all night from Thetford to Harleston (the furthest edges of where Integrate works at the moment) and had the blisters to prove it, and another trustee cycled 79.4 miles around all the towns and villages we work in, and these raised some much needed funds to continue the work in South Norfolk and North Suffolk.
 
The next event is the celebration, and then Saturday November 9 sees a Curry Night at Burston Church (get in touch to buy tickets), and the final Encounter of the year on Saturday November 16 at Diss Methodist Church from 6.30pm. 
 
If you would like to contact Integrate Youth for Christ then you can email: info@integrateyfc.org.uk
 

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