Perceptions
Perceptions are a strange thing, and something I find fascinating. When out in Uganda in 2006 I had an enlightening conversation with a builder who I was working alongside. He told me he had three wives, eighteen children and was a devoted Christian! I jokingly told him he would love Northern Ireland!
In my first week in this job in September 2006. Someone said to me that all the youth work in the Diocese happens in the west. Two and half years later the same person has the same perception even though at the recent Diocesan Table Quiz there were less than 30% of the young people from the West! I am fortunate enough to have many parents contact me in confidence in regards to issues affecting their young people. The amount of our young people who face every issue you could think of is staggering. Our continuing work in the schools gives us a real opportunity to serve alongside the heads and teachers to help our youth work through these issues. Parish youth groups are a brilliant way of providing a safe positive environment for our young people just to be themselves. Thus we all need to continue to support the Rectors and youth leaders in this area through prayer and action.
But that is just my perception, what’s yours?
Mark.