Churches of the North Awake - this was the message which sent us home after a weekend of inspiring teaching, worship and fellowship at the first New Wine Inspire summer weekend at Hollybank Christian Fellowship in Thirsk.
Between August 21 and 23, around 1,000 Christians from across the North of England (and a few stragglers from as far south as Sheffield!) gathered together for the first northern summer gathering of New Wine in three years.
The event was certainly smaller than previous northern conferences but in this case, small was beautiful. There was no sense that big name speakers or worship leaders were missing and everything - childrens and youth work, worship and teaching, catering and planning were all drawn from northern churches. The weekend was a showcase of the enormous riches and gifts in our region and the relatively small band of campers added to a sense of belonging to a distinct place with a unique calling.
Where else might you be able to look out of your tent one morning to see The Bishop of Huddersfield, resplendent in purple, helping out with the washing up? Times of fellowship were just as important and refreshing as times of teaching on this weekend and despite the typically defiant Yorkshire climate, plenty of fun and food was shared.
Teaching across the weekend focused on God's people growing in confidence and it was certainly an inspiration to hear about the work of our churches. There is no doubt that this part of the world presents real challenges and that economic and political realities (not to mention a good dose of Northern Grit) can make for a tough climate, but equally there is no doubt that the church in the north is at the forefront of transformation in the region and in inspiring the church nationally.
And judging by the response from every delegate I spoke to, the event will be the first of many. Ian Parkinson began the weekend by saying what a privilege it was to minister in and around the North of England, and by saying what many of us were feeling – that the North has a distinct character and a distinct and historical calling to spread the Gospel and influence the direction of The Church across Britain. Inspire certainly left us with a sense that this beautiful region has plenty to offer and that this was just the beginning of a northern renewal for New Wine.
Report by Stewardship and Giving officer, Jo Beacroft Mitchell.