As we entered into 2014, Cheltenham YFC hit a

milestone, our 40th Anniversary. If life does begin

at 40 then it should be an exciting year! If not

exciting, it certainly will be a year full of change.

In 1974 a group of people started an organisation

called CYCLE (Cheltenham Young Christian Link-

up Events). Over time this grew and developed

and became part of Youth For Christ in 1981.

Throughout the last 40

years the work has gone

through periods of change

as we adjust to new

cultural trends but

throughout it all the

purpose has remained the

same, providing young

people with an opportunity

to hear and respond to the

Gospel. During those

forty years, the message

has not changed but our

approach has as we seek to address the needs of

a new generation. A huge number of changes

have taken place in our society in the last forty

years. The things that place such a significant role

in society today were not even thought of in 1974;

the internet, social media, mobile phones, etc.

Whilst music has changed some things come back

around. In April 1974, ABBA won the Eurovision

Song Contest with Waterloo and forty years later

former band member Agnetha Faltskog is talking

about a 40th anniversary comeback celebration. In

1974, Germany won the world cup, maybe this time

round it will be England! The now ubiquitous

McDonalds opened their first restaurant in the UK,

paving the way for countless meetings with young

people over a Big Mac and fries!

Despite all of these changes and many more

besides, the needs of young people have not

changed hugely. The world of

a young person is still a

transition to adulthood as they

attempt to understand life and

who they are. More than

anything else young people

want trustworthy guides who

are willing to be there to listen

and support them. For forty

years, we have been doing that

and seeing the Gospel

transform young people’s lives.

The method has changed but

the message is timeless. Throughout the years

CYFC has put on concerts, carried out detached

work and a wide variety of schools work, resourced

churches, run training events, town wide missions,

prayer weeks, sports work and a whole load more.

It would be impossible to count the number of

Life Begins

Update February 2014

The CYFC team during the 90s

Top banner photo left to right, former Directors Andy Aldridge and Tony Simms and a team photo from the late 90s.

Upcoming Events

Weekly

9am Thursday Mornings

CYFC prayer meeting. All are

welcome to join the team to pray

for our work.

February

23rd

Paul will be on the Radio

Gloucestershire Breakfast Show.

March

17th 7.30pm

Annual General Meeting at St.

Barnabas, Orchard Way.

22nd 7-10pm

Quiz Night at the Pavilion.

The Flat, The Pavilion, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham. GL51 6PN office@cheltenhamyfc.co.uk 01242 524408 Charity Number 1059805

Ways to give

To make a one-off or regular donation to our ministry you can give via our Virgin Money Giving page. You

can also set up a fundraising page if you wish to do a sponsored event. Visit www.tinyurl.com/give2cyfc

cheltenhamyfc.blogspot.com facebook.com/cheltenhamyfc @cheltenhamyfc

young people who have been reached through our work but it

would count in the thousands.

Over the forty years there have been numerous staff,

volunteers and trustees who have passionately shared their

faith and life with young people. We would really like to hear

from people who have stories to tell of the work over this time.

Please contact us with any stories or photos and if you know of

people who were previously involved, do encourage them to

get in touch.

This has all been possible thanks to the generosity, prayers

and encouragement from our supporters. On behalf of the

young people who’s lives have been touched, thank you for

making the last forty years possible.

Exciting changes It is hard to get excited about an AGM! Maybe we

shouldn’t say it but it is rarely a highlight of people’s

social calendar. This year however we think our AGM

is something to be excited about. We have three

resolutions to be voted on that will make a big

difference to our work as we move forward. Firstly we

are proposing to convert from a charitable trust to a

Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). That may

sound dull but it allows us to operate more effectively in

business terms. The second resolution is to transfer all

our assets to the new CIO so we will effectively be the

same organisation in a new structure. The third

resolution is to change our name from “Cheltenham

Youth For Christ” to “Youth For Christ Gloucestershire”.

This is to recognise the wider roll we play beyond

Cheltenham. We currently work in Tewkesbury on a

regular basis and are gradually developing work in

Gloucester. This will not reduce or effect our work in

Cheltenham but will allow us to grow and expand in

such a way that it will help us develop the current work

we do whilst developing work in new areas.

This year’s AGM could really spell the beginning of new

life, something which really does seem appropriate in

our 40th year. Please do join us for the evening to vote

on these resolutions, look back at what God has done

this year and pray for the future.

Life begins (con’t)

Points for prayer

Praise for

The last forty years of sharing

the gospel with young people.

The many staff and volunteers

who have been involved over

the years.

The young people’s lives that

have been changed.

Prayer for

A great Quiz night on 22nd

March.

The AGM on 17th March.

Wisdom as we seek to make

significant changes to our

charity structure.

The opportunity to support the

CU at Winchcombe School.

Resources to move our work

into new areas.

Paul as he goes on the Radio

Gloucestershire Breakfast Show

on Sunday 23rd February.

Opportunities to develop work in

Gloucester and positive

meetings as Paul meets with

church leaders in the city.

In January, we started supporting the Christian Union

at Winchcombe School. The CU is being supported by

Paul and Emily Stone. Emily was a member of the

team who went to Annecy in 2011 and is studying at

Gloucestershire College. She has volunteered to help

with the CU before going to University in September.

Winchcombe is a small school but we hope to help the

students grow the CU from its current six members.

All of our school groups are listed in an enclosed

leaflet.

You can’t have a 40th anniversary without a party. In fact we

think it is worth celebrating with a few parties this year. Our

first will be a quiz night held on 22nd March.

Please come along to the Pavilion, Hatherley Lane at 7pm for

an evening of fun with questions from the last 40 years.

Tickets cost £5 for adults, £3.50 for under 18s and include

quiz entry and one drink. Drinks and light snacks will be

available from the bar on the night. Come as a team or join a

team on the night. It will be fun night for all of the family.

Tickets can be purchased from CYFC team members by

cash or cheque or the can be ordered over the phone (01242

524408) by card payment.

Celebrate with us

The current team continuing the work that has been taking place over the last forty years.

Winchcombe CU