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 [email protected] 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