It's a festival, but not as we know it
Sheffield boomed and bounced to the sounds of Tramlines two weekends ago. We are rightly proud of our home-grown festival. In our friendly city we’re almost guaranteed to bump into somebody we know in the mele, enjoying a wave or a passing chat.
This week I waved off about 25 chirpy teenagers to another kind of festival. They were pumped and ready to go to a Christian youth camp. That might sound like a throw-back to the 1970s, but it may surprise you to know that many thousands of teenagers, students and young adults every summer are thrilled with the prospect.
These events are not about tambourines and brass-bands. Like most festivals, participants relish in big-top tents filled with blasting contemporary music, worshipping God in song with passion. They are encouraged, not intimidated, by their peers. It’s about wholesome, life-affirming fun in a safe environment. It is no exaggeration to say that Christian festivals have virtually no theft and crime, and are drug-free. Unfortunately, we can’t extend that to Tramlines.
To me, it was a very wholesome picture. Recent scientific studies show causal link between poor mental health in a person’s teenage years and poor physical health in later mid-life. Any youth work that helps teenagers to come to grips with life, to build friendships and the resilience to enjoy a camping weekend without life’s usual trappings, has to be a positive step.
For the past century the most sustained youth provision in the country has come through local churches. Sheffield is no different. As a father of two teenagers, I’m so grateful to those young adults in our church (all carefully vetted for safeguarding) who are willing as volunteers to give up their weeknights to put on a youth club, and take annual leave so they can go away on a camp.
In the bible, St Paul says: “Encourage young people to use good judgment. Always set an example by doing good things. When you teach, be an example of moral purity and dignity.” That’s a high standard that all of us should live by.
Young people are mostly a resilient and hopeful group. As I waved my teenagers off for the weekend, I was so grateful for all youth providers in our city and towns. If you are investing your time and wisdom into the next generation, we say thank you.