Blast Off! (Space Explorers are Go!)

After months of growing anticipation and activity Holiday Club 2017 took off this morning.

The theme this year is Space Explorers (following last year's Polar Explorers and 2015's Epic Explorers). Space Explorers teaches the story of Daniel - carried off into captivity and finding himself in a strange land...but learning that God is still with him and ready to keep his promises to his people even in this strange land.

I have a bit of personal history with Holiday Club! In 2002, when I arrived at HT as Curate, I was thrown into the deep end of 'Mega Quest Holiday Club' - an open air extravaganza, with a whole 7-day program for around 400 kids with 150 leaders. It was an exhilarating, adrenalin-filled week and a great intro to HT.

This photo dates back to the year before that - 2001...see how many faces you can name:

Some things have changed: we've moved indoors for the 'Round Up' session, we have had to limit the hours we meet to mornings (or face an Ofsted inspection!), and we limit the number of children to 150. 

Some things have not changed: the overall aim of wanting to teach the Bible and present Jesus clearly to children, the dedication of the leaders (some of whom have taken time off work to lead groups), the commitment of many more members of HT who have given financially, and are praying and encouraging in other ways from the sidelines.

One new feature is the training of young leaders - a group of LiTs (Leaders in Training) who have undergone a short course to help them learn about Christian service. This week they will be available to help group leaders and to be an extra pair of hands wherever they are needed. It's a great development and bodes well for future leaders in the church! Here they are, ready to go...

And here are a few of the leaders who will, like Daniel, be discovering that God is with them and is faithful to them as they find themselves in strange situations and alien territory this week!