Livingloud - The Bowmanblog

Graduation Day

I graduated today from the University of Ulster  with First Class Honours in Community Youth Work.  This marks the end of a long road of balancing life, work, family and study.  But it was worth all of those 'all nighters' to walk across that stage in the Waterfront Hall this afternoon.

I'm very aware that I couldn't have done it on my own... my wife and kids have believed in me and supported me through it all.  This one is for them! 

My good friend Rick told me to feel God's pleasure today... I have. 

We had a lovely day at the ceremony and then a meal at our favourite restaurant.  It's not the end of study for me, I look forward to the next chapter in the journey.  But for now I'm gonna celebrate the success and enjoy the moment. 

Weekly Update

It has been a busy week packing up the house and getting ready to move. Hopefully a new place is on the cards. We appreciate all your prayers and encouragement.
Also been a tremendous week of youth work & ministry, the d.ship groups have been so encouraging this year and it is great to see how they students have grown in their faith.
The.element wraps up this weekend and elevate next weekend. And with that our summer programme begins...
We set it off with our mission trip and then we have some special events in August including Messy Fun Night 3.

Today our summer family was completed with the arrival of Josh. Josh is the son of my good friend Rick McKinley. Rick is here for a few days. On Friday he will be speaking at an 'emerging church' conversation, discussing what it means to be a missional church. Then on Sunday he will be preaching in 1st Pres Saintfield at our Czech team commissioning service.

One Big Day Out!

Superb day of archery, zorbing and raft building with Elevate and the crew from Dundonald.

Czech Mission Trip

 

Mizen to Malin - Cycle

Next week an intrepid band of cyclists from our church will be cycling from Mizen Head (Ireland's most southernly point) to Malin Head (the most northernly point).  A trip of around 400 miles!  It's sure to be a great adventure but they are not doing it just for fun, they are raising funds for two projects -

1. Our Mission trip to the Czech Republic this summer

2. A School in Kenya that needs additional classrooms. 

click on over to Ken or  Graeme's just giving site if you'd like to support them and the cause.  

We're blessed to have a group of guys like this in our church community who have a vision to support ministry like this and then they run with (or cycle) it and make it happen.  

Happy Trails!  

Summer Fun

We've had some spectacular weather lately.  The girls have had a blast and with the arrival of the sun out has come the paddling pool.  Love this pic!

Home...

We know that many readers use the blog as a means of keeping up to date with our lives and ministry especially in regard to prayer support.  And to that end it's time for a brief update on our housing situation.   When we first moved to Saintfield three years ago it was at the height of the housing boom.  It was evident that it was  beyond our means to buy a home of our own in this area.  We'd been renting in the hope that something long term might develop, but this has not and nor is it likely to occur. 

I posted some time ago about the importance of 'home'.  Not only is it a haven for family but it is also a place where much of our ministry takes place.  I'd highlighted that the home we rent had been put on the market.  We just heard yesterday that the house has been sold, this now means that we need to find somewhere to live in the next few weeks.  The problem is that there are very few properties in the Saintfield area for rent.  Some are beyond our means financially, some are unsuitable (e.g.they are short-term, too small, furnished or won't rent to people with children). 

We beseech you to pray that a home becomes available soon.  We are keenly aware of how short the time is... we leave for Czech on 13 July and are gone until 29 July. (which is also the deadline for when we need to vacate the property)  Obviously being out of the country it would be impossible to move so ideally we need to find a home by the end of June.  We'll keep you posted via the blog and twitter updates. 

Summer Begins

The arrival of summer interns always marks the beginning of summer for us.  Lauren from the USA and Petra from the Czech Republic have recently arrived.  They've been enjoying meeting the young people and the various youth events.  It's great having Petra here as we prepare for our Czech Mission trip.  Today is Lauren's birthday!  Happy birthday girl!  We are stoked to have you here.  We had a lovely morning in sunny Belfast and had breakfast at Maggie Mays.  Now we await Becca and Josh to get here for our summer family to be complete. 

Happy Birthday Val

Today is my beautiful wife's birthday.  She was at her counseling course last night so the girls and I had a lot of fun writing cards, drawing pictures and wrapping gifts. 

I'm so proud of Val, she loves me, stands by me and continuly shows me incredible grace.  She does an amazing job of balancing work, study, family and ministry.  One of the things I value most is that we serve as a team.  And the youth ministry would be a fraction of what it is if it weren't for the role she plays.  The uncertainty over our housing etc has certainly been a tough burden for her to bear these past few months.  She deserves a special day and the happiest of birthdays! 

National Charter for Church Youth Workers

We Love Our Youth Worker is the national charter for church youth workers.  It's a terrific initiative ensuring the highest standards of excellence for Churches employing a youth worker.  Over the last ten to twenty years or so there has been a dramatic increase in the number of churches employing youth workers/pastors here in Ireland and across the UK.  This national charter involes seven promises churches make about the principles and practices they use when employing youth ministry staff.

We will pray and support

We will give space for retreat and reflection

We will provide ongoing training and development

We will give a full day of rest each week.

We will share responsibility

We will strive to be an excellent employer

We will celebrate and appreciate

If taken seriously a charter like this could not only enhance the care of youth workers but also ensure the efficacy of youth ministry and the difference it makes to young people.