Festival: Manchester logoA Life-Transforming Week
Festival: Manchester, a week-long event at the end of August, was a unique project combining community service, a celebration of God's message and a youth festival to reach out to the people of Manchester. A group of 32 young people from Ashtead took part.
Over 4,000 young people undertook projects to assist crime reduction, the environment and social welfare. It is three years since a similar event took place in Manchester. This time it was arranged by the Message Trust and the US based Luis Palau Association with local churches and businesses, together with the Greater Manchester Police, who played an important role in supervising the event.

Before going to Manchester, the team from Ashtead needed to raise funds. They undertook activities such as carwashing, baby sitting, window cleaning and gardening, collecting over £2,500. "People were prepared to make donations anyway, but it was good we could give something back to the community," says Adam Harwood, who organised a football tournament to raise funds. "And it was really good going into the other services," he explains, as they tried to involve all the services at St Giles' and St George's.

 Photo of The Festival Site
Photo of The Ashtead Team They spent the week camping in Manchester's Heaton Park, with very basic facilities but a full programme of events. One group from Ashtead was involved in cleaning and painting a community centre and another helped to clear an area to plant grass seeds, which will become a football pitch. "It was very hard work," says Sarah Whalley "but we wanted to serve others and impact the community that will use those facilities." "It was quite non-stop," adds Naomi Renew, explaining that there was Christian teaching in the morning, followed by working on projects in the afternoon. In the evening there were Christian celebration services, to which local people were invited.

The week concluded with a massive two-day festival attended by over 50,000 people, and it was estimated that around 2,000 became Christians during the week. People who wanted to know more were put in touch with their local churches. "It's a life changing experience and I would definitely do it again," says Sarah.

A similar event, SOULINTHECITY, is set to take place in London next July.

next/forwardGo to next article - What is this Life?
See also the ashtead at Christmas 2004 magazine article SoulInTheCity
See also the ashtead at Christmas 2000 magazine article Manchester Millennium Monster Message 2000
previous/backBack to ashtead at Christmas 2003 front page

Please check out our new website for all the latest information sgsgashtead.com

homeBack to our Home Page