The Committee has sought this year to focus on areas of need particularly in youth work identified in last year's report. It is hoped that this year's report will reflect the prayerful consideration. thinking and vision that the Committee has enjoyed. There is much to commend, interest and excite if the Church is willing and ready to be actively involved at all levels of Church life

REVIEW OF CAMPS AND CONFERENCES

The Committee in its review continues to see camps and conferences as a valuable tool for the local church. There are reservations as to whether the single denominational camp is really working in a changing youth scene. Presbytery-based camps may provide a better opportunity to offer churches this valuable resource. Getting away with a youth group is valuable in building relationships, promoting consistent Christian lifestyle with fun, and giving a special opportunity for presenting the Christian Faith. Nothing can be taken for granted and there is a clear need to cater adequately for un-churched young people. It is felt that many youth groups probably have young people with little if any real church connection outside their group and who would be attracted to a more activity-based camp where the spiritual content was not for them seen as being the main focus. It has also to be realised that their experience at camp can be quite different from what they experience in their local situation and they can feel a sense of disappointment at the different approach and content. It would be better for local leaders to be involved in the camps to catch the vision and provide continuity.

It is proposed that there be three weekend camps held each year, one camp being held within the bounds of each Presbytery at some point during spring, autumn or winter. It is recommended that camps would include at least two full days. It is recognised that there are regional variations in school holidays and such Presbytery-based camps may enable suitable holiday weekends to be identified in each area. The age range of the camps would be P5 - S4 making it a more inclusive camp with a varied programme of activities to suit the appropriate age bands. To provide continuity and focus, it is recommended that a group of three or so leaders would be involved in the running of all three camps working with leaders from within the Presbytery. It is further recommended that at least one leader should attend the camp along with their young people. As well as providing continuity of practice there would be opportunity to build relationships away from the local setting, to discuss ideas, successes and problems and perhaps the possible inclusion of youth leadership training during the weekend.

Cost has always been a problem with such camps and the Committee is willing to support the funding of these camps. In this way it is hoped to attract youth groups rather than simply individuals. Publicity for camps would include a Presbytery Order of the Day, publicity videos showing what is on offer and timely information sent to churches and youth leaders.

In this way it is hoped that the enthusiasm, fun, fellowship and spiritual blessings enjoyed by so many of us in previous camps will be made available to our young people in a relevant format and accessible way.

MELTING POT

The Committee agreed to participate with other Churches including the Scottish Congregational Church and The Methodist Church in a joint youth conference under the title of Melting Pot. This year's conference will be held at Carronvale from the 8th - 10th October and we are indebted to Rev I N Robertson and Mrs E Tait for their involvement in the Planning Committee. It is hoped that congregations will take the opportunity to send young people to this Conference.

PROPOSED YOUTH ASSEMBLY

The Committee gave further consideration to a Youth Assembly. Discussions included objectives, target groups, programme, funding and practical arrangements.

Objectives:

To enable the young people who are in regular and active attendance in the Church an opportunity to explore the issues of Church work at a national level.

To bring spirituality and life issues together in a meaningful way.

To provide a forum for constructive interaction between the leaders of today and potential future leaders.

To facilitate a deeper appreciation of the challenges and opportunities in the service of God.

To provide an opportunity for young people to comment on and thereby influence the thinking of the General Assembly.

To prepare future leaders by equipping them to be agents of change.

Proposed Age Range:

It is envisaged that participants would be between the ages of 16 and 25 years. It is further recommended that an attendance of at least 20 young people would be required to make the Assembly viable. It is considered that such numbers should be attainable if the interest is there amongst young people but this will require some effective communication. The Assembly should not merely be a talking shop but must allow opportunity for personal development and to initiate ideas for change and participation in the work and ministry of the Church.

Programme:

It is important that the participants are involved in setting the agenda. It is clear that the Standing Committees of the Church should contribute to the content of the debate by including their own reports and deliverances to the General Assembly to the Youth Assembly. Conveners would be expected to be present during discussion of their Committee's report. This would allow them to speak to the report and to receive feedback from the Youth perspective on any of the issues. It would also allow an opportunity for the Young People to suggest relevant changes or additions to paragraphs of deliverance.

During the Assembly there should be opportunity for debate on issues of belief, faith, and the living out of faith in today's world. It should not be in the organised form of a business meeting but with larger elements of seminar style discussion and with a variety of style or presentation. There would be opportunity to include presentations and speakers from other bodies such as Scripture Union, Youth for Christ, ACTS, and the Evangelical Alliance.

It is the hope of the Committee that two delegates from the Youth Assembly would attend the General Assembly. They should also be free to enter into debate through questions and discussion with the right to vote and would give a brief report on the Youth Assembly.

Presbytery Involvement

It is hoped the Presbyteries would support this venture by encouraging their young people to participate and by inviting one or two young people who had attended the Youth Assembly to report to Presbytery on some of the wider issues of the Assembly, the names of suitable people to be obtained from the Committee on Evangelism and Youth.

Funding

The Committee has been greatly encouraged by the generosity of the Women's Home and Overseas Committee in offering a grant of up to £2500 towards the Youth Assembly. This would enable the venture to go ahead in an effective way and will undoubtedly communicate, from the beginning, the concern and support of the wider Church in general and the women of the Church in particular.

Practical Arrangements

It is considered that the Youth Assembly should be held in March and that it should be a weekend event held in a residential facility such as Scottish Churches House or St Minion's, CREF. Initially the bulk of the cost of accommodation would be borne by the Committee and the cost of travel by the local congregations.

The Youth Assembly is an exciting possibility and could be a significant step to building and equipping young people and future leaders of the Church.

COMMUNICATION

Database

The Committee discussed at length the possibility of establishing a database of youth leaders and young people. It was felt that the issue of data protection could be a problem and that an effective address list of leaders and young people would be adequate. This would enable the committee to communicate directly with leaders and young people with information and other relevant matters.

Youth Leaders Magazine

The Committee is in the process of producing a magazine/ information sheet for Youth leaders to be called DORSA. It is hoped it will appear as two or three issues per year and would include a focus in each issue on a particular UF Church and its youth work. There would be a Prayer Inboard for anyone to bring prayer issues. There will be space given for people to include ideas that have worked and pointers to current resource materials and these would include seasonal spotlights with ideas for Christmas and Easter, etc. DORSA would also include a What's On page to highlight events within the denomination, presbyteries, local churches and beyond. It is hoped that this publication will be a resource and an instrument to bring the leaders of the Church together in a practical way.

Web site

It is recognised that the Internet is now being used as an effective mode of communication and that the Church can use this vehicle to reach those within the United Free Church and beyond. It is proposed that the Internet be used for youth matters either by utilising the denominational web-site or a separate site.

Orbit

The Committee is once more indebted to Mrs Netta Begg for her excellent work in preparing the ideas and material for the Orbit competition. It continues to involve many of the children of the Church in fun and learning. The Committee would also thank Mrs Elizabeth Mickey (Milestone) for her work in marking the entries.

EASTER SCHEME

The 1998 Easter Scheme to assist the ASH Urban Healthier Programme to provide clinics staffed by doctors and nurses, appoint health visitors, improve housing conditions, give some education and training and supply clean water and adequate drainage as well supported. The final amount sent to Tear Fund was £4342.60. The 1999 Appeal is for the work of childlike.

YOUTH NIGHT

The 1998 Youth Night showed a significant increase in the numbers of young people attending. The programme presented by Acts Drama was lively, well delivered and in an innovative way communicated the Gospel to all who were there. Acts Drama were ably accompanied by the band "Where's Harry?" and the Committee is grateful to all who contributed in any way. A significant number of young people took advantage of the sleep-over facility and the activities made available on the Saturday morning.

It has been agreed to invite Acts Drama back for 1999, supported by Nexus, and to give the whole programme over to them. It is hoped that there will be a good attendance and that the young people attending will be touched by the message of the Gospel. It is hoped to offer stay-over facilities if requested.

WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE

The Committee continues to support the Committee on Business and Administration in its efforts to promote good practice in the area of youth work. It is encouraged by the willing participation and support of the Church at all levels and hopes that these efforts will advance the cause of Christ among young people.

Rev Lima Golligher led the Leaders Forum in 1998 and spoke the work and ministry of Kirkintilloch Baptist Church. The insights he shared of the vision and the reality of this congregation was thought-provoking and challenging. The speaker at the 1999 "Forum" will be Rev Joel Edwards, General Director of the Evangelical Alliance. It is a great opportunity for the leaders of the Church to listen to and question Mr Edwards

DAY OF PRAYER

The Day of Prayer was held on the 14th February 1999 and the subject of Repentance was chosen not only for the beginning of Lent but also to allow the Church and its members a time to prayerfully reflect on its life of faith. The material was prepared by three young people and they assembled a comprehensive package. This was presented, as always, as a menu from which ministers and worship leaders can draw ideas and material appropriate to their situation. It is not a pre-packed ready-made meal. The Committee would extend its thanks for the considerable work undertaken. In an effort to widen the scope of the Day of Prayer congregations were twinned. The purpose was to enable Churches the opportunity of looking beyond their own situations by focusing on the needs and aspirations of another United Free Church. It is hoped that this opportunity was taken up to widen the ministry of prayer within the Church and it is further hoped that these relationships will continue to build over the year

FESTIVAL '99

The Committee was encouraged to hear of the Mission organised by the churches in and around Perth in which Mr Franklin Graham had been invited to preach. It is clear that the whole venture has been borne out of prayer and the increase in the local prayer meeting was in itself amazing. It is to be hoped that reports of the Mission will be available at the time of the General Assembly. This has been a source of great encouragement to the Church in that area of Scotland and beyond.

Festival '99 stimulated the thought of a possible national mission in the near future. The Committee was represented at a meeting to explore the matter and it was agreed to hear a report from Perth before taking the matter further.

TRAINING DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

The report on the work of the Training Development Officer is presented elsewhere but it is a great encouragement to the Committee that the Church has a full-time worker involved in the work of Mission and Evangelism. It is good to know that a significant number of congregations are actively exploring opportunities for outreach and utilising the services of Rev M J Marsden. It is also encouraging from the Perth situation to see that under the guidance of God significant and even large-scale evangelistic events can be undertaken. The Committee continues to offer financial assistance to congregations which propose to plan outreach events and programmes.

DELIVERANCE OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1998 - PARAGRAPH 22

This deliverance viewed with concern the decrease in total membership and required all Assembly Committees to consider as a first priority what they could initiate to halt these declines. In the area of youth work the specific proposals with regards to Camps, Youth Assembly, Leaders magazine and Youth Web site have been initiated with the express purpose of seeking growth within the Church. The Committee is also concerned that the sentiments expressed in this deliverance would equally be taken up with regard to evangelism and it is hoped that the Convener will address this in the verbal report to the General Assembly.

CONCLUSION

It is clear from the Report that the main thrust of the Committee's work this year has of necessity been on youth matters. The reasons for this are obvious. The struggle to effectively reach and work with the young people in our communities is an ever-increasing problem. It is hoped these initial ventures will begin to help the Church to move forward. The problems are not confined to young people and the challenge to communicate the Gospel and make disciples of all people is not easy. The work of equipping the saints for the task has been underway for some time. Yet perhaps the time has now come to be more proactive in going out into the community with the Gospel. The Committee will explore this in the year ahead while also continuing in its new ventures in youth work.

"I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days and

they will prophesy."

Acts 2 : 17 & 18

In the name of the Committee

ARCHIBALD M FORD (Convener)

GARY J A BARCLAY (Vice Convener)

ALEXANDER M MARSHALL (Vice Convener)

JOHN O FULTON (General Secretary)