Storytelling is, and has always been, a major part of our culture. Anyone who has ever stayed up until the early hours with a book they ‘just can’t put down’, or read (or told) a particularly gripping story to a small child, can attest to that. I remember listening to my Nan – who had a real knack for storytelling – talk about her own childhood in such a way that I could imagine the actions and behaviours of people I’d never met but felt I knew even if they died decades before I was born. Many of us will know of a friend or relative with a special gift for weaving a tale; someone able to bring a story to life. Maybe you are one of those people yourself!

Most of the best stories are at least based on reality. In 2018 3Generate – the young people’s yearly national Conference – challenged adult members throughout the Connexion to share stories of how God had touched their lives and how they had seen God at work in the world. By the time 3Generate met the following year more than1200 letters had been received. The Methodist Conference, following the example set by the young people, declared that the year 2019 – 2020 be ‘A Year of Testimony’ with the President and Vice President taking the theme ‘What’s your story?’ for their year in office.

This year, once again at the insistence of our young people, the Methodist church has made a commitment to becoming a ‘net zero’ organisation. We could do more to protect this world God has loaned us.

Such is the power of 3Generate.

And we’re going!!!! On 6^th October 23 young people from the Cardiff Circuit, including four from Conway Road, are getting on a bus and journeying to the NEC just outside Birmingham for a weekend adventure alongside over one thousand others from across the Connexion. The programme is exceptional – have a look on the Methodist Church website to find out more about what we’ll be doing!

I have no doubt that those of us who are going will be telling stories about our experiences for a long time. Perhaps you have your own stories of past youth gatherings too. I’d encourage you to share them with our young people, not just because they’re funny or poignant, but because in doing so we all remember that we’re part of the same story and we are all children of God.

Now, I’d better get back to reading the 3Generate programme!

Laura