Logo

 

Banner Image:   National-News-banner-Purple
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

Young People Leading Young People 

The first ever Baptist youth concert saw 40 people make a commitment to Christ, reports Chris Hall

 
There was a hush across the hall. Daniel Shillingford, youth minister at Edmonton Baptist Church in North London, was concluding a testimony of how God had interceded into his life at aged 17. 

He explained to the 700 young people at the first ever Baptist Assembly youth concert, 20/20 Putting Faith into Focus, how he had got involved in a bank scam with his best mates. 

Young people leading young peoHowever the words of scripture he had seen on God Channel and heard from his mother led him to pull out just as he was due to start withdrawing thousands of money transferred illegally into his account.  He realised that God sees everything and 'could not be mocked'. 

'God is intimately involved in your life,' said Daniel, as he asked all of us to stand up and say the sinner's prayer. 

He then asked after a count of three for Christians to sit down if they had said the prayer before but for those who were saying it for the first time and meant it, to stand. One, two, three.

The majority sat down but remaining were over 40 young people making a commitment to follow Christ for the very first time.

20/20 was like no other Baptist Assembly event I had been to.  It was a mixture of worship, music, drama and poetry, mostly performed and led by young people for young people. 
 
The talent, energy, humour and faith of these young people was inspiring.  Justice Dance Group, who looked aged about 15-16, did a style of dance that was a bit like breakdancing but a completely new take on it - never seen anything quite like it. 
 
There was quite a large involvement from Edmonton Baptist Church including their drama group that performed a lengthy but amusing skit about the distractions that take young people away from spending time with Jesus and the youth band performing an impressive gospel version of Matt Redman's 'Ten Thousand Reasons'. Lois Delong, a talented young poet, read 'Gotta Have Faith' about sharing your problems with God.  It ended with the line 'Don't be put down by what you can see, but trust and believe that He will set you free.'

The second half of the concert featured more established acts including well known Christian rapper Jahaziel, Guvna B and Rachel Kerr, a gospel artist with an amazing voice.

Daniel, who organised the event with the London Baptist Association and the Baptist Assembly, said before an offering to cover the costs of the free concert, that the plan was for more of these concerts, with 'young people leading young people - we want to see more of that'. 

A new Baptist initiative has started and more importantly 40 young people have started their walk with God.
 

    Post     Tweet
'A thank-you—from those taught, challenged, and inspired by her ministry'
The Revd Dr Karen E. Smith was surprised with the presentation of a new volume published in her honour at this year’s Baptist Historical Society Summer Conference
Calling previous members of the Joppa Group
Were you a member of the Joppa Group? Do you have historic papers about it? An invitation-based roundtable event is being co-convened to mark the 40th anniversary of the group's founding. Paul Weller explains more
Ripples of Change - a service of celebration and thankfulness
A service has been organised to mark the role Jane Day served in our Baptist family as Centenary Enabler, combining thankfulness for the progress made, as well as a time of lament for many of the findings of Project Violet. Lisa Kerry explains more
I Will...Leave a lasting legacy
The Baptist Union of Great Britain with BMS World Mission have now launched a new church resource to help those considering an ongoing blessing to support God’s mission both in the UK and overseas
Church planting: a national perspective on God at work
A report from the latest meeting of the The National Church Planting Network, which aims to spot emerging trends - and seek God’s direction together for the future of church planting in the UK
Graduation for Baptist local leaders course
The first cohort of students on a two year course designed to help Baptist church members deepen their understanding of faith and develop skills in ministry and mission has graduated
     Latest News 
    Posted: 04/06/2025
    Posted: 21/05/2025
    Posted: 07/01/2025
    Posted: 07/01/2025
     
    Text Size:  
    Small (Default)
    Medium
    Large
    Contrast:  
    Normal
    High Contrast