Youth Alpha

Ever had to break into your own home?...

Liz, a cross between a local vicar and Tickle me Elmo (in her own words) has! Another top Youth Alpha Adviser based in Wales; Liz, an avid Pompey football fan is here to help you. So sit back, relax and put up your feet as we find out about this English lass who married a Welshman...

Liz, what’s your favourite hot drink?

Tea – I drink it by the bucket load!

Have you always been a Christian?

No. My parents took me to church until I was about 12, but I returned to church and became a Christian in my early 20’s.

  
If you could have any animal, what would be your ultimate pet be?  

I’d have a penguin – you can’t look at penguin and not smile :o)

Do you like watching sport?

Yes. I’m a Pompey fan when it comes to football, but also a big rugby fan. We actually spent our honeymoon in Italy so that we could go and watch Italy vs. Wales in the Six Nations.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

I’d like to be stretchy. It’d help make up for that fact that I’m not very tall (5ft and an all important half an inch!), and have unusually short arms.

Any interesting hobbies?

I’m an adrenaline junkie – if there’s an element of danger, then I’m there. In fact, I went indoor skydiving just this week!

Would you bungee jump?

I did a bungee jump in Surfers Paradise in Australia when I was 17.

      
If you were an ice cream flavour what would you be and why?      

Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey – brilliant name, full of flavour, and with just the right amount of nuttiness.

If you knew you could try anything and not fail, what dream would you attempt?

I’d probably attempt to break a random world record like the ‘the fastest 50m by human wheelbarrow’ but I’d need a partner.

Have you ever crawled through a window?

I used to break into my parents house through the bathroom window if I’d forgotten my key.

Best game?

Imaginary basket ball – it exists honest!

Why are you so passionate about Youth Alpha and training others to run it?

I love Youth Alpha – I think it’s one of the best and most flexible ways of engaging children and young people in a discussion about Christ.

I love how it encourages young people to bring their own thoughts and ideas and lets them discover who Christ is for themselves rather than simply being ‘spoon-fed’.

For me, there’s simply nothing better (and more humbling) than seeing the look on a young person’s face as they realise the reality of Jesus’ love for them. If I can possibly help others to have that experience then I’m there.

What’s your highlight when it comes to being a Youth Alpha Adviser?

Hearing all the success stories – especially from people who never thought they’d be able to do it!

      
What’s the best thing about running Youth Alpha for you?      

Seeing young people come to Christ!!!

But, aside from that....... I’ve run Youth Alpha in a wide-range of contexts from school clubs to youth groups, and because the people are always different, it never gets boring.

Our most exciting Youth Alpha ‘outcome’ happened last year when after running the course for Year 6 children as a lunch-time club for three years in a local primary school, we actually planted a church service in the school on a Sunday afternoon! It’s an all-age, interactive service that allows us to build on what was started in the Youth Alpha course (which is also still run once a year), and has even encouraged some of the parents to take part in the adult ‘classic’ Alpha course.

It’s proof that with Youth Alpha the possibilities really are endless!!

Anything else that you’d like to add or say?

If you think you can’t run a successful Youth Alpha course – You’re wrong!

Liz would LOVE to speak to you about anything Youth Alpha related – she’s very friendly, why don’t you send her an email or give her a call... Find her in south Wales by clicking here.

Or, if you’re heading to Soul Survivor Week B, Liz will be looking after the Youth Alpha stand – so go say hi.