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OXYGEN: Gap Year Vacancies

Are you willing and wanting to inspire Christian young people in their lifestyle and ministry? Are you able to give all to follow Jesus’ commandment in loving God and loving your neighbour. Are you looking for something to do between now and the summer, then Oxygen, Kingston, South West London might be the place for you!

Oxygen, Kingston YFC have created space for two more Gap Year Workers to join their MIND THE GAP Team from December/ January onwards to take on a new role connecting church groups with the wider community.

Your role would be to work as a team by supporting established church youth workers in encouraging church youth groups in their mission and ministry to each other and the wider community. Working on under your own initiative as well as with the rest of the Oxygen team, you will help deliver youth group sessions, run events and develop projects that can draw together young people from across the oxygen projects and other churches.

There is no cost for taking part in the Oxygen MIND THE GAP scheme, plus you will be given somewhere to live, travel expenses, and an allowance to live off and receive training in youthwork from the Oxygen workers. MIND THE GAP placements available from December/ January and run through to the summer 2009. For those wishing to train to enter youthwork full time, longer placements are available.

So if you are someone who wants to create a legacy, wants to see Christian young people’s lives changed, then why not enquire about giving some of your time, energy and personality to work with Oxygen and MIND THE GAP.

For application forms click here

For the MIND THE GAP Brochure click here

To arrange a visit, to see what we do then email Debbie Garden or call 020 8547 0566

Tags: mindthe gap; oxygen, vacancies, london

Rob @ Kingsnympton

You know when good progress is being made when the young people ask you to join them in a meeting with one of the staff members. On a Wednesday night, I work with the Youth Service on the Kingsnympton estate, as extra staff. It works really well as it means I see the most of the young people out of everyone who works there. There is a certain responsibility for relationship with that, but I am more than game to live up to that and use the opportunity I've been graciously provided to the best of my ability. Hence, (I hopefully suggest!) that is possibly why the young people have a good enough relationship to ask me into such incidences.

 The meeting was loud and raucous. Everyone wanted to speak. After Omar (The Youth Service worker) had enforced that you could only speak whilst holding the paper batton, things became less proud, but we were stewing round the same points. However, that all changed when a robbery of a young persons money occurred outside and it became apparent that Omar was needed, leaving me in charge of the meeting.

You know when good progress is being made when more gets achieved when you're the only worker in the room. I suggested a couple of ideas for the issue which they responded well too, and together we decided upon a solution. The issue was on what the hall should be used for in anyone session, and we solved it with a three week timetable, cycling the times and lengths of different activities.

You know when great progress has been made when the young people decide, on their own free will that, they want to designate a slot to an activity of your (my) choosing every week, on the reasons that you (I) engage with them on things that I don't enjoy as much as they do (Football... I've tried to be subtle, honest!) and so, with no prompting and completely there suggestion, they decide to give you a slot in the time table every week for an activity of your choice (my) choice.

I didn't know what to say - I was really touched. The poor boys don't know what they've let themselves in for - now I that space it's just about biding the time to show them what I'm about at the right time, and set up an activity that displays God in an amazing and obvious way. I don't know what form that will take, but he has gifted me with this set up (It really does seem like a free gift, it was so out of the blue!) and I have every faith that he is setting this up so Kingdom can be brought to these boys' hearts. And that would quite possibly make me the happiest man in the world.

Suburban Soul

Suburban Soul 2007
Originally uploaded by Oxygen KB YFC

Suburban Soul is the name given to a combined Churches Youth outreach project that has run each October half term for the last few years. Launched in New Malden in 2005 the project has grown this year to include Surbiton and Kingston in its outreach plans.

At Suburban Soul, around 50 young people from around a dozen churches will gather together in the mornings to have teaching around a particular theme (this year it is Hope) and training in sharing your faith and engaging in community and evangelistic action. After lunches these young people will head out to run different projects across the Borough that include an Elderly Persons Tea Dance, Kids Activity Zone, Family Café, Street Evangelism, Football competitions and youth services. The event peaks with a outreach event at Christchurch Surbuton on the Thursday, a celebratory community service in New Malden on the Saturday and finally a combined youth service celebration on the Sunday evening at St Paul’s Kingston Hill.

Suburban Soul is a great way to encourage the young people of the churches in mission and evangelism. It is also a great way for them to be and bring Hope to the communities of Kingston Borough. So would you pray for Suburban Soul 2008

1. For the practical arrangements of food, transport, weather, health, safety and costs. Pray that no practical barriers would get in the way of the spiritual mission
2. For the people speaking, leading, teaching and guiding. Pray for wisdom and patience in leading young people to outreach to the community.
3. For the witness and hope bringing presence of the church’s young people in the community over the next week. Pray that they would be directed to bring hope to those who are hope lacking, and light to those trapped in darkness

Rob's Culture Shock

Rob Byles
Originally uploaded by Oxygen KB YFC

Upon my arrival in Kingston I noted one thing above all else; I was seemingly not dressed for the occasion.

Norwich, my home town, is steeped in a very Indie-Rock-and-Roll culture at the present. Fast guitar riffs, experimental electro-sounds and skinny jeans are the order of the day back home. That and fine ale. However in Kingston the traditional sights and sounds include Smooth R 'n' B, sexually orientated rap lyrics and tracksuits. I completely abhor all three of these due to their morose nature where as the young people seem to think I wear jeans that belong to my sister. So as you can imagine, I've had some interesting conversations...

However, I am quickly learning that the differences of our sub-cultures can be a strength. Last night, jibing at my clothing (My jeans were skin tight so I understood!) turned into a conversation about the scenes back home, which lead into talks about the differences in culture. Before I knew it I was finding out about fights before school and the witnessing of a stabbing at the age of 7. Needless to say, it was heavy stuff.

Throughout the course of the evening, for a good 45 minutes, more and more 13-15 year olds congregated around the initial group of us in the hallway. We moved onto lighter subjects, including wrestling, fitness and their aspirations. What really blew me away was the depth and conviction some of them had on the latter subject; some of their lives have been turmoiled far beyond the average, yet it hasn't impaired their focus on life, in some cases at least. The most exciting bit for me, however, was the respect they clearly had for me, as indicated by how open they were being. This will hopefully mean that the way is being paved to go deeper and forms bonds that'll bring them closer to discovering Christ. And that can only be a good thing!

Please pray for me: Seung Kwan Kim

Seung Kwan Kim
Originally uploaded by Oxygen KB YFC

I wonder if I could ak you to continue to pray for me. I am busy planing events for Korean Teenagers. I'm thinking that maybe 3 on 3 basketball event might work. I have to decide the date, and lot's of things.

This will be my prayer request for this week.

Thanks

Seung Kwan Kim

The dark power of the Wii

Anne Pawlak
Originally uploaded by Oxygen KB YFC

One of the projects I am working on is called Rm1. It is an afterschool club where you can chill out after school and be lovingly cared for by cool oxygen workers.

The first time I looked around my new place of work a few weeks ago one particular toy quickly gained my undivided attention. Computer games had always been a secret hobby of mine at home in Germany but before my younger brother was four years old, the control consoles had more or less passed into his possession and I hardly had a chance to indulge my foolish habit.

So I considered the wii console, which constitutes part of the inventory of our after school club as my big chance to make up for all the years of abstribnence from nintendeo and playstations. The wii just stood in a corner. No-one was using it, and it cried out to my joystick thumb to get down to it.......... but I had forgotten one thing: before I could put all the plugs in their sockets I heard a dreadful, jarring, quacking noise.

People told me it was the school bell. A few seconds later the room was full of howling teenagers who appropriated the wii and all my gaming dreams were swept away...

However what I did discover what playing the Wii,was better together than apart. It has been a great way to get to know the young people, a great way for us to have fun together, to challenge each other and also to play in teams together.

Now when the quacking school bell starts again, I don't worry, thinking my Wii time is over, but instead I look forward to playing with these young people and together learning about life togther.

Cookie (Anne)

Anna Nunn ID expereince

Anna Nunn
Originally uploaded by Oxygen KB YFC

I went to ID Hollyfield today. Only 5 of the girls were in. We started off talking about the hopes and dreams of different celebrities in a collage, and about what their hopes and dreams may have been when they were younger, and how they changed as they grew up.

After this we encouraged the girls to share with the rest of the group what their hopes and dreams had been when they were younger. They all contributed to the discussion, and also wanted to know what the leaders' hopes and dreams had been.

It was really nice to know that they were interested in us - it indicated that they want to build their relationships with us. As the conversation progressed, they started talking about the decisions and lifestyle choices they've made in the past, and how they regret some of them, and how they wish things could be different.

The group really opened up to each other; some were even painfully honest with the rest of the group. It was a beautiful, but kinda heartbreaking thing to witness. Each of them shared stories about past relationships, and the way the boys involved had left them feeling. They spoke about their relationships with their parents; a few of the girls said that they wished they could talk to their parents about their lives, but were ashamed of the people they'd become, and didn't want their parents to know.

For the first time, they were honest about how they think other people see them, and their reputation at school amongst the teachers and amongst the other students. Most of them are frustrated about their reputations, and they wish people could understand that there's so much more to them than meets the eye.

The most encouraging thing about today's session was that we were able to show them that it's not too late for them to change their lives.
Most of them really hadn't realised that it was still possible to make a difference to their relationships and their reputations - with some of them it felt almost as though we'd thrown them a lifeline! They each committed to journaling over the next week about some of the feelings and issues today's session brought up.

I really felt like we got through to the girls today. It was such an amazing feeling to know that I've been a part of something that will change their lives. This is EXACTLY what I was hoping to get out of the gap year - I just didn't realise it would happen so soon! =)

Katie Friend

Katie Friend
Originally uploaded by Oxygen KB YFC

I am really enjoying the work at Tolworth girls ID project. I have been to the year 8 group three times now. The girls have obvious needs for support, some more than others, but overall they are sweet and receptive to forming a relationship with me. I am very grateful! I hope that I can help them to become more thoughtful and confident, and show them the love of the Lord.

Carol usually has the group do a thoughtful art/writing project towards the end of group about what they think, or what's important to them, etc. I like to do the project as well, and emphasize my love of the Lord or somehow bring faith into it. I am hoping the girls will notice and ask questions or wonder a bit. Some of the girls have expressed a belief in God, and some have expressed disbelief. Please pray for good opportunities for us to speak truth and show love, and wisdom to take the best advantage of these situations. Thanks!

Seung Kwan Kim

Seung Kwan Kim
Originally uploaded by Oxygen KB YFC

Hi I'm Seung Kwan. It's already October and I think that I am settling down here pretty well. So I thought I would give you an update on my work with Oxygen.

At the moment I am going to the Korean Club which is having on Monday 5 to 7:30 at Venner centre in Worcester Park. It stopped for a month during the summer, but now the number of people coming is growing, which is great to see this has led me to think about the Korean events, prompting me to ask you for prayer.

• Would you pray for wisdom in developing new projects, that people would come
• Pray for also for the Korean Club that is run. They are really nice guys and I'm having a good relationship with them but I want to be more engaged with them.
• Pray for me as I want to share their difficulties and problems they have.

Andy's Update: Love on the streets of New Malden

Andy Norris
Originally uploaded by Oxygen KB YFC

Last Tuesday me Nathan and Anna went out on urban nights into New Malden we met two girls who we gave cake! Although yes I know this doesn’t sound that incredible or even interesting, the amazing thing about it was they were firstly pleased to see us but also they were genuinely interested in us.

One of the girls had said to her mum that she couldn’t be grounded because she needed to meet the oxygen workers (that’s commitment) so she arranged to be grounded the next day.

Adding to this when we were leaving, also just a little thing that one of the girls said to me ‘I hope your knees get better’ (short story I got injured playing footy!) the fact she said this showed there was evidence of an early relationship and that we mattered to these teenagers, not bad considering we’ve barley met these guys twice.

Andy