CONNECT

Over the years believers from both Hungary and the UK have benefited from working together. Much has been learned, experienced and seen of God through relationships built and camps & training carried out alongside one another. For Christians from the UK to experience worshipping and serving God in another culture has provided invaluable space for personal growth. It expands their view of the world and affects how they live and serve back in the UK.

The CONNECT aspect of ACORN exists to facilitate opportunities for Hungarians to contribute to, see and learn from UK youth leaders in a variety of settings including churches and their youth events, camps and training events for youth leaders.

It is specifically for those from Hungary involved in youth ministry, or those exploring longer-term options in youth work within their church. ACORNCAMPS is convinced that Christians from different countries and backgrounds have so much to learn from each other.

Particularly the aim is to give Hungarians the opportunity to widen their experience in:

quality bible teaching which is expository, faithful, clear and relevant

evangelistic youth events in action

how teams work together, preparations are done, and follow up is carried out

how youth ministry and events work within the context of churches

Simple as A-B-C

ACORNCAMPS hears of suitable mature youth leaders who are interested in widening their experience of Bible-centred youth work

Bible-teaching churches / events / conferences in the UK have opportunities available for brothers and sisters from Hungary

‘Connections’ happen…people learn from each other…God’s work grows and Christ is made known…

Connect UK Options

There are a whole range of options available and a number are listed below.

A Hungarian youth leader could

visit a UK church for a weekend, or longer to see youth work in the life of the church

attend youth conferences or training days in the UK (e.g. Sorted, GYD events)

volunteer for a year at a camp centre (e.g.. The Oakes, Yorkshire Camps)

attend and help at a convention week (e.g. Word Alive, Keswick)

spend a gap-year with a church as a ministry trainee

help on team on a camp in the UK (e.g. Ventures, Contagious)

… who knows …

Background to Connect

ACORNCAMPS exists to train up youth leaders in Bible-centred youth work. We partner with Hungarian churches to run youth camps, train and equip youth leaders in Bible-handling skills, and produce resources to help church youth groups. Our passion is that the Bible be well taught and applied in youth groups and camps, so that the God to whom it points be glorified amongst Hungarian young people.

We aim to promote ‘expository preaching’in Hungary. Previously, the weekly workshops, summer camps and annual training events have provided excellent teaching opportunities for many, and the team at ACORNCAMPS are aware that it is when one is sitting under God’s word so taught that one gains a better grasp of the approach. We are persuaded that first-hand experience in different contexts, e.g. in the UK, can help this process of understanding, and shape future practice on return to Hungary.

Over the last 18 years ACORNCAMPS has informally facilitated groups and individuals of over 40 people coming from Hungary to visit UK events. These have included joining with Christ Church Fulwood youth Houseparty, a group visiting the Keswick Convention, youth leaders visiting St Nicholas Church Sevenoaks, taking part in a Ventures camp, and a number of Hungarians have taken part in The Oakes Gap Year scheme. Annually a group of youth leaders come over to the Growing Young Disciples conference, and we frequently hear positive feedback on how they are inspired to bring transferrable aspects of what they have experienced into their own youth work practice.

Some of these opportunities will also be offered to participants as part of the new ACORN CORE training course starting in Sept 2019.

Camps and training events for youth leaders have drawn volunteers from the UK eastwards for nearly 20 years. We now want to extend the opportunity for Hungarians to visit the UK. We believe that through connecting these ministries there can be significant long-term effects on mission and youth work within Hungary.

Who’s it for?

People interested in exploring opportunities to widen their experience in Bible-centred youth ministry will:

have a living faith in Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture, as their Lord and Saviour

show a maturity of character that enables them to enter another culture sensitively, learn from it and serve within it as part of a team

already be involved in youth work and wanting to grow in their service, or interested in youth work in the future

be over 18 years old and a committed member and involved in the life of the church

have a high-intermediate - advanced level of English language

Further details

ACORNCAMPS aims to support:

1. linking Hungarians with a UK opportunity

2. Hungarians travelling to the UK with practical details at their request

3. UK links in answering queries at their initiation

The question of finances

Opportunities in the UK will most likely come at financial cost. We recognise that the financial situation for the majority of Hungarian youth workers/volunteers is tight.

Those interested can talk with their UK link regarding whether any price reductions are available to enable their visit to the UK. ACORNCAMPS would never want finance to be the sole reason someone does not take this opportunity, and would be happy to talk more about this in person.

Next Steps:

Contact ACORNCAMPS to:

1. Enquire about opportunities in the UK to experience Bible-centred youth work

2. Let us know of any opportunities available in your UK-based youth ministry context!

What people said before…