Bored over Christmas?

Just incase you get bored over the festive period, you might want to take a wee trip up to Exodus in Coleraine and join the Mannafest Team with special guests Reedstar. I'm excited about this event! Most of the guys in Reedstar are part of my Friday night Cell Group and I am a big fan!
Hopefully see you there.

I am so small!

I was preaching on Saturday night at an event called 'Ireland's Call' It was an outreach event with Andrew Trimble as the Celeb and me as the annoying preacher. For those of you reading across the pond, Andrew is a big time Ulster and Ireland Rugby Star. It was a great wee night. I think about 300 young people came along. The programme was packed with fun, games, prizes and a pretty good presentation of Jesus, through story, music, testimony and preaching. I had the amazing opportunity of ministering to one young lady who had an amazing encounter with the Holy Spirit during the appeal. In a grace moment, the Spirit gently came into her life and heart. It was so cool praying with her alongside her combination of tears and laughter. God is good. Fair play to Andrew who handles being a celebrity really well. He had queues of people coming to see him for autographs and pictures and yet he stays pretty humble and down to earth. Needless to say I just slipped out without anyone even noticing I was gone. Good times.

The Way: Lisburn Youth for Christ

Really excited! This week brings the official opening of YFC's newest ministry. Lisburn Youth for Christ, formed only a matter of months ago are hosting the official opening and commissioning of The Way, Drop in Centre this Friday night. The Way is in the Longstone. An extremely broken, deprived community in the city of Lisburn. I guess I am posting on this to ask for prayer for the Board, Volunteers and Young People in Lisburn. If anyone would like to get more involved, help, support, pray whatever either give me an email steven.mccready@yfcni.org or get in touch with Tim McAlister, my mate who has been pioneering this work with some other amazing guys like Dennis and Dinger. His email is tim.caz@breathe.com

Blind Skiing

One of the fastest growing sports among the disabled community is blind skiing. Amazing. I did a little bit of research on it and discovered that there are two levels of competition, fully blind and partially blind. I want to talk a little bit about partially blind skiing.

In a way we Christians are partially blind, listen to what Paul writes in Corinthians

"For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13: 9-12

When I learned about partially blind skiing I was amazed at how much it is similar to the Christian life. In Partial Blind Skiing, the Ski Guide goes before the competitor. He is ahead, first, leading the way. There is always the potential of a huge crash so this is what the blind person must to..

1. Stay as close to the guide as possible. They can only see the shadow of the guide but that is enough, they chase the shadow of the guide.


2. They must trust in the voice of the guide, they are completely dependent upon the ability, character and expertise of the guide.


3. They must be responsive to the guides directions. If the guide says left, it's non negotiable.

I have thought a lot of the parallels between being a partially blind skier and following Jesus. My mind goes to John 10, when Jesus says, my sheep know my voice. The middle eastern shepherd went out in front of his flock and then called them to himself. The flock recognised the shepherds voice and moved in that direction.

King David had this relationship with God, he was like a partially blind skier in a land with no snow and probably no skiing!

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Something you didn't know about me!

I love country music. Can't help it. It's a nature vs nurture thing. I was brought up listening to Garth Brooks and the likes and so now I have a secret love of Country Music. This week the CMAs were on and they were amazing. I think I love country music because the songs tell stories. Anyway Rascal Flatts got the award for Country Group of the Year. They are really good. I like this wee song. Oh, don't tell anyone. I am not ready to come out yet as a lover of Country!

Stuck in Porn

Tuesday 20th November: XXX Church, YFC & EA, with Worship led by BlueTree

Should be a fantastic night exploring the whole area of Porn and the effect it has on our lives.

It's at Bangor Elim Conference Centre and it's only 6 quid in.

Be there and be challenged.

Youth for Christ Update

So lots of people have been calling me and emailing me having heard bits and bobs about some changes happening at Youth for Christ. I am going to be sending out a prayer letter in the next couple of weeks, if you would like to be added to my mailing list you could drop me an email either with your address or email address and I will make sure you get the full update. My email address is steven.mccready@yfcni.org

Anyway, financially Youth for Christ are getting it tight at the minute. Our finances have forced our Board into beginning a staff restructure. This has been a very difficult and challenging process and we are trusting God everyday for grace and guidance.

Personally this has been the most difficult and trying time in my life. It is stressful and heartbreaking. I am finding myself in a state of prayer more than I have ever been in my faith journey over the past ten years.

Please pray for us as we walk through this transition.

For me it is back to the drawing board to find prayer and finance partners. I am trying to raise 100% of my ministry costs (salary, travel expenses, resources etc) I am currently around 40% with a some new people joining my amazing band of supporters and ministry partners.
Maybe you would like to get alongside me and support both me but also the ministry of Youth for Christ. If so get in touch, any small amount would be amazing. I have some young people who give me just a couple of pounds a month to some business men who support me and yet hardly even know me.

Over the past month I have worn so many hats, I have been back preaching again, at Newcastle Baptist, the Crescent, Scrabo Hall, tomorrow night at True and this coming Sunday at Castlereagh Gospel Hall. I have been in countless staff meetings, meetings with lawyers, meetings with film makers. It has been a strange month but in the middle of it all I feel like I am growing close to Jesus, the reason behind it all. I have found myself loving the Cross and understanding more of Jesus Kingdom and it's relevence in my life. I am tired however to please keep me, Bec and YFC in your prayers. Thanks so much.

24/7 Ireland Event

The Altar

I remember at Bible College a missionary came to class one day to bring God's Word to the students. He brought the well known text from Romans 12:1-2, challenging us to bring our lives as living sacrifices to God. That morning, this teacher, brought the text to life by adding the illustration of the priest placing the sacrifice on the altar under the levitical law. The priest, he said, placed the offering up onto the altar, the fire blazing in all it's power and heat. The offering would begin to get consumed by the flames, but as it got hotter, all the fat, the rubbish, would come out and cause the sacrifice to begin to slip of the altar. The priest would then reach down and with his two big tongs or forks he would push the animal back into the centre of the fire keeping it in the midst of the heat.
This offering is like our lives as living sacrifices. We get on the altar but when it gets hot and painful and all the impurity comes out we begin to slip off. We need some big forks to keep us at the centre of the altar allowing ourselves to be offered fully to God. These two forks, explained this inspiring missionary, are Discipline and Obedience. When we feel ourselves slipping of the Altar, as living sacrifices, we must get our lives back into a place of being disciplines and obedient.

Recently I have talked to a lot of people about the Altar of Romans 12, this week I climbed on to it. It is not nice and I want to get off but I am trying to be disciplined and obedient.

It hurts

True

Been on a great wee journey this past month or so working alongside Alain and John, giving leadership to True, a missional community for the 20s & 30s in our church.
The true blog is now active
www.true-emmanuel.blogspot.com

Kingdom Builders

Just home from meeting with a bunch of business men in Belfast. It was a foreign culture for me. Put me in front of a thousand kids and I am fine but business men in suits well I was out of my comfort zone to say the least. These guys collectively release hundreds of thousands of quid into the Kingdom of God. It was amazing to see the other side of ministry. I am so used to being on the front end doing the delivery but today I spent time sitting on the other side of the Kingdom spectrum, meeting with the releasers, the supporters and fuel supply of the work of the Gospel. It was an amazing experience to learn what drives these guys, to see and hear their hearts and then to realise that they go back to their mission fields of running companies and investing in properties and all that stuff. A few years ago I probably woulld have been so synical of the wealthy and not understood the Christian wealth, but I am learning and I am understanding. Today I was humbled to be around great Kingdom people. Thanking Jesus for his creative ability placed in peoples hearts to generate money and resource for the advancement of the Gospel.

Seven days without prayer makes one weak!

I passed a church who displayed a poster with the statement 'seven days without prayer makes one weak' Pretty accurate if you ask me. I have noticed that when life gets hectic I justify skipping my prayer times, usually for spiritual reasons and then when my day gets busy, stressful and crazy I feel myself falling apart. I was stressed to the max last week and this little slogan came back to me along with the whisper of Jesus as he reminded me, if only I had spent more time at His throne, I would not need to worry about anything. Anyway, I think what I am trying to say is that I need to pray more.

Why am I telling you that, I don't really know but I think it is part of the journey I am on at the moment to be real, honest and authentic as a follower of Jesus.

Last week Alain Emerson, John McMullen and myself launched a new ministry in our church Emmanuel. The ministry, called True, is a missional community of twenty and thirty somethings, seeking to understand the teachings of Jesus and call to follow and obey. Our first night was awesome, with a sense of authenticity and truth coming through in a relaxed community gathering. Our goal is to see new forms of Mission rise up within our church for the glory of God and the furtherance of the Kingdom. I'll keep you posted on the journey.

Talking of Prayer, I had a real answer to prayer this week. In my last prayer letter I asked if anyone would have the capacity to resource my ministry with a new computer. My desktop was falling apart and things are tight financially. Anyway this week I had an email from a dear brother in the Lord who had it on his heart to meet this need. I was so touched by my friend's kindness. I don't want to mention his name because I know he would be annoyed if anyone other than Jesus got the glory. It was such an expression of love and support, friendship and Jesus. When I got my lovely shiny new laptop I found myself without words. I am so used to people being kind and caring but this was a whole new experience. I have been so challenged about my own giving through this and also the need to free up more money to bless others, knowing how much this Kingdom living stuff impacts lives.

Check out my shiny new laptop. It is sweet.

Thanks Jesus

Finally I want to mention my golf outing on Friday. Every week I meet with a group of Christian friends and we usually eat some lunch together and talk about life, marriage, ministry and rugby but last week we decided to free up some time and go for a game of Golf, well remedial golf at best. We were rubbish but we had so much fun, laughing and joking and making holes in the beautiful fairways. I am so thankful to God for all these guys. We sweat and bleed together every week on the rugby field, we share and pray together, we eat food together and we are there for each other. It is wonderful to have friends.

This is my bro Glen and big Mike, I still don't know how they fitted in to this buggy

I

Update: All over the place!

I know, its been ages, I'm sorry, no excuses. It seems that for the last few weeks I have allowed things to get out of control. I have been jumping from meeting to meeting, I am in the middle of staff appraisals, preaching, fundraisers and on top of that Rebecca and I have moved in with my in-laws in Belfast. Hectic would not be a detailed enough adjective. The sheer pace of life since the beginning of September has increased expenentially. I am shattered.

I am now beginning to understand something of what it might mean for me to lead an organisation. The learning curve at the moment is vertical and the grace being afforded to me by the Lord is unbelievable.

So anyway, apart from this I am doing, sorry, we are doing ok. Bec and I have been managing to keep some time for ourselves and I am thankful that this is one discipline I have no problem keeping. Spiritually I am doing ok too, being in Russia was a helpful litmus test on my faith and also a time to tune in again to God and his communications.

Thankfully Cell started back on Monday night. I love my homegroup. We are such a random bunch of people, with very little in common other than Jesus, but it works. We love being together, praying, caring even loving each other. I meet God in Cell, I find little bits of his heart in community and in sharing life with others.

Rugby is now back full swing with a big game on Saturday with our local rivals. I am thinking that I might make this my last season as a player and possibly next year try something new, maybe walking or marathons, maybe golf or something, don't know what yet. We'll see.

Reached my target weight at the beginning of this month. I am now just under 13.5 stone. So what you say, well four and a bit months ago when I started this fitness thing I was weighing in at 16.5 stone. So I've shed a full three stone...and going. It has been such a spiritual journey for me, finding prayer and communications with God important. Who'd have thought? A sixpack? Maybe some day!! Anyway, thanks to everyone for encouraging me on this wee mini journey.

So long term Becs and I don't know what we are doing, we still feel this sense of God not giving us permission to settle down. Getting our house sold has become something of a spiritual battle and we have a sense of God saying he wants us to stay in Emmanuel, get involved and be creative about everything else. So we are now like proper city slickers, living in the city during the week and then home to the country for the weekend... all I need now is the BMW

Russian Reflections after Re-entry

I was on the phone to Canada yesterday and my friend Marj was giving me a bit of stick for not blogging enough. She's right, I've been getting lazy. Time to type!

So I'm back from Moscow. It was an amazing experience and it has changed me. I've been thinking about what I would write in this blog for a couple of days and to be honest even as I type I am not sure what I am supposed to say and what I am supposed to treasure in my heart.

Maybe I should start by telling you what we were doing and why we were there.

On Monday morning at 5am Malcolm (Regional Director YFC Eastern Europe) and I left Belfast and flew to Moscow via Heathrow. Malcolm is a visionary leader who is pioneering new ministry through local teams of youth and childrens workers working with Kids at Risk. YFC have a small team in Moscow and the purpose of this trip was meet with senior church leaders and organisations to talk about strategy and partnership in working with these broken young kids in Eastern Europe. YFC's vision in this region is to equip local churches for working in this specific area of ministry. It was an action packed three days beating around Moscow and its underground metro in temperatures in the high 30s. Here are some pics.

This is Pastor Pavel Okara. He leads the Pentacostal Union in Russia. This is a movement of about 3000 believers worshipping in churches all across the nation. Pavel was an awesome man of God with a real heart for Jesus. The Pentacostal church is one of the strongest protestant churches in Russia. Although everything here in terms of church is small. Only about 1 or 2 % of the population is evangelical. These guys like most of the guys we met are amazing, serving the Lord and reaching the world, but the reality is they are only scratching the surface. Moscow alone has only 200 churches for its 15 million of a population, thats the equivilent of 1 church for every 75,000 people, slightly different that here in Ulster. Russia needs the gospel.
This is Malcolm and I in Red Square. Amazing to stand in the bastion of Communism on our way back from McDonalds. It was a beautiful place to visit. Today the Kremlin (over my right shoulder) is occupied by Mr Putin, another power crazed Russian leader, we need to pray that his successor will be more open to God. Christians here are really up against it. The state church and the government call evangelicals a Sect and make it nearly impossible for the work of God to gather momentum as they make the believers jump through lots of hoops to do their work. While we were there the YFC Moscow team had to send copies of their proposed Day Camp (next week) to the local government offices to be checked for religious content! Really..we don't know how blessed we are.

Here Malcolm and I are with two amazing servants of Jesus. Pastors Pavel and Marina Savelyev lead Dew 'Rosa' Church in Moscow. It is a large charismatic church which is pioneering Alpha and Youth Alpha into Russia. They are doing some amazing stuff working across the denominations (rarely done here, in some conversations it sounded just like home). This year for the first time Alpha has started making a movement into the state Othodox Church. That's big news...but don't tell to many people. The Priests who have started using it are being thrown out of their parishes.

From left to Right this is Nick (our amazing guide in Moscow) Director of YFC South Russia, Pavel Torchuk (Russian Minstries) Malcolm and Marina (Moscow YFC). It was such a privilege for me to meet and hang out with these amazing believers. These are the guys who are the real greats in the Kingdom of God. They are really giving their all for Gospel. Another wee snap in Red Sqare.

This last guy hugging Mal and I is Pastor Eugene, leader of Baptist Youth for Russia. This guy was really interesting. I was drawn to his passion and strategic mind but at the same time frustrated by his outdated approaches to ministry and his dislike of other churches outside of the Baptists. Our meeting with Eugene was a tough one but a great learning experience for me in Russian Christian Culture.

So what did I learn on my travels...God is Lord over the nations, It is possible to live for Jesus fully, the world still needs reached with the love and grace of Jesus, Russia needs missionaries, McDonalds tastes the same everywhere, Russian people are beautiful, the church in Russia needs annointed for its mission, prayer works and Jesus is Lord.

Being in Russia has led to some deep stuff happening in my own life and heart. I need to treasure it in my heart for a while and then I'll hopefully get to share it with you all.

Prayer and Preparation

Last Saturday night I preached a message at The SummerServe BBQ. If it had a title it would have been called something like "a proper response to the holiness of God"

I challenged the couple of hundred young people to make a response to God's call on his people into mission in the world.

Just two days after ushering such a high call to these kids, I laughed at God's sense of humour when Malcolm Johnston, the Regional Director for YFC across Eastern Europe called asking me to come with him to Moscow. Unfortunately I was moved into a place where I only response was, Yes Lord your servant is listening. So next Monday, Mal and I are heading across to Russia. I am terrified but also excited. I am sure my role will be minor but nevertheless I am willing to do whatever. Malcolm has called our trip a blind date. We are meeting with Bishops from the Baptist Union for Russia and also the Pentacostal church. The meetings are to discuss reaching young people across the nation. Russia is so massive. YFC have a staff member in St Petersburg on the western side, when she travels home to her family on the east coast, it takes 10 days by train.

I have a globe sitting on my desk in the office. Everyday I sit and spin it and then pray for cities, islands, nations, just wherever comes to me as this little ball spins. Since I agreed to tag along to Moscow with Mal, I have found that my globe has not been spinning, Russia is so big, I could be stuck there for a while.

Would value your prayers!

Holiday Reflections

So I have been home for almost two weeks. Week 1 was messed up. My jetlag was intense. I found myself sleeping constantly and even in week 2 I am still having to drag myself out of bed in the mornings. I am starting to feel more normal though. I love travelling but this time it has affected me so much.

This summer has been brilliant. It was just what the doctor ordered. Awesome experiences, adventure, quality time with Becci, new things, great food and good friends.

Bec has put some our holiday pictures online, so feel free to check them out. PICS

My favourite destination was Hong Kong. It was so different to anything I had experienced before. We soaked in the asian culture, ate local cuisine, did some class tours and laughed a lot.

Hong Kong is an amazing place and I think Rebecca and I would like to go back there in the future.

Everywhere we visited on our round the world trip was brilliant. It was like 5 separate holidays, each so unique with new experiences and its own memories engraved into our lives. My only regret was not taking longer in each destination and possibly adding in one or two more stops.

But I should not be greedy. I have lots more travelling to do this year. I am heading to Thailand with YFC in September and Canada later in the Autumn.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pics!

Back home

Just a quick blog to let everyone know Bec and I have arrived home safely. We had a fantastic time away and arrived home last night. Today was spent catching up with sleep and seeing our families. As I reflect over the past three and a half weeks it blows my mind at how much the four of us squeezed in and how much fun we had. Over the next wee while I plan to blog and share some of our adventure but here is a brief overview.
1. 8 flights, some good, some short and a few killers, especially Fiji to LA.
2. Authentic Chinese DimSun. Slimy fishy and difficult to eat with chopsticks
3. Four wheel drive adventure in the Blue Mountains in Australia, wet, beautiful and lots of Kangaroos
4. Skiing, Zorbing and Luging in New Zealand
5. Snorkeling, sun bathing and working out in Fiji
6. Shopping in LA
I'm heading to bed now because I am back to work tomorrow. Can't believe it.
Bec is editing our holiday pics at this very minute so once they are ready I'll give a proper holiday blog.

Dream Team World Tour

One week to go...

The Dream Team, Bec, Sue, Johnny and me head of on our long awaited world tour. This time next Saturday we will be sitting in the departure lounge in Heathrow Terminal 3 waiting to board our first flight of 8! Our itinerary looks like this, London to Hong Kong (3 nights), HK to Sydney (5 nights), SDY to Auckland (5 nights) AKL to Fiji (5 nights) Fiji to Los Angeles (3 nights) and then home.

I am so excited. My summer normally involves missions teams and evangelism. This summer is gonna be all about adventure, making memories and taking in as much of the globe as I can in three and a half weeks. My wee Granny died about a year ago and she kindly left me a few thousand pounds to do something special with. This trip is that something special. Here are some of things I am really looking forward to...

* A helicopter tour of Hong Kong and trying proper chinese food

*Going to the Tri-nations game between Australia and South Africa at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney and popping along to the Hillsongs Conference

* Learning to Ski in New Zealand, visiting Devenport and doing a bungee jump

*In Fiji I plan to learn to wind-surf and possibly some Scuba diving

*Then experiencing LA, Holywood, great beaches, and possibly some shopping.

I am hoping, God willing, that this summer is going to be an amazing time of rest, renewal, fun, friendship, life and adventure. I'll keep you posted.

Stevie & Steve

On Sunday, Stevie P and I were preaching (tag team) at Ballydown Presbyterian in Banbridge. It was a great day. In the morning Stevie spoke at the churches Kids Day Service and then I preached at the Youth Service in the evening. We were supported brilliantly by Pete and the Sebomai (Dromore YFC) worship band and Imagine (Dromore YFC) drama team. The sense of community and life in Ballydown was inspiring. It is a church driven towards relevance, engagement and mission. It was a blessing for us to be there. We had a fab day and even had some great craic hanging out in my garden in the sun in the afternoon. At YFCNI we have been blessed with a team of great communicators, preachers and teachers and yet one of the things I have realised as I have taken the helm at leadership is that these guys don't get themselves out into the local churches to preach God's word. So if you would like any of our team to come and preach at your church, yf, whatever...just let us know.

Loudinderry (Mannafest, Londonderry)

Had the privilege of preaching at Loudinderry on Saturday night. It was a great night, lots of young people, great music from Crave and BlueTree, exciting stories from Strong Words Ministry and then a good dose of the Word from me. It was an exciting event with a real sense of God. Looking forward to more opportunities in ministering in the West and North West of the province.

Here are a few pics from the event
This is me on stage doing the Hammer Test with Strong Words

This is BlueTree rocking out, leading an army of worshippers

Visited Belfast City Vineyard on Sunday morning with friends who worship there. It was really good. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of Bible teaching and authenticity of the gathering. Would recommend a visit to this church.