Facebook Feedback

For those on 'Facebook' you like to know that there is a Zac's Place 'group' - a space available for comment and discussion.
It has been encouraging to read comments, particularly about people's first experiences of Zac's Place - as folks folks have come along for many and varied reasons.

Here's a recent entry for your encouragement:
"My first experience of Zac's place..........hard to remeber. To be honest I was so off my face during that period ofmy life......? One thing that i will never forget is that it is where I first found Christ. Not in a head knowledge way but in a deep, heart knowledge. It was the first place I found Gods unconditional love, acceptance and grace in action. Not people talking it but people living it. Authentic faith and deeds in action."

For Facebook users you'll find the group here: Zac's Place Facebook Group

Final Curtains

This past week has as usual been varied at Zac's Place. It has however been particularly marked by the final performances from JEMS Drama School here at Zac's - infact not just here, but anywhere as Jayne winds the school up after ten years of wonderful creativity. As usual the kids pulled all the stops out and last thursday's final night was not just a great performance but also very emotional; especially as some of the older kids have been involved for the whole ten years. Many of the folks that come through this building are tortured souls, so I shall miss the sound of laughter from the fifty or so drama school youngsters even more so.

As I write and prep for tonight's Tribal Gathering at Zac's - with the images of Michael Jackson's Memorial Service in the news, (but not much about the 7/7 victims), we'll ironically be looking at 'lament' and 'grief', (in the context of Old Testament geeza David in 2 Samuel 1); Lament and grief are two things I really don't think we're very good at in our culture. Tragedy is easier to deal with if it's a news story or a spectacle . . . lament is possibly what we should do with our questions and struggle when there aren't any obvious answers, but we cling to a bigger picture.

On a lighter note, it was good to welcome year ten students to Zac's this afternoon, from a local school, to come and hear some stories and look at the artwork - Doris continues to be a star attraction - based on, yup, 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted'!

A Window Into Zac's Place

Zac's can be a bit of a mad house sometimes, it's also a haven of peace in a storm and a punch bag amid pain.
One of our regulars at the Tribal Gatherings, Liz, is also a regular blogger.
Here's a link to her blog, with a filter on it for the Zac's related posts, in which she share's her reflections and observations amid the kaleidascopic experience. Feel free to take a look if your interested:
Liz's Zac's Place Reflections . . . .

Tony Campolo Interview

Ok - He's an American and he's a preacher. But don't let that put you off. He's vastly different to most of them.
He's as passionate about advocating the rights of the poor and vulnerable as much as ever. Now in his 70's, here's a very recent radio interview link that he did last week with BBC Radio Wales. You'll need 20 mins or so, but it's well worth it.

Tony Campolo - BBC Radio Wales 14/6/09

The Gospel According To Nick Griffin . . .

Having seen the BNP's Nick Griffin being interviewed late last night on Sky news, as the European election results were being announced, I am a little confused. Mr Griffin stressed the importance of the UK being a Christian country and all residents should adopt Christian principals such as his own. I wonder which principals he means? Could it be the loving your neighbour or indeed your enemies ones? Or maybe it's the cross cultural connections that Jesus made cutting across all religious and racial divides when he spent time in the company of Samaritans amongst others? Absolutely bizarre. There We Are Then.

Street Football Wales - fundraising concert in Swansea

A Night to Remember!!!


Street Football Wales (SFW) to host a fundraising concert in Swansea.

As part of SFW's continued efforts to raise funds for the Street Football league and the Homeless World Cup Team, a concert has been arranged to take place on Saturday May 9th at Llewellyn Hall, Swansea YMCA. The Morriston Phoenix Choir will be performing alongside the Swansea Young Single Homeless Project Dance Troupe, the Disconnected and special guest Steve Balsamo!, (of The Story's, Jesus Christ Superstar and also currently performing with Jon Lord on International dates).

There is a lot of work involved in preparing for the concert and those involved in Street Football Wales continue to give up a huge amount of their free time in an effort to ensure the success of the league and the Welsh Dragon's participation in the Homeless World Cup.

If you are reading this and are in or around Swansea, come along and support SFW - tickets for the concert are a bargain at £5 each! Order your tickets by contacting streetfootballwales@hotmail.co.uk.

SUPPORT IT IF YOU CAN . . . . . .

Apprentices On The Road - Spring Harvest

Most of what I seem to get involved in is pretty well out there on the fringes when it comes to church related activity. Spring Harvest however is an exception, having been involved in numerous capacities since it's very early days in the late 70's. For those not in the know, SH is an annual multi week church based conference style family event spanning many denominations and attracts around 45,000 people in total each Easter. It's accommodated at Butlin's sites in Minehead and Skegness. There's bits of it that make me cringe and frustrate me, but I can't deny that certainly as a younger person there were some key moments for me in my Christian journey that Spring Harvest helped shape and it continues to encourage many in their faith and I am pleased to have the opportunity to be involved.

Over the years having been on the youth team as a speaker, detached youth worker, musician and in more recent years the pastoral team. In this role I have been running 'Just Looking' groups, specifically for those who attend SH who question much of what they see and want a safe space to ask questions and discuss life, faith and whatever else comes up. In practice this means over the course of the week about twenty folks come along and enjoy honest and open discussion not too disimilar to our Zac's tribal gatherings on a tuesday eve - but without the chaos!


In the wider programme the theme was 'Apprentice - walking the way of Christ' - the logo for which was a pair of old boots. As the week went on my own boots gradually desintegrated - if only replicating the way of Christ was as straightforward as that!