Hey guys sorry about the lack of updates but things have just been so busy. We just spent a week up in Clitheroe running some hip hop workshops and helping serve the guys in this organization called Oasis. They just opened a multi-million pound community center and recording facility and we where able to help while they are getting it started up. We did alot of detached work at the skate park with is basicaly just hanging out with the kids at the skate park and chatting with them. Right now things are going really well and We are really learning loads about how to do things the right way and to just serve people everywhere we go. I should be sending an update email out soon that gose a bit more in depth to what is going on and what im learning out here. So be on the lookout for that. I love you guys

Update Video

Weekend Update.

Just a little update concerning this weekend that just past. The friday youth club gig went down very smoothly. We were a bit nervous because it was our first show on our own without any sound guys helping out. We preformed about 4 songs shared two testimonies played a game and had a gospel message with a response at the end of it. I cant tell you how well it went especially the appeal(alter call) bit. Now we didn't have a response room with the group to stay in for kids who wanted to respond to come in and to be honest It was best we didn't. I didn't want any kids to come just because they would get to hang out with us in some special back room or something. We did tell them to come talk to us or the youth leaders if they where serious about becoming a Christian. We found out on Friday that four kids made the decision to become Christian!!! Praise God!!! I know I said we were going to support lz7 on friday but that didn't end up happening. We did still preform at breath and that went well also. All in all it was a great weekend and lots of seeds were sown so lets keep praying for the Lord to bring down the rain!! Love you guys!

Macclesfield-Hope Unleashed 2/1/08

So We had our first major gig in macclesfield. It was the first Hope Unleashed event and it went beautifully. All the bands where top and the message was very good and to the point. It was a weird feeling performing for so many kids and being on an official kind of stage. After we preformed I went up to the balcony which overlooked the whole venue and all you could see was a huge mass of kids. Linds was giving his preach followed it with alter call. He told all the kids if any of them wanted to be a Christian to go to the response room. now there where about a thousand kids in the rooom and almost the whole room walked out at once the site was unmatched to anything ive seen. At that moment I had such a sense of pure joy but it wasent long felt. I found myself in one of the biggest struggles ive had in a while. As happy as I was my mind couldn't help but take into consideration how genuine any of the kids responses where. I found my self getting very down and cynical. I just had to remember that God knows so much more than me and that although all I can see is kids in a room God can see their hearts. I was reading my bible and God gave me 1st Samuel 16:7 which gave me so much peace about the whole situation and just made me remember we are people of faith in things that are unseen and hoped for. So if you could just pray with me in faith that God knows the hearts of every kid that responded that night and that his purpose will be known for their lives, that id have stories of true discipleship and not just a constant quota of numbers that only satisfies the ear. (This is just a little side: All the posts about lz7,blush,breath,hope unleashed, and whatever els has just been posted are just cuts and pastes from the message website and stuff so if it seems like i didn't write it its cuz i didn't. I just wanted something that explained all the events and people that ive been talking about so use them as a reference and if you want any more information or have any questions about anything just let me know and ill be happy to get you what you need.)
Thanks so much to everyone who reads this and supports me, I could not ask for a more loving church to call my friends and family. I love you all!!

LZ7

Andy writes about his excitement over this brand new ministry from The Message...

For the past 5 years I've been watching as Lindz West has developed as a performer with The Tribe but more importantly as an extremely gifted evangelist. Lindz is one of those people who are a gift to the Church and the world, in that wherever they go - people become Christians. Whether it's on his holidays or at the local football team or on the big stages, Lindz uses his gift of evangelism to lead people to Jesus.

It's therefore such a thrill to have Lindz staying on with The Message and fronting our brand new outfit LZ7 with its hardcore sound and message. The amazing show, complete with freerunners, DJ's and a full band will be let loose on the schools, prisons and concert venues this summer. To keep up to speed with developments log on to the website www.lz7.co.uk and to buy the album NOW click here. We guarantee once you've heard it you'll understand what all the fuss is about.

Blush UK

EAR CANDY FOR THE SOUL...

Blushuk are an awesome 4 piece girl band! With an urban pop sound similar to the likes of Girls Aloud, Jamelia and the Sugarbabes, Holly, Nic, Jess, and Pippa bring a mixture of energetic dance performance and amazing vocal melodies that you don't want to miss! Their music is up there with the best but there is a difference. These girls are creating great songs with a hard hitting message of the gospel.

Since the success of their debut album "Sunshine" the girls have now released their latest album "Ear Candy" (available to buy online here) and were also nominated for Best Gospel Act at the 2007 MOBO Awards. Above all the girls still remain firmly committed to the high schools of Manchester and the recruiting and training of radical young evangelists through the Genetik course.

Visit their website www.blushuk.com where you can find out more about the girls.

Breathe

http://www.breatheonline.org.uk/
check this link to find out more about Breathe events.

Hope Unleashed

Last updated: 04/02/08 - 3 hours ago

During 2008 we are going on tour around all of Greater Manchester with a series of gigs to run along the 100 missions we are doing in high schools.

The bands on the tour will include LZ7, Blush UK, thebandwithnoname and In Yer Face theatre company. We are hoping that the young people from our Breathe event will also bring their friends to these events as well.

Put these dates in your diary today!

Macclesfield
1st February
Macclesfield Leisure Centre

Oldham
15th March
Queen Elizabeth hall

Bolton / Bury
25th April
The Bridge Church, Bolton

Manchester / Tameside
Date to be confirmed
Manchester Apollo

Trafford
20th June
Altrincham sports centre

Wigan
25th July
Today’s community church

Rochdale
26th September
Gracie Fields Theatre

Stockport
24th October
The Plaza

Salford
Date to be confirmed

About The Message

The Message Trust is an award-winning youth charity, founded in 1992.

We have a well established reputation for being a pioneering organisation with a real passion to improve the lives of young people in Greater Manchester. Driven by Christian values, we help all sorts of young people from all sorts of backgrounds and with all sorts of beliefs.

We have been working in the city for 15 years and have developed a 'knack' for being able to get through to the hardest to reach young people. To enable this we operate a range of projects on the streets, in the community, in schools and in prisons, all with the aim of bringing hope, providing opportunities and releasing potential.

In brief, The Message...

• Runs 9 'Eden' youth projects where over 100 volunteers live and work in tough urban contexts
  
• Delivers around 2000 hours of youth work every month through over 300 separate activities
• Is in contact with an average of 5,000 young people every month all over the city
  
• Provides a safe 'off the street' environment for 500 young people every week using 2 high-tech mobile youth centres
  
• Visits 20 high schools every year with inspirational pop group 'Blush'
  
• Helps break the cycle of youth crime through innovative work in the region's Young Offenders Institutions
• Operates a top-spec arts and music training centre in South Manchester

In all these ways and many more we demonstrate the values we believe in: hope, faith, love, compassion, encouragement, creativity and opportunity.

As a not-for-profit organisation, we depend on the generosity of people who share our passion to change the lives of young people. Our work is funded through donations from a range of sources including the business community, the general public, churches and various grants. Every pound given is vital to achieving the goal of bringing hope to young people and helping to transform their communities by putting faith into action.

What a Weekend.

Ok so this weekend that just past was a huge weekend. On friday we did our first gig supporting Blush in Maccelsfield at All Hallows Highschool. Everything went smoothly and there where few mistakes in the routines. Many kids responded to the alter call and there was lots of prayer and conversation after the show. Then on Saturday at Breathe (the annual worship event) They preached about the prodigal son. The testimony was so powerful of this young man named Michael. His story was the story of the prodigal running from home and returning through the power of Jesus and his grace. The response was amazing!!!! All in all this weekend was a big weekend and I dont want to get caught up in numbers but 80 kids made the decision to give their lives to Christ!!!1 Praise God and please pray for everyone of these kids that that would not just have made a decision but that they will be real disciples who then turn and spread the good news they have recieved. God bless!

Shell Shock!!!!

Ok so The other day was our prayer day at The Message and what a prayer day it was! This new guy to the message called James stirred up everyones spirits and got the whole room shouting out with passion for what God is going to do. And just when you thought the holy spirit was in full effect we where blown away!!!! A man called Simon Guillebaud spoke. He challenged us all In our faith, He told many stories about his missions in burundi which is said to be the most dangerous place on the earth. He challenged us to live all out for the lord and to reach out for the lost he demolished our materialistic views and gave us a small glimpse of the urgency we need in giving people the good news of Jesus Christ.
He shared this story about this beach in Africa where something like 10 ,000 starfish washed up onto a beach im not sure if it was daily or just it was something that happened this once. But there was a boy, this little boy who was so heartbroke over the sight and started picking up the starfish and tossing them back into the water. A man came up to him and spoke down on the kid, he said " you foolish kid, you know thats not going to make a difference at all!" and the kid looked at him smiled and chucked another into the water and replied " Well it did for that one!" The same spirit should be passed on throughout our ministries. I encourage all to have the same outlook and seeking the lost and spreading the good news of Christ. I also would like to encourage you to read Simon's book, but be warned dont read it if your not ready for change because it will change your life and your ministry. Thanks for your prayers and support everyone. KEEP IT UP! Pray for love to shine through us above all.

Back In England

So Im back in England!!! Ive gotten all settled in and everything is going well. We are working on our lessons and our performances for our schools weeks. We dont have any booked up yet but once we get all our stuff down we will start booking them. On the 24th we are doing a 3 song support set for Blush at one of the schools.(Blush is one of the messages girl groups.) So if you all could pray for the strength to put in all the hard work and for the schools after we have done the hard work!!! Thanks Everyone & God Bless

Welcome To My Blog!

Hey Everybody!

So Someone showed me how to make a blog and I thought it would be a perfect way to keep in touch with all my supporters and let everyone know what's going on with me out in england. I hope you all find this helpful in keeping you in the loop. Anyways thanks for checking this out and for blessing me with your prayers and support! God Bless xXx