The Youth UNIFY is addressed to younger generation of YMCA and traditionally has a form camp. It plays a very important spiritual and ecumenical role in YMCA and personal development of young people. It is addressed to young participants and must be attractive enough to get involved their souls and brains. It is really attractive and not only for the youth.
The programme of this year contained a unique possibility of personal experience various ways of Christian devotion. It’s worth emphasizing that the leaders tend to keep high artistic taste and good educational level. This time the spiritual part contained proved methods of Christian formation taken from proved forms taken Taize or Neocatechumenal Way. Besides this, the participants who represented various denominations could experience Coptic sinning, Ukrainian Psalms, Creative Prayers and Worship Night.
The UNIFY community were visible also out of venue. During a trip to Lublin the participants could manifest their Christianity by sharing Bible verses with people in the city. They also could attend a holly Mass to celebrate Assumption of Mary at local Catholic church on Aug 15. – in Poland this holiday has a special religious and patriotic dimension.
The teaching module obtained also an appropriate position in the programme. Having it is extremely important for increasing Christian knowledge and awareness, but requires from the organisers keeping a good balance between the range of knowledge and this, what young audience can absorb. That was achieved , although the topics of 2 introductions were serious:
- ‘Theology overview taught through Parables of Christ’: Incarnation of Christ, Death of Christ, Resurrection of Christ, Return of Christ;
- ‘Church History in Europe’ – overview the key moments when the Christian world got divided into various denominations – why and how it happened that we are so different. With this could well correspond the workshops: ‘Persecution of the Egyptian Church’ and ‘Handcrafts’ .
Each day were run Small Groups, which was for forming deep and supportive friendships in UNIFY community. There was also designed time for dancing, café socializing, games and campfires – that was a summer camp beside everything.
Everything was happening within YMCA Europe context – we can be only proud that such we have such a programme as UNIFY – ideal expression of Christian Orientation. This must find a well-promoted position in the programme of YMCA175 Event in London next year. The presentation of the event given by Marta Guretska certainly assured the participants that they and UNIFY should be there by all means.
All in all: the youth event in Nasutów near Lublin Lublin can be certainly counted as another spectacular success of UNIFY that promotes a valuable program and YMCA Europe. CONGRATULATIONS!
More photos from the event are available here.