Summer Madness is Ireland’s biggest Christian festival, hosted in Belfast at the Kings Hall with a variety speakers, seminars, concerts, games and worship sessions over three and a half days (some of you may recall that Renee and I worked as crew with students from the previous January DTS at the festival in 2007). A few charities will also host venues with special focuses on the grounds, and this year YWAM was invited to have our own venue.

The theme of the YWAM venue was entitled “The Sacred and the Secular” and meant to address this idea that we consider some activities holier than others, though we are really meant to engage with God in any activity we pursue. So our space was set up for prayer and for fun – with a prayer tent for the nations, stations of the Cross, art gallery and space and paints for artistic expression, as well as table football (fooseball), pool tables, table tennis, video games and a lounge area.

About 5,000 visitors come each year to the festival, most of the young people, either on their own or with a group, at a variety of stages in their faith walk.

The goals of our venue, in this light, were:
• To promote YWAM and information about our organization internationally. As young people ourselves, we want to illustrate to possibilities for youth in missions.
• Along with that, to promote short-term missions opportunities to young people or church groups, specifically in regards to a trip we’re taking for two weeks to Israel and Palestine this fall, and especially a series of short-term missions trips we want to bring Northern Irish on in 2010 to South Africa when that country hosts the football World Cup. We feel short-term missions opportunities can be a key element to encouraging young people into missional futures.
• To be a safe place for young people at the festival to explore their faith. We realize that many youth come with a group or with friends and may not have much of a faith of their own. Conversely, some come alone or are not natural parts of their group, and the festive atmosphere actually serves to alienate them. We sent out prayer pairs to engage these kids and offer them a safe place for conversation and prayer and sharing amongst us.

Two nights, we also showcased a programme called “Around the World in 80 Minutes” with stories and acts from around the globe (most from YWAM staff and students, but also from other groups). The aim was to engage the above goals, as well as give a message to the youth to not be afraid to use their gifts and passions to impact the world and to serve God.

Anyways, check out our Summer Madness 2008 playlist on YouTube, or just check out the embeded player below. The video includes clips of Irish dance and drum, a staff member and his hip-hop, capoeira, hip-hop dancing, and more. Also, some Summer Madness 2008 pictures are posted in the gallery.

Related links
-Summer Madness website
-Info on the YWAM Ireland trip to Israel and Palestine