Creideamh (pronounced something like kray-jiff, the Irish word for faith) was dubbed the Festival of Faith and hosted a couple hundred people from around Ireland and the world for an outreach in Galway for fifteen days this July. We came along with several other people representing YWAM Ireland to help with the facilitation of the festival and its events – our members doing everything from planning and administration, to electrical work for setting up the festival gazebo on Eyre square, to hosting the various artists who came to perform for the festival.

Renee and I primarily took over the management of festival operations at a local restaurant after its normal closing time, feeding all the festival teams each evening and helping run the festival’s public entertainment venue there, where we hosted musicians, magicians, mimes, and testimony-tellers every night.

Creideamh seemed to have largely been a success. The volunteers got on well and feedback from the community was positive. Teams met in the morning for services, followed by lunch and training, and then would spread out across Galway according to their ministry – ranging from engaging people in discussions about faith to kid’s ministry in local parishes. The artists would perform around town, sometimes on the street, and sometimes in a handful of festival venues.

Well, I could go on, but I suggest you just check out the photos I’ve uploaded to this site (which were also put on the YWAM Ireland Facebook Page, I think), as well as the YouTube video of a member of YWAM England escaping from a straight jacket during Creideamh.

Also check out some of the artists who worked the festival:

• L’Angelus – cajun roots band from Louisiana
• Flip Francis and Sammy Blaze – hip-hop artists from Dallas, TX.
• Crossing the Jordan (CTJ) – band of musicians from four continents, based with YWAM in Harpenden, England.
• Yan Nicholls (E-team) – magician, escape artist, and evangelist based with YWAM in England.
• Collin and Halie (E-team) – acoustic music duo based with YWAM in England.
• Steve Murray – mime artist.

More info at Creideamh website.

More recently, Vusi is known in his community as an entrepreneur, community activist, and strong man of faith, and was even featured last year in a documentary by MTV Australia. In the last few years, Vusi has also been a friend and a resource to DTS outreach teams from Belfast. As well, Renee and I were hoping to bring a team of locals this August for a couple weeks to Durban and work with him and some of his partners (as some of you may know), but that is looking somewhat unlikely at this point.

Anyways, here are some videos you might find interesting:

How you can help: Consider partnering with Light Providers financially to foster empowerment in KwaNyuswa (bank transfer info is available on the Light Providers blog). As well, Vusi has expressed much interest in having someone design a website for the project. If you’re a skilled designer or even have some server space you’d like to donate, check out the links below and get in contact with Vusi.

Related Links

• Light Providers blog | YouTube page
• World Changers Academy site | on Wikipedia
• Newspaper article excerpt from South African newspaper on the WCA website about Vusi
• VukAfrica Tours – a community owned and run tour company started by Vusi.