This week eleven Fourth Formers attended Flame 2019 at London’s SSE Wembley Arena – the Youth Congress for the Catholic Church of England and Wales.
This year’s theme was ‘Significance’, and the day comprised music, dance, drama and prayer, especially in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
The line-up of speakers was inspiring: David Wells, a Catholic speaker based in the Plymouth Diocese, presented a special message about being someone significant from birth until they are now, as young people at Flame. Pupils heard a video message from Jean Vanier, the founder of L’Arche and Faith and Light Communities, who said “have a story and need to be loved…discover that you have a secret in your heart”. The pupils were moved to know that, even in his hospital bed in January, he wanted to give us his message.
Archbishop Eamonn Martin, Primate of All Ireland, and Guvna B (Isaac Borquaye) and his wife Emma Borquaye also spoke. But the person who really made the young people think was Robert Madu, a Texan preacher, who talked about what would stop the pupils thinking that they were a significant person in the eyes of God. The word he had for them was ‘Comparison’, saying that “comparison is the thief of joy, comparison is the cancer of contentment”.
Robert shared his thoughts about running on a treadmill in the gym. The issue for him was not the running, the issue was that he would ‘pick out’ someone else on another treadmill and compete and compare himself with the other person. If they sped up, he did, if they slowed down, he did. If they stopped, he would keep going to prove to them (in his own mind) that he was better than them. He said to us, ‘stay in your lane, and keep your eyes on Jesus’, and ‘don’t complain to you Master about the parts that you’re missing, start praising Him because you’re a masterpiece’. After this he asked the young people to repeat to themselves that, ‘they are a masterpiece’!
Artistically, we were lead in music by Christian worship singer Tim Hughes and Gospel rapper Guvna B. Bristol-based RISE Theatre Company performed two dramas and a youth gospel choir was created for the event, which led us in the song Amazing Grace.
The day will be remembered by the pupils for a long time, the hope is they too understand how significant they are to themselves and their Creator.