January 2007

• We’re hoping for a full weekend away in March to Alltnacriche as we take the young people paint balling
• The 5th Annual COOL Celebration is at 7.30pm on 16th February in Auchtertyre Primary
• Soundwaves on Skye has started well with around 35 each meeting
• Dave continues to get along side and support new groups of young people in the High School
• Primary assemblies have been particularly well received as we go through the story of the Bible this year
• YFC Kick have been booked for another football school during the Easter holidays

give thanks for

• God’s continued blessing on the work
• the warmth with which COOL is received in the communities
• increased numbers at Friday Night’s @ Dave & Ruth’s
• the success of ‘Soundwaves’ on Skye
• new opportunites continually opening throughout the district

pray for

• future funding for COOL
• discernment to know the direction that the day to day work should follow
• this term’s big events: a weekend to Alltnacriche and a YFC ‘Kick’ football school
• wisdom to present the gospel faithfully yet relevantly in our multi-faith society
• God’s Spirit to touch the young people whom we work with

Happy New Year to you all! This month we bring you an update from our chairman as we look forward to, amazingly, our fifth annual celebration on February 16th. Christmas was a busy period with almost every school being visited and youth clubs supported in their festivities, and we thank God for all He is doing as we befriend young people so that may know and experience Jesus revealed in the Bible.

As we start a new year, COOL has now had the privilege of having Dave working in the area for five years. From my perspective as chairman, those five years seem to have passed very quickly with much so happening in area. My first response to the last five years is one of gratitude. Firstly to God, that we have a task to fulfil at all, in seeking to tell the young people in the area that there is a God who created them, and cares for them so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, into this world to die for them, so that they may have the opportunity to become part of His eternal family, and live life to the full. Secondly, I am so grateful to God that He provides for us to fulfil this task, by sending people who have been gifted and enabled by the Holy Spirit, who that same Jesus, raised from the dead, sent to us.

Dave has become a well known face in our catchment area, and has been granted access to all the primary schools, and the High School in Plockton. I am thankful to all of the head teachers, and the many staff, who make Dave so welcome. This means that all the young people in our area see Dave on a regular basis. Dave has been able to develop relationships with these young people, and is able to help them in a variety of ways, often by just being there for them.

Perhaps a good way of summing up what Dave has meant to the schools is by quoting a comment made by a local head teacher in the past year: ‘Dave’s presence and his enthusiasm for his work along with his energy and knack for making meaningful connections with pupils of all ages, make him a valued asset, and we are grateful for all his contributions, and hopefully his work in schools will continue’.

Outside the schools, Dave has been able to help, train and encourage many voluntary youth leaders and workers, to become involved in projects among the young people in their own areas, fulfilling many of the objectives that were set in the 2005 Annual Report. One youth leader wrote: ‘Dave is a fantastic resource of information on Youth Work and Worship, and it is great help to be able to call him and ask his advice and help in youth work matters’. You will have read in the newsletters over the past year of new clubs started locally, and the many other activities that have taken place, including the very successful visit to Peru.

I wish to thank Dave for his untiring work, and thank his wife Ruth for her personal support, and the use of their home for some of the meetings involved in the work.

Dave can only continue in his work, because he is ably supported by a Management Committee, consisting of various gifted people from the different local churches, who freely and ably provide administrative, financial and other oversight of the project. All of the committee provide valuable support, but in particular I would like to thank Jill Clayton for her secretarial support, and Alison Beaton as treasurer, and the valuable support that Phil Picking has given to the Finance Sub Committee and Newsletter Sub Group, and the use of his home for various meetings.

Whilst mentioning finance, the project has only been able to continue due to the generous giving of many local individuals, and some who live further away, as well as three local churches supporting us on a regular basis. My thanks goes to you all for your faithful support in giving and in prayer. COOL has also continued to receive support from the Church of Scotland Parish Development Fund, and one of the reasons COOL is still in a financially healthy situation is due to the past support from Lloyds TSB Foundation in Scotland, and the Co-op Community Dividend Scheme, and we are also grateful for all their support.

However, in the longer term the project does need an increase in regular giving from local supporters and churches, and if you are able to review your giving, or start to help us financially, we would very much like to hear from you, and provide any information that you may require.

The work is associated with Scripture Union Scotland, and I value their on going input, especially in the personal representation of Colin Carmichael who joins us for many of our committee meetings, and who also meets up with Dave, when it is practical for them both to do so.

In my previous contributions to the COOL newsletter I have quoted before the following verse from the Bible, which still remains very relevant: ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up’ (Galations 6 v 9).

Malcolm Gardiner, Chairman to COOL