I believe Lakeside Community Church truly is a great church for young people, not only to meet and build friendships with other young people, but to also build an amazing relationship with God.

Personally, I find many aspects of our church relate to us young people:

- the worship band comprises of lively and talented musicians that really make praising the Lord enjoyable & fun as well as intimately spiritual

- the sermons during the Sunday service are always so relevant to our lives and never cease to challenge me

- often, these sermons are delivered by guest speakers from across the UK and around the world. It’a always a pleasure to listen to anyone who testifies or prophesies and take on board what different people have to say about modern day matters and their lives, and it all interlinks with the Bible

- once the service is finished, there is plenty of time to mingle & chat with each other; perhaps be entertained by the musicians who often break into some funky ‘jams’ with their many instruments; or grab some refreshments and relax for a while. I find there is always someone to talk to no matter how old/ young you are, and if the adults get too boring for me, I just retreat to the special ‘young people’s’ corner which is right next to the refreshments hatch – perfect!

Having a mid-week cell group has really benefitted my Christian lifestyle, it gives us a chance to be accountable to one another and as we explore current topics of the world today, we keep the words and teachings of the Bible central to the theme.

- cell has really encouraged me to get to know God on a whole other level. Before cell was initiated, I was just basically a ‘Sunday Christian’ and the rest of the week you’d find me bouncing around in secular stuff. I didn’t really have friends at church, merely just associates. I enjoyed church from time to time but never gave anything back and I’d rarely take much from the services because I would go and contradict it all in the week with things I did. However, when cell was introduced and I shared with other young people and saw how similar their lives were to mine, and how they felt and dealt with teenage things, it suddenly hit me that God was and is there for each and every one of us and we are all blessed with his forgiveness and grace time after time. God is not someone you want to turn your back on or give the maximum amount of committment of one day of the week; he deserves your whole life and I realise he is the perfect counsellor, the perfect friend, the perfect father, the one perfect entity, the ‘real deal’.

- I am not dismissing church, it was just the fact that young people of my age, older & younger were committed to meeting together each week to share and encourage one another, and this was a catalyst and a motive for me to pursue God and lead a Christian lifestyle

- in addition to that I have formed some great friendships through cell and through LCC, we are one big family and I love it!

Chris (18)