Case Study: Powerpoint

We’ve all heard the ‘facts’ haven’t we? Church attendance is declining, young people are becoming more and more disengaged and the Church is destined for extinction! For some reason those involved in Powerpoint Scotland over the past 20 years are oblivious to these ‘facts’. Over 1,000 young people worship God together regularly through these events, and those of us involved in Powerpoint have repeatedly seen young people turn to Christ for the first time. As young people respond to his love, hope and grace, they reignite their local churches. Powerpoint reminds us all that the timeless truth of the gospel works. Young people are desperate to encounter their saviour for the first or 100^th time. Our job is simply to provide a place and space for this to happen.

I arrived in Scotland in 2014 and was blown away at how God was working through Powerpoint. The events were clearly anointed and there was a hunger among those who attended for much greater things. I felt so blessed, privileged and a little surprised when they asked me to lead Powerpoint, especially as I’m English! Whether it is worship leading, serving coffees or stewarding, the individuals involved have a real servant-heart and excellence in all they do. Guest speakers such as Gavin Calver (Evangelical Alliance) are always encouraged by the hundreds of folk who make this happen and how they wholeheartedly serve one another and the vision of Powerpoint. They demonstrate to the wider church what unity for the sake of the gospel could and should look like. I think the desire of the team to lay down individual agendas is one of the fundamental reasons why the event has known such favour from God.

Since moving north of the border I’ve been trying to swat up on the rich heritage of Celtic spirituality and have been intrigued by how God moved in the Hebrides in the 20^th Century. During that period, thousands of people turned to God in repentance, spontaneous prayer meetings went on till the wee hours of the morning (I’m trying to fit in!) and many folk met with their saviour. At the heart of this revival were two ladies in their 80s who had prayed earnestly for God to ‘presence himself’. Those who experienced the revival first-hand are quick to emphasise that revival was not about people responding to the gospel (although this may be part of it); it was about God turning up and doing what he wants to do. As he manifests his presence, God’s people realise their need for a saviour, experience the supernatural and can’t escape the tangible work of the Holy Spirit. At Powerpoint our hope and prayer is that God would ‘presence himself’ and that we’d have the courage to follow his gentle lead. A girl from Powerpoint reminds us all why this is fundamental to what we do: “I really felt God speaking to me! That night it felt like I was anxiety free. It was amazing. Since then my faith has been lifted tremendously!”

This year’s theme is ‘Let’s go’ as we believe the gospel is for us and is shared through us as a sent people. These events across Scotland will have fantastic worship, brilliant speakers from across the UK and ministry time in an environment fuelled with fun, joy, peace and banter. It’s often said that we aren’t to pray for God’s blessing upon what we do but rather see where God is working and bless that. God is massively blessing Powerpoint and we just want to be part of it.

Andy Harding is national director of Powerpoint, powerpointscotland.com