FF 2008 - A Living Hope "Plus"

We can't fit all the information about Firm Foundations 2008 on to one page so here is a little extra or 'Plus' part for you to see what is happening throughout the weekend. Here you can find out about activities, workshops, the venues and much more. Do not forget to check out the artists page too for who is appearing and links to performers websites.

So what is 'A Living Hope'? Over the course of the weekend we aim to explore how we can be part of the Hope Revolution and make a difference in our life, our friends lives and in the community around us, really a continuation of the revolution Jesus started years ago. By the time you go away from the festival we want to have inspired you to be a light in the community around you, showing that young people can make a difference.

Devotions

To help you and your group delve into the theme before Firm Foundations starts you may wish to start to look at Hope in companies and groups when you meet. Here are a set of 4 devotions to use in the lead up:

• What is Hope?
• Life with Jesus - A Constant Hope
• Share the Hope
• In What Are We Hoping?

Here are some other verses that you can also focus your thoughts on:

• Romans 4: 18
• Romans 8: 23-25
• 2 Corinthians 3: 11-13
• Phillipians 1: 6-8
• Hebrews 6: 19
• 1 Peter 1: 2-4

Use these devotions and verses to help your young people get more from the festival teaching in May. Make sure you follow up after the festival as well.

Entertainment

As well as the bands and speakers there is plenty more entertainment on offer which we want you to get involved in.

FFTV & FF Radio - New for 2008, Firm Foundations TV and Radio will be broadast at different times throughout the weekend.

FF's Got Talent – Firm Foundations casts a eye over the entertaining skills of our festival goers. Have you got what it takes to impress the judges with your talents?

125 service - The BB is 125 years old this year, and as such it's right that we come together and celebrate all that BB has done and meant, as well as what it is going to be in the future.

Venues

V2 - V2 returns after a years break to host some additional choices to the programme. The Fringe stage will showcase various bands and different acts over the weekend in a smaller venue to the Big Top.

Soak - Soak is breaking out of the confines of one venue and will be popping up in different places, making it more accessible to be able to spend time chilling out away from the hustle and bustle of the festival. Maybe you need to pray or find new ways of creating worship. Soak will also be hosting some of the workshops.

Reel-2-Real - Reel-2-Real is also back giving you the opportunity to enjoy movies throughout the weekend, and then discuss the film content.

Ignite – Firm Foundations night club is still here! Be prepared to come and dance the night away to classic pop and cheesy dance tunes and expect to find some fancy dress and themed nights.

Refresh - Want some time to grab a coffee or cake? If so then Refresh is the place to head as it will be serving hot drinks, cakes and biscuits through out the festival.

The FF shopadrome and Wesley Owen will be available to buy your Firm Foundations, BB or GB merchandise and Christian literature and music. Light refreshments will also be available.

Activities

We are bringing you a busy activities programme again this year. We have the following activities already confirmed:

• Abseiling
• Climbing Wall
• Football with a UEFA Qualified Coach
• Canoeing
• It's a Knock Out

Workshops

Firm Foundations will be offering plenty of workshops and seminars for all ages to attend throughout the weekend. So whether you are a Young Person exploring all that FF has to offer or a seasoned leader make sure you check out the sessions on offer. We challenge you head to a workshop that you may have no previous interest in!

Who do you think you are? - Avanti Ministries evangelist Sonya Newton will be running this one-hour workshop for girls looking at self-esteem and self-image. Participants will learn how to take other peoples’ opinions a little less seriously and how to look at themselves the way God sees them. The session will consist of a talk and a light-hearted discussion.

How to pray - God’s voice can sometimes be hard to hear – so this session will look at how you can listen, hear and know his voice in your life. A combination of practical advice from experience and some practice will equip you to transform the way you live your life with God. Aimed at 13 to 18 year olds, this one-hour workshop will be run by Richard Barker, and will feature reading, prayer and listening.

Bible studies on Psalm 62 - This three-part workshop will encourage both leaders and young people who want to go deeper with God’s word. The Saturday morning session is called Change Me – Finding hope in God alone; Sunday morning’s is called Change My Friends – Living in such a way that others discover hope is only found in God; and Monday morning’s is called Change My World – Enabling a hope-less world to find hope in God. The workshops, which each last 60 minutes, are run by Donald Campbell, Team Leader at Sutton Coldfield Baptist Church and former youth minister.

Jesus & uni - If you’re wondering what it’s like to be a Christian at university now’s your chance to find out. This one-hour workshop, aimed at teenagers about to go to university, will look at what to expect once you get there and how you can prepare yourself spiritually and practically. A third-year music student at Birmingham Conservatoire, who is studying jazz piano, will run the session.

Gospel choir workshop - Learning to sing and being part of a gospel choir will be the subject of this workshop - run by a band of committed Christian musicians. Participants will pick up singing skills, teamwork and worship leading skills – plus they’ll get the chance to learn two songs ready to perform.

Video making - Anyone with imagination is invited to attend this workshop, which will revolve around filming and editing a video on a certain theme – Living Hope. Participants will learn video filming and editing skills, how to transfer ideas and concepts into a product, and how to communicate a message through video.

BB Council - Never been to Brigade Council? Then come along to this workshop to find out more. You’ll get a preview of this year’s Council at Tulliallan, hear what’s on the agenda, listen to others’ opinions and have your say on the future of BB. Run by Steve Dickinson, Brigade Secretary, this 45 to 60-minute workshop is aimed at leaders.

Discover & challenge plus - Had the opportunity to use Discover yet? Challenge Plus comes out this summer. Why not learn how to operate both in your company by attending this workshop for leaders? Run by Brigade Secretary Steve Dickinson, you’ll get the chance to learn more and have those tricky questions answered in a 45 to 60-minute session.

BB 125 th anniversary - Everyone is welcome to this workshop to find out more about how the BB’s 125 th anniversary year will be celebrated and how they and their companies can get involved. Come along to ensure that you don’t miss out on any exciting opportunities.

Change my community - The challenge to change a community through simple acts of kindness appears pretty straightforward. But what’s it like in reality? Brigade Secretary Steve Dickinson runs this workshop for everyone interested - and will help you to find out more using reading, prayer and discussion.

Self-esteem for young men - Young men, aged between 13 and 18, will get the chance in this workshop to learn that self-esteem doesn’t come from within or from others but is rooted in our identity in Jesus. This one-hour workshop, run by Richard Barker from the 2 nd Bournemouth BB, will emphasise that healthy self-esteem is about learning to love yourself the way God made you, instead of trying to change his original blueprint.