The Future is Bright: Reflections on Newday 2025
Last week, more than 10,000 young people gathered at Norfolk Showground to encounter God and be transformed in His presence. As Newday celebrated its 21st year—and its biggest gathering yet—the sense of rising faith for the next generation and the future of Jesus’ church was unmistakable.
Over the course of the week, hundreds responded to an invitation to put their faith in Jesus for the first time. Crowds streamed forward to shared testimonies of experiencing healing miracles. God was moving powerfully—and it was a joy to be invited back for the second year running to lead a seminar stream focused on helping Gen Z capture God’s heart for those living in poverty and equipping them to act.
The ‘Call to Act’ Seminar Stream
Our sessions took place in The Dugout, which became home to the ‘Call to Act’ stream. Over 1,000 young people attended one of the four sessions throughout the week. Using Jesus’ commands in Mark 12 as our springboard, we explored how loving God means loving the hurting, the hard-hearted, the hopeless, and the hungry.
Each session featured powerful testimonies and interviews with people in their twenties who had personally encountered poverty—whether economic, relational, aspirational, or spiritual.
We heard from Josh, who shared how God spoke to him at Newday just a few years ago about His heart for the vulnerable and marginalised. That encounter led Josh to begin volunteering with Safe Families and mentoring two younger boys from a background of hardship.
Teenagers were visibly engaged and moved, particularly during Ethan’s raw and honest story. He described experiencing hunger and instability at home:
“When I fell, no one caught me.”
Ethan’s life was changed when he gave his life to Jesus and found community in the church. He shared a profound moment with his life group leader who told him:
“You will never sleep on the streets again. We will simply not allow it.”
Give aways & Games
To help these truths sink deeper, each session included creative giveaways designed to prompt reflection and action:
- Hot chocolate sachets encouraged youth to step away for quiet moments with God.
- Love Hearts reminded them of God's nearness to the brokenhearted.
- Instant noodles were a call to action—once home, they’d be reminded to find their nearest food collection point and develop a lifestyle of loving the hungry.
Of course, there was also laughter and energy—ketchup squirting, arm wrestling, and a highlight: our very own Natalie Williams proving that she could throw someone twice her size over her shoulder (thanks Alfie for volunteering!).
A Bright Future for the Church
Weeks like this remind us: the future of the church is in good hands. A new generation is emerging—one that’s not only passionate about worship and truth but eager to live out God’s love in action. It’s a great privilege to teach and testify to God’s heart for those in poverty—and to see Gen Z stepping up to carry that heart into the world.