There was plenty of excitement, laughter, worship and new friendships as young people from across the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit travelled to Birmingham for 3Generate, the Methodist Church in Britain’s annual children and youth assembly.

Held at the NEC in Birmingham from 2–4 October, 3Generate brought together children and young people aged 8–18 from across the Methodist Church for a weekend of faith, fun, worship, creativity, conversation and community.

Among those taking part were young people from Hanham, Staple Hill, Zion, Horfield and the Zimbabwean Fellowship in Westbury-on-Trym, joining thousands of others from across the country.

On the Way

This year’s theme was “On The Way”, inviting young people to think about faith as a lifelong journey and to consider what their next step with God might be.

The theme was rooted in Jesus’ words from John 14:6:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

Throughout the weekend, young people were encouraged to explore what it means to follow Jesus through worship, prayer, conversation, creativity, movement and reflection. The programme was designed not simply as a weekend away, but as an opportunity for young people to discover that they are part of a much bigger Methodist family.

The weekend began on Friday evening and continued throughout Saturday with activities, worship and opportunities to meet other young people. Sunday concluded with collective worship before everyone headed home – tired, perhaps, but with plenty to talk about.

And, of course, there was the camping! Staying together at the NEC added another dimension to the adventure, with friendships continuing long after the scheduled activities had finished. 3Generate provides tents on site, making the whole weekend a very different experience from an ordinary youth event.

A weekend to remember

For the young people from our Circuit, the weekend was an opportunity to step outside their usual groups, meet new people and experience the wider Methodist Church.

One reflection from Westbury-on-Trym captured the atmosphere beautifully:

“What an amazing weekend at 3Generate! What a joy and privilege it was to spend the weekend with our young people.”

Westbury-on-Trym brought 12 young people, with nine attending 3Generate for the very first time. Their experience was one of enthusiasm, openness and excitement as they discovered everything the weekend had to offer.

“From worship and prayer to games, activities, conversations, friendships and exploring faith together, it was a weekend full of faith, fun, learning, fellowship and new experiences.”

For those attending for the first time, a weekend like this can be a significant moment. Walking into a huge gathering of young people from across the Methodist Church can feel daunting, but it can also open a door to new friendships, greater confidence and a sense of belonging.

That was certainly the experience for many of our young people.

“It was especially encouraging to see those attending for the first time make new friends, grow in confidence and engage so positively with the wider Methodist youth community.”

Faith, friendship and fun

One of the great strengths of 3Generate is the way faith is woven into the whole experience. Worship is not separated from fun, friendship and creativity; instead, young people are given space to encounter God in different ways and to ask questions about what faith means in their own lives.

The Methodist Church describes the “On The Way” theme as an invitation for every young person, whatever their starting point, to take a meaningful next step with God.

That journey does not finish when the tents are packed away.

This year, every young person attending received an “On The Way Adventure Book”, designed to help them continue exploring faith during the year ahead, with weekly opportunities to stay curious, connected and open to what God might be doing in their lives.

“Already looking forward to next year!”

Perhaps the best measure of a successful weekend is what happens afterwards.

One group returned home with a simple but powerful report:

“Our Junior Church members and leaders made it home from 3GENERATE, safe and sound. Exhausted, but very happy. A great time was had by all. Already looking forward to next year!”

That sense of joy and anticipation is something to celebrate.

A huge thank you goes to all the young people who took part, along with the parents, youth workers, church leaders and volunteers who made the weekend possible. Thank you also to everyone across the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit and the wider Methodist family who supported, encouraged and prayed for our young people.

As our young people continue “On The Way”, may the friendships, questions, experiences and moments of worship from 3Generate stay with them.

And may they continue to discover that they never walk the journey alone.