Here is a collection of memories from NEEC over the years, please feel free to add your own by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page!
NEEC 50th years Anniversary
Glory to God
NEEC and MNEEC
Sometime in 1974 when I was a student in The Methodist Bible College Cliff college, the administrator came to ask me about the Chinese wishes to hire the Cliff Hall for an Easter conference. It was the beginning of the story of the North England Easter Conference. We used Cliff College Hall for many years till our numbers have grown so many, to the number they cannot accommodate us. In between, when the local Cantonese residences started to attend the NEEC. we started interpreting the meetings into Cantonese.
About 10-12 years later, Mandarin NEEC come into existence when British cities began to see big influx of number of main Chinese students arriving in our cities to study. When we tried to attract this group of students to come an learn something about Christianity. Initially, we started by inviting them to come and join the NEEC with Cantonese interpreting, but through conversation with them, we discover the language was still a barrier, hence we decided to have a separated MNEEC. We started it with a small scale, in an Annex building of Quinta. But later we wanted it to be part of the NEEC, hence we discussed within the committee, and decided to in cooperate the Mandarin group.
As over the years, we see NEEC growing numbers of children and teen, the children work initially started to enable the adults to be able to attend the speaker’s session, gradually it grew from there to have youth camp. I remember that, because my children once upon a time gone through the early day of youth camp.
Today 50 years later, we seen NEEC become such a blessing to many families and touched so many lives. I personally led quite a few to Christ down the years at NEEC. We praise God for the many lives, both young and old, that turned to Jesus through the time they spent in NEEC, we need to thank God for all those over the years who worked hard at the camp. The committee members, the children’s workers, the youth leaders, the pastoral workers etc. In the early day, we had to cater for it ourselves, and did the washing up at Cliff College, for over 250 people, such love and dedication which show for the Lord Jesus because He first loved us. Hence, at this memorable Easter, we give thanks to God for NEEC, and the many who have worked hard for enable some to come to Christ, and many lives were challenged and transformed because of attending NEEC.
Glory to God!
By pastor Kim Chan
Leeds Chinese Chrisitan Church.
15.2.2024
Memories of the Childrens Work at the NEEC
We have been involved with leading the children’s work at the NEEC for over 15
years and every year have been blessed. During this time we have been at many
different venues and locations around the country and based the themes of the
children’s work in a variety of situations as well, from castles to circus tents,
building sites to in the jungle, space ships and on the sea.
It has been great as we have seen the children’s work grow and to hear how they
were excited to come to the conference. Also to recognise children and see them
and their siblings grow both physically and spiritually. Many of whom we still see
at different Church weekends, events now as youth and young adults, stepping out
on their own journey with God.
Memories we have such as filling the corridors at Swanick when the room was too
small, climbing, what the children thought were thousands of steps to the sports
Hall at Ampleforth. Also reaching the sports hall at Moreton Hall to be met with
archery!!
It can never be said that the children’s conference is quiet with lots of singing and
music but at Cefn Lea conference centre we actually had to move rooms as the
youth next door had drums and were louder that us during their worship sessions.
Often we would join the family service on the last day where the children sang
some of the songs and we would do a presentation to show what we had been
learning. On one of these occasion we remember there being lots of laughter
during the translation and were told after that the translator had said, everytime
Charlie the chimpanzee puppet spoke, ‘the monkey says’ which everyone was
amused at rather than saying Charlie. We were difficult to translate.
With about 2 crafts a day we have made kites, mobiles, crowns, shields to name just
a few and enjoyed sticking, colouring and cutting as well as making lots of mess!!
The leaders who have helped us over the years have all been great in their own
ways and a pleasure to work with. Some coming back over many years as they
enjoy it so much. The different organisers of the NEEC have also been great,
listening and helping to make the children’s programme a safe and fun learning
environment where we can be creative with the children and have a great social
time. It has always been a very special place where God has been glorified and the
Holy Spirit has planted many seeds in the lives of children and leaders. We have
been greatly blessed by it and see it as a real priviledge to do.
Ian & Elaine Coules
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