Gowanbank Development Appeal | 2024
The team at Gowanbank, our outdoor centre in Ayrshire, have a real passion to share the gospel and create experiences for children and young people to discover Jesus, some for the very first time. They offer opportunities to explore the Bible and respond to the significance of Jesus, and provide tools to help young people flourish in their faith when they return home.
A recent Motiv8 holiday (these holidays enable young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds to take part in an SU Holiday) at Gowanbank turned into a life changing experience for one boy, Dylan. He came with Cammy Swinton, SU Regional Worker for Dunbartonshire, alongside young people from the Ferrywell Project in Edinburgh, Room Sixty in Ayr and Glasgow City Mission in Govan.
Cammy comments, “At our Motiv8 holiday, relationships grew with children and memories were made that will never be forgotten. This was a week where children who had nothing, got the opportunity to learn about Jesus and the inheritance that they could have in him. A week where Jesus was slowly prodding away at the hearts of these children”.
Dylan was often pushed aside and misunderstood by his peers but somehow Cammy managed to connect with Dylan. When asking Dylan at the start of the week about Jesus, he would often reply with ‘meh, I don’t care’. At the end of the week there was an opportunity for the children to respond to Jesus and make a commitment to follow him. And incredibly, Dylan said, ‘This Jesus thing, I want to go for it’.
Cammy spent time with Dylan. He found that Gowanbank provided the perfect environment for him to come alongside Dylan, it being smaller and having such a homely feel. They considered the cost of being a Christian together and, with tears rolling down his face, Dylan said, ‘I want to follow Jesus’. Cammy and Dylan prayed together and Dylan committed himself to Jesus. What a privilege to share in that moment with him. Dylan said afterwards ‘this is a new chapter in my life’. God is good. Dylan has come to trust in Jesus. And it all started with a holiday at Gowanbank!
We need your help to offer more children and young people life changing opportunities, just like the experience Dylan had.
Watch the video below to hear more of how time at Gowanbank can change lives.
We thank God that for the part Gowanbank played in the life of Dylan. There are many more young people who could be reached with the gospel but rising costs, the (good old!) Scottish weather, lack of staff accommodation and maintenance needs all seek to challenge the future of the ministry at the centre. Your generous gift would help the centre reach its full potential, better serve its guests and ultimately see more young people discover Jesus and grow in faith.
Will you give a gift today? Any gift, big or small, could ultimately help a young person discover God’s love for them as they visit this wonderful centre.
Where work on a particular project is deemed to be sufficiently funded, SU Scotland may choose to re-direct any surplus to areas of greatest need.