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Synopsis
The debut album from the 2012 X Factor winner tells the story of his year, and spiritual journey, since winning the competition. The parental advisory label on the album does not relate to any of these tracks.
Introduction
The phrase ‘journey’ is often overused on TV talent shows, but it can be a helpful image. This session takes your group on a journey, using three tracks from the album, to help them explore where they are now and how they can move on.
Preparation
Use a roll of lining paper to create a road on the floor around your venue, which you can travel along together. You will also need copies of the lyrics and a selection of pens and craft materials.
The session
Gather your group at the start of your ‘road’ and introduce the session. Remind your young people that each of us will have a very different experience of life and that you want them to take the opportunity to reflect on their own personal life journey.
Track 1: Recovery (track 6)
Play the track, asking your young people to focus on how the singer feels at this, the starting point of his journey. Using pens and other craft materials, what can they add to your road to represent the singer’s starting point? How does he feel at this point? What encouragement or advice would you offer him now?
Track 2: Get Down (2)
Move to a point halfway along your ‘road’ and play the track. Tell your young people that this is the moment where the singer’s life changes and despair is replaced with hope. How can you show this visually on the road you have created? Can anyone share their own similar stories?
Track 3: New Tattoo (3)
Take your group further down the line and play the track. Make sure you do not travel to the end of the paper, to emphasise that when God breaks into our life it is not the end, but a new beginning. How can we represent this on the roadway? Is anyone happy to share their own story of God changing their life in this way?
Look back along your road and remind your young people that this has just been one story. What would your young people need to do to make this road more representative of their journey? Allow time and materials to make the changes, perhaps adding more side streets, more hurdles, a comfort stop, etc.
Invite your young people, if they are comfortable, to stand at a point which represents where they think they are at now. Pray for each other as you close, that you would travel well together.
Becky May is a freelance writer. She is involved in Wixams Church, Bedfordshire, and is Bedfordshire’s Messy Church regional coordinator.
