Christian Connection at Greenbelt 2013
Christian Connection has a special connection with Greenbelt. We launched ourselves on an unsuspecting world at Greenbelt in 2000 and some of our earliest couples met via CC shortly afterwards. It has also been a great way to reach and connect with CC members. For about 5 years we ran some huge speed dating events with upwards of 500 people. Many found friendships and marriage but it was also very hard work. Since Greenbelt called time on speed dating, we have organised a number of more casual events either on the official programme or more commonly just inviting members and their friends to get together.
This year we arranged informal drinks on the Saturday afternoon at the Jesus Arms, after Natalie got the ball rolling via the CC meetups. The staff at the Jesus Arms were very welcoming, and allowed us a generous part of the area, and the people who were there for other reasons were very open and friendly. There was no downpour, and around 130 people turned up. No labels, no icebreakers, just red straws in drinks for identification purposes. Ariam and I were helped by some great volunteers Ellen, Natalie and Duncan who helped us set up, welcome people and handed out straws and chocolate treats. There was a great friendly atmosphere. While most people are Greenbelt regulars, some turned up just for our event, including the gentleman who turned up in a suit coming from a wedding about 2 hours late because of a motorway hold up. It was a relaxed time of chatting and sharing.
And not just single people…
One older couple turned up – to remind us they had met on Christian Connection about 13 years ago and came to every Greenbelt as well. Another couple happened to be sitting near the event and beamed that they too had met on Christian Connection!
And as I dismantled the CC banner at the end of proceedings, I clumsily nearly brought it down on another young couple nearby. They were also beaming at me, and told me that they (Steve and Frances pictured below) too had met on Christian Connection just two months ago. They immediately tweeted this: “@ChConnect sat in #JesusArms at #gb40 next to you guys with my gf I met via you guys 😀 next to “Jackie” 🙂 #Thanks”
And that for me is one of the very best things about Greenbelt. At the office we deal with queries, some complaints and some difficult stories and just everyday admin. But at Greenbelt you can wander around and suddenly members will say hello and introduce themselves and couples will come up sometimes with children and say how they met on Christian Connection or at Greenbelt or some other event. They will share their story, full of happiness and excitement.
Here is one such family – Chas, Clare with their daughter who met at Greenbelt Speed dating in 2003! Clare had carefully planned to attend the speed dating in advance but I remember having to coax Chas and a number of other rather wary chaps out of the Winged Ox Bar about 30 minutes before the event started to bump up the numbers of men. Not an unusual situation but with a wonderful outcome! Here they are 10 years on.
Looking to the future we would love to work with Greenbelt on providing more things to do for people on their own, both in terms of social events but also in the programme. There is a gap there and it’s time it was addressed.
Other Greenbelt highlights – well I really enjoyed the CC drinks but a special Communion Service based on Les Miserables hit the spot for me. Wow!
So what did you love or hate about Greenbelt this year? Share your stories with us.
