Summit through the lens

Being a cameraman can give you unrestricted access to an event you're part of. However, it can also cause you to get detached from it at the same time - like you're experiencing things through someone else's (electronic) eyes. So, here's my take on the recent Youthwork Summit - from through the viewfinder...

First things first - I've been eagerly anticipating this weekend for months. Basically since we wrapped on the very first one back in 2010. I've had fun and put the hours in to making some marketing & promotional content in the run-up. I've literally been there AND bought the t-shirt! Let's face it, the Summit was going to have to work very hard to be a disappointment to me. But in so many ways, it totally exceeded my expectations. So many points where I wanted to stop and take a mental picture - to bask in what was happening all around. So many "wow" moments. So many glimpses of God's smile over our scruffy-looking efforts...

The first "pause button" moment was arriving at the venue - bigger and more grand even than I'd pictured in my head. Suddenly the weight of responsibility was dawning on me. We had to capture this event - just us; no back-ups; no plan B - and our cameras were starting to feel rather tiny in our grasp. Then there was the moment, I looked up from my curry and conversation to look around the "Funhouse" dining area. To gaze on a room full of youth workers connecting, laughing together, encouraging & supporting one another put flesh on the bones of an idea that had been discussed many weeks before.

Then there was the day itself. As the room filled up with eager youthworker-types, I found myself pacing the aisles just trying to take it all in. Trying to picture what people were expecting. What hopes and reservations they had about the Summit. And I found myself grinning - despite a growing nervousness about making sure we captured the event faithfully for the cameras. Grinning, because it was all becoming a reality... again. Grinning, because I kept bumping into old and new friends. Grinning, just because...

I guess most people present will remember the speakers - and even from behind the camera, there were some great moments: Mark Roques' deliciously madcap metaphors for contemporary worldviews; Lyn Edwards' feisty, loo-brush-wielding enthusiasm for rural youth work; "90-something" John Langdon & his experience from the streets; Jo Davenport's "is-he-isn't-he" virtual youthgroup pitch; Katie Edwards' fascinating analysis of Christ & Eve imagery in advertising; Jason Royce's unforgettable stance ("stop being nice & give 'em knives") followed by a far more affecting punchline ("What will you do about the kids you hope don't turn up to youth group?!")... In fact, every speaker gave us something fresh yet challenging. Some were clearly conference platform supremos but most were simply youth workers sharing their successes & failures. Their dreams & battle scars. Cheered on by the great crowd of witnesses.

Leading worship, Rend Collective Experiment were sublime. As per last year. I suspect that, like last year, some may have found their songs unfamiliar (even leftfield - 'The Servant King' revived from the 80's) but again like last year, I imagine that few would have gone home unmoved by their creativity, passion & zeal. By the end of the day, the barn-storming 'Build your Kingdom here' was well and truly lodged in my head. The "In Yer Face" sketch was very powerful although, for me, probably suffered the most from a sense of detachment. It's very hard to really take in the message of a performance when you are constantly trying to reframe and refocus a camera on the actors. And then Mr Yaconelli - a consummate storyteller and sage. His unpacking of the soul and its role in our calling and spiritual adventure was heart-breaking, hilarious and (in the soon-to-be-legendary disco-dancing finale) utterly note-perfect. It's worth noting that very few people at the Summit (including most of the team and some of those involved) knew what was going to happen and boy, was it better for it too.

Personally, this was one of the over-arching themes of the whole Youthwork Summit and what set it apart from any previous "conference" (if indeed that's even a fitting description) I've ever been to. It was the light touches of humour and humanity - the memorable playfulness that balanced the challenges and provocation - that characterised the day for me. The kazoo worship & Martin's disapproving "stare". Tom's insanely inspired videos. The "blue screen of death" (an inspired "techy-joke"). The aforementioned finale. The Summit feels like an event for likeminds - and, unless it was an overindulgence in free Starbucks, it feels like everyone's on the same page - that shared connection of those who love Jesus and love young people.

As all present linked arms and a young person prayed over the assembled youth leaders, I panned my camera around to capture the scene. It was another poignant moment - but for me, one to simply witness not experience. We'd successfully captured things but occasionally had held things at arms (or a camera's) length. Don't feel too bad for me though - I wouldn't have swapped my front-row place for anyone's!