The Church Of Ireland
News Briefing

SUMMER MADNESS

Ireland's largest Christian Arts and Worship Festival organised by the Church of Ireland Youth Council

Summer Madness, Ireland's premier outdoor Christian Festival, celebrates its 12th year in style this year. Around 4000 young people are expected to descend on Gosford forest park (near Armagh) between Friday 26th June and Tuesday 30th June for what promises to be an exceptional event!

As in previous years the programme boasts an impressive diversity in music, drama, debate, worship, workshops, and activities.

Speakers this year include the world-renowned, controversial Tony Campolo whose infectious enthusiasm, social conscience and profound message make listening to what he has to say a must!

Tony Campolo has spent two terms on the International board of Habitat for Humanity. The Belfast affiliate of Habitat was established in 1994 and has been working across the communities to restore hope, by approaching social and economic issues, by building houses for ownership with people in need. Projects in Belfast have included work on the Iris Close and Glencairn estates. Habitat for Humanity will also be at the event.

Tony Campolo is the founder and president of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education - an organisation that is concerned with educational, economic and medical development in a number of Third World countries. He has also been involved with work centred around the problems of America's inner-cities.

Tony Campolo is a best selling author with 25 books currently in print, including "Twenty Hot Potatoes Christians are afraid to touch", "Everything You've Heard is wrong" and "Carpe Diem".

The other main speaker this year is firebrand, Alf Cooper, who has spent 15 years working with SAMS in Chile and time in Santiago as a church planter. His broad experience and perspective from S. America is bound to challenge some of the parochialism we face on this tiny corner of the globe. Both these speakers are the main leaders at an international conference of Anglican Bishops (pre-Lambeth) in July in Canterbury. The varied line up of resource people presenting workshops and seminars also includes Rev John Boyers, the Manchester United chaplain (our only concession to world cup fever!)

As ever the arts programme for the event promises to be spectacular with the welcome return of the hugely popular Soul Food Café and the launch of Re-Activate, a new live music venue. Acts include local and overseas, names: Booley House, Halcyon Days, Beehive, Hydro, DBA, and Fruit.

A wide range of issues will be tackled at the event covering a range of topics from drugs to the Internet, abortion to Northern Ireland.

Debates over the weekend will examine a number of issues including the influence of television and the contentious question of segregated education.

The Saturday night Big Top event is also due to be broadcast live over the internet with video and audio images available for all who log-on and want to enjoy the experience from the comfort of home! This multimedia aspect to the festival, including the brand new Internet Café, with facilities that are second to none, opens the door for a world-wide audience.

Any one requiring further information on the event feel free to contact us at http://www.summermadness.co.uk