The Big Year Out

The Big Year Out gorup left Adelaide early on Saturday morning 6 July for a three week visit to the Philippines. The group, led by Lyn Leane and Andrew Robertson, is visiting the North Luzon district of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. During their visit, they will attend worship in Manila, visit [...]

In 2008, BYO participants have been in several local mission placements including…..
- an inner city church is starting a playgroup for Sudanese mothers and their kids, including home visits and day outings. Participants were able to get to know what refugee life in Australia is like.
- learning from a UC deacon, Adam, about how to support young [...]

This week we have been talking to Uniting Church international mission staff, and we have agreed to explore taking the Big Year Out group to the Philippines rather than Thailand in July 2008. There are a few reasons for this. We are committed to working with our local partner churches overseas, and don’t want to [...]

This year can change your life. Give yourself time to do more than just ask the big questions. Give God the space to be part of your search. Experience life in the Big Year Out and let God surprise you!
Peter Riggs,
Youth Pastor, Aberfoyle UC
We interviewed Pete about why he is excited about The Big Year [...]

Discipleship is a spiritual journey, and like a journey, it relies on our willingness and fitness to last the distance. Every Big Year Out participant has the opportunity to participate in a regular spiritual growth pattern.

From 5th to 27th July 2008, the BYO group will travel overseas for a 2½ week cross-cultural mission exposure trip. This will be a fantastic time of experiencing life in another culture, and learning about the faith and mission of Christians in another part of the world.
We are negotiating for this trip to take place [...]

Each week from the beginning of March, Big Year Out participants will be involved in a hands-on mission placement one day a week with a UnitingCare SA community service agency. This is an opportunity to experience Christian service first-hand and to learn about the lives and needs of people who are struggling.
Over the year you [...]

The Big Year Out starts with a crunch. a bang. a wake-up.
you’ve been in the one place for too long.
you need to get out of your comfort zone.
no, it’s not “Survivor”.
but it is about survival…
getting your spiritual blood vessels pumping.
shaking yourself into a new space where you can really look, listen and touch a new [...]

The Big Year Out experience includes a weekly ‘community day’, from March to November (with semester breaks).
Starting in March, the BYO group gather each Tuesday afternoon and evening for a whole range of activities – checking in on how our week has been, sharing in spiritual growth groups, talking about our weekly mission placements, sharing a [...]

Are you feeling the need for ‘time out’?
A change of direction…
Space to breathe…