The time for talk was over.

On Sunday, 2 January, NCYC-ers were let loose on the Gold Coast to turn up their faith through Submersions, a time for practical mission experiences doing something new.

Delegates spread out in all directions to serve and be challenged.

These were just some of the activities:

“Backyard bless” – visit the home of someone in need and clean up their house, yard or be of assistance where possible.

“Slum experience” – a simulation where delegates contend with unfair conditions and hazards of slum life while exploring the possibilities of positive social change.

“Habitat for Humanity” – delegates donate some labour to building a house for Habitat for Humanity.

“Blair Athol Accommodation services” – learn about homelessness and engage in service to homeless people.

“Monastery visit” – experience a different expression of faith.

One of the largest Submersions of ncyc11 was a visit to Pratten Park for a surprise flash mob experience.

A pre-concert by Remember 7 led to an “impromptu” dance by 250 delegates to Adam Cousens song ‘Happy is my smile’ which attracted lots of attention from passers by Kurrawa beach visitors.

A crazy, energetic, fun time? Yes. Used as a way to share a message of justice. After the dance, delegates handed out free fair trade chocolates to members of the public, wrote messages of love and justice in chalk and spoke with people about ‘Plan Be’ – being the change you want to see.

Dave Andrews, a Bible study leader at ncyc11 spent the week discussing the beatitudes and what he calls the ‘blessed revolution of Jesus’.

“The beatitudes are a really creative, ethical framework for living in, not just a meditation for people,” said Dave.

“In that framework we have a brilliant guideline to engage the world in the way Jesus did.

“We live in a world of poverty and violence, and if we treat people the way they treat us, we’ll just keep perpetuating that.

“So it’s about treating people the way you want to be treated.

“It’s about identifying with the poor in spirit.

“It’s about getting angry at injustice, but not aggressive.”

And for Dave, practising ‘Plan Be’ is what he does day in, day out.

Dave lives with his extended family in an intentional community in inner Brisbane, where their network seeks to engage with people locally in a way that reflects Christ’s radical commitment to the most marginalised and disadvantaged people in society.

“We try to develop significant relationships of trust with those people so that they can talk about issues that they’re struggling with and then we can join them around those issues,” said Dave.

“There’s an openness from many different groups at the moment to discuss global issues and look for local solutions to those problems.

“From supporting individuals who are going through a difficult time, to advocacy groups around issues, to developing cooperatives and social enterprises and political activism, to challenging issues of injustice.

“I’m hoping that NCYC delegates will affirm a commitment to Jesus and discover in the enchanting example of Jesus that there is a radical pattern for engaging the world.

“I don’t want to create such a big picture that people feel diminished in the face of overwhelming odds, but feel that anything they do, no matter how big or small, can make a difference.”

It’s that attitude of making a difference through actions that sums up what Submersions at NCYC is all about.

To find out more about Plan Be and the Waiters Union, visit http://wecan.be/ or http://www.waitersunion.org/

Watch the video of the Pratten Park Submersion here.