Ian Savory interviewed by Sandie Keetch

Young at Heart

Ian Savory is a pioneer who has touched the heart of the youth culture to share the Gospel. He has helped form the next generation of Christian leaders as a former Norwich Youth for Christ director.

He was unafraid of taking risks and severing successful missions before they run their course. His causes broke new ground to win national headlines, raise social awareness and capture interest from both secular and Christian audiences. 

With more than 20 years in youth work, the father of two says: “I made mistakes but I had some successes too.” 

Success includes laying the foundation the growing Norwich nightclub ministry.  About 15 years ago, as an NYC youth worker, Ian was astounded by queues of up to 15,000 youngsters outside the city’s nightclubs. When he became NYFC director he earmarked a former Operations Gideon student as chaplain at Ikon. 

His negotiations with four different nightclub managers later secured NYFC’s on-going pastoral care at Ikon which has spawned thirty volunteers take the Good News to a broken society through practical and relevant Christianity.  At times they are the only people some youngsters can talk to.

Annual contacts are made with over 3000 people and conversations range from pregnancy, abortion and suicide to church and God. National publicity has inspired other Christians to visit and duplicate the scheme that runs four nights a week. 

“Today’s youngsters live in a selfish, materialistic culture,” says Ian who organised NYFC trips to Poland to challenge their thinking. The result – youngsters gained a perspective alien to Western materialism.  Often speechless and tearful, they reflected on the lives of poor and suffering Christians who had lost everything to follow Christ. The trips birthed new, youth efforts to raise cash for other projects.     

Fun community projects also aroused compassion to serve the community when NYFC recreated the Blitz and 100 old folk enjoyed a novel tea party. It also provided an unforgettable platform for a Salvation Army Colonel to share his testimony. 

NUFC is at the sharp end of school culture through its Rock Solid Clubs that spreads Christianity through fun, lifestyle issues, social awareness and citizenship. The Christian charity also works with schools and agencies to curb spiralling truancy but is primarily seen as an educator. “Easter Unwrapped” retells the Easter story. “It has been a huge success throughout the years as many youngsters had never heard it before,” says Ian.

Breakfast clubs draw teenagers to NYFC for a bite to eat and chat before starting the school day. The outreach bus makes regular visits to youth clubs and schools. The gospel is also channelled into learning through relevant creative arts with The Herbert Theatre Company. 

At  the core of the work is the desire “to reflect Christ and the wholeness He brings to NYFC so whatever is spoken is seen,” says Ian. 

It is a long road from initial contact to conversion.  “Today’s generation have lived a life-time of negativity about the Church and Christianity, partly through the media. The Sunday school legacy has also gone, so the heart of the gospel isn’t in the heart of the youth,” explains Ian. 

“So many youngsters have no future purpose but by allowing them opportunity you never know what God will ignite,” continues Ian, who has seen many he has nurtured in faith become youth leaders, church pastors and Bible college students. 

His call to today’s youth has caused both joy and pain. 

“It is terrible to sit at the bedside of a youngster who has committed suicide because he could not understand that God loved him. But joy comes from seeing those who are still alive because they have met people who love Jesus. 

“There is also the joy in seeing a lad give his testimony as he smiles from ear to ear because he knows he is doing what God wants,” says Ian.