Newquay Pukey

Last week, a number of media outlets were running a feature on Newquay. Both the BBC and The Telegraph (see below) were covering a story about the deaths of two teenagers (Paddy Higgins aged 16 and Andrew Curwell aged 18) who were so drunk that they had fallen to their deaths from one of the cliffs near Newquay's beaches in two unrelated incidents. Paddy's parents had challenged the bar's underage drinking policy, claiming that they continued to serve alcohol to their son and his friends even when it was clear that they were already intoxicated (a criminal offence). They were urging other parents to boycott Newquay until assurances were given by the civic leaders and the police that the underage drinking policy was tightened up and enforced.

I really felt for this family. What a waste of a young life and how tragic that it should end in such dreadful circumstances; so drunk and out of control that a teenage boy stumbles off a cliff and falls to his death on the rocks below. Not even his friends were sober enough to stop him. All of us who are parents and even those who are not (like me) will pray that these parents somehow manage their grief and find a measure of peace about this whole sorry affair. Sadly, I fear that this will not be the last teenager to go to Newquay and end up either dead or messed up, having made very poor life-choices under the influence of drugs, alcohol and negative peer-pressure. According to estimates, 10 000 teenagers head for Newquay to celebrate the end of their exams. It has become something of an epicentre for excess; drink, sex, partying, drug use and so on.

Some of you may think that it is all a bit of innocent fun and I should lighten up: 'Boys will be boys' you may say and 'they've got to grow up sometime' and that this is an 'isolated incident' and the vast majority are fine. Well I think that attitude is both naive and, frankly, dangerous; the loss of one life warrants a thorough and unremitting analysis of this whole situation.

A few months ago God really spoke to me about...Newquay. I noticed that a pattern was starting to form and that each year a steady trickle of young people from BCC were going down there; it had become something of a tradition and an unwelcome one at that. This year was to be no exception and it sat heavy in my Spirit. After a lot of prayer, fasting, taking counsel and discussion with parents, I believed the Holy Spirit was telling me to address those Young People who were planning on going. My conviction was that they should not be going. I believed that Satan himself had earmarked this time for his own devilish purposes and all the forces of darkness were amassing for a strategic onslaught on a generation vulnerable and exposed in a way they would not normally be in the relative safety of home (Ephesians 6:12). He was going to be on the prowl (1 Peter 5:8) and looking for people to pick off (John 10:10).

I spoke to these young people and, on the whole, they received what I had to say. It was not easy as it had major financial implications for some and I did not make myself very popular with others as they had already been given the 'green light' by their parents and now here I was coming along and 'interfering'! However they honoured me. Moreover, some Parents who shared similar fears and concerns carefully explained their own position and made the decision for them.

I have no doubt that Paddy's parents would have talked to him about their concerns and pleaded with him to be careful only to be fobbed off with a 'it'll be fine, don't worry about it, I'm going with a load of mates, we'll do some surfing and have a few drinks. What could possibly go wrong?'.

The Bible has much to say about honouring those in authority over us including parents. In fact, Ephesians 6:2-3 (emphasis added) says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honour your father and mother" - which is the first commandment with a promise - "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."" See also: Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Matthew 15:4, Romans 13 and Hebrews 13:17.

Let me really clear here, I am not wagging the moral majority finger and apportioning blame. I am not lecturing these grieving parents or trying to score cheap points from the tragic death of a precious teenager life. Instead, I simply want to highlight that God's word is there for our benefit. I rejoice that the young people from this Church did not go to Newquay and that we will continue to teach the Kingdom Principles for as long as it takes the message to be heard, understood and obeyed!!

You can read more by clicking on the links below: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/5797351/Newquay-a-rite-of-passage-gone-wrong.html and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/5788686/Family-hits-out-at-towns-bars-after-underage-son-dies-after-booze-binge.html