How to create a slice of heaven

It was 1986, and Dave Dobbyn’s “Slice of Heaven” was booming out at the disco night of our youth camp. Before we knew it, the song had become the de facto theme for our weekend away.

Whilst the catchy hook made it difficult to get the song out of our heads (“na, na, na…”), we quickly embraced it as our motto because the phrase summed up everything the camp stood for.

Here was a place where I could join with other teenagers to find a sanctuary from our troubled and confused world.

We gathered together to enjoy the fruit of relationships, both with each other and with God.

This is the essence of heaven. And whilst we long for the day when we will experience this reality in full, our gathering was nonetheless a genuine ‘slice’ of heaven. It was a taste of the joy of knowing God and loving and being loved by those who know him.

Twenty years later, as I reflect on my experience of the camp, it is clear to me that the strategy of the whole youth ministry was as simple as it was profound.

Each week at youth group, the leaders gave us a slice of heaven, instead of trying to give us a slice of earth. In other words, they didn’t try to re-create a secular environment into which they would inject the gospel.

Rather, they presented a radically counter-cultural environment that embodied the gospel in all aspects.

This strategy had a two-fold effect. On the one hand, it was great for the committed Christian kids. As a Christian, I found the youth group to be a place where it was fashionable to be a passionate follower of Jesus, and in which I was equipped to serve him in all areas of life.

On the other hand, it was a great place to bring outsiders. As soon as a non- Christian walked into youth group they knew it was very different to anything they had ever experienced.

Teenagers were praying, singing, hearing the Bible and talking about ways to be more devoted to God.

There was nothing subtle about the Christian overtone. Yet, this was the very thing that many outsiders found attractive, and ultimately led to their conversion. These ‘seekers’ desired a radical alternative to the meaningless and confusion of life – and presenting them with a ‘slice of heaven’ was the perfect solution.

Jodie McNeill is a Youth Ministry Trainer and Year 13 Director at Youthworks College. Contact him at

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