The Cliff College Trek ran from 11-14 April 2022, through Lancashire from Leyland to Morecambe.
What is the Trek?
In 2022 we retraced the route of the last Cliff Trek, which was in 1960. The Trek started on Monday of Holy Week in Leyland and finishished on Maundy Thursday with an open-air service on Morecambe sea front. We walked approximately ten miles per day, and over the four days we visited ten churches along the route and hosted four celebration services.
Our group of Trekkers included staff and students from Cliff College, members of the Methodist Church in Lancashire and visitors from around the country. You can watch our highlights video below. The Trek 2023 dates and location will be announced soon - check back on this page in the coming weeks, or email us at principalpa@cliffcollege.ac.uk for more information.
The Good News
We enjoy walking in God’s beautiful creation. When God created the world, God said that it was good. When God created human beings, God said it was very good.
However, since the beginning of time human beings have chosen to walk away from God, wanting to walk their own path which has separated us from God and meant that we don’t reach our full God-given potential. Christians call this sin.
God continues to love all of creation, and longs for a relationship with every single human being. In order to restore this relationship, so that sin no longer separates human beings and God, God chose to step into the world and walk alongside us. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, walked on earth so that we can see and understand who God really is.
Jesus walked on earth in order to pay the price of our sin. Jesus was forced by his creation to walk and carry the cross on which he died, but three days later he rose from the grave and defeated death so that our relationship with God could be restored.
If we believe in Jesus, we can live life in all its God-given fulness and ultimately, we will not die at all but have eternal life.
God the Holy Spirit resides in those who believe, walking with them on their journey – teaching and guiding them along the way.
One day God will make everything new and sin will be defeated once and for all.
Sometimes I find that I struggle to live my life in the way that I really want to live it. I have kept trying to fulfil my deepest needs with things that leave me wanting more. They do not satisfy me, but Jesus Christ died on the cross so that I can live the best life. His resurrection proves that my relationship with God has been restored and I am forgiven. As I grow in my relationship with God, He continues to free me from my struggles, fully satisfies me and blesses me with ‘the peace of God which transcends all understanding'.
Matt, Rishton Methodist Church - part of the Cliff Year 2021-22
Prayer
Christians believe that God wants to be in a relationship with everyone and that we’re all able to talk to him in prayer. Jesus’ death on the cross means that we can speak directly to God when we pray. Whenever we pray, we can be assured that God is listening to us. We can invite God into our lives and follow Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
This is a prayer you might like to pray:
'Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ into the world to help me know you. Thank you, Jesus, for going to the cross to die for my sin. I am sorry for living my life without you in the centre of it. I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and that I am forgiven. Holy Spirit help me walk the rest of my life with Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, and as a child of God. Amen.'
I’ve been going to church all my life and always respected my parents' Christian faith. When I was 13, I decided to make my own commitment to God. I was baptised and became a member of my church. This was an important step for me in knowing that God accepts me, and I felt a greater sense of belonging to God’s family. Since coming to Cliff College in September, my faith has grown stronger as I’ve grown closer to God. I haven’t just got to know God better, but I have realised that God knows me personally.'
Emma, Fairhaven Methodist Church - part of the Cliff Year 2021-22
Find out more
If you would like to find out more about the Christian faith then this website is a great place to start to find out what Christianity is all about. You can find out the basics of what Christians believe about God and answers to your questions.
Check out this website to find out more about the Lancashire Methodist Churches and find a church near you.