“Why did God make flesh-eating maggots?” – A Reboot Local in Liverpool

Reboot Local in Liverpool was a night filled with thought-provoking discussions, deep questions, and powerful moments of connection. At the heart of the action were Alanzo Paul, who spoke on The Occult: Darkness, Blood & Power; Tom Price, who spoke on Is There Hope in a Chaotic World?’ and Tara van der Vilet, who made sure everything was running smoothly!

She asked, “Why did God make flesh-eating maggots?”

A youth leader knew a 14-year-old girl from a school who was always asking big questions about God. The youth leader encouraged her to attend the upcoming Reboot Local.

Growing up, she was encouraged to explore different beliefs—her sister is converting to Judaism, her dad is an atheist, and her mom follows Buddhist beliefs. She had been investigating Christianity but had yet to find a church community.

One of her many thought-provoking questions to her youth leader was: “Why did God make flesh-eating maggots?”—a testament to her inquisitive nature and deep desire to wrestle with challenging theological issues.

Throughout the event, she engaged in deep conversations, even staying afterwards to ask Alanzo many more questions. She initially expressed that this would be the only time she attended, but by the end of the night, her excitement was clear. As she left, she joyfully told others, “See you next week!”

We love meeting young people with a boundless curiosity because that’s why we exist. Reboot is a place where young people can bring their biggest questions, engage in honest conversations, and explore faith in a welcoming space.

They had questions about the brokenness of the world and suicide

Another young man shared that he was trying to support a friend struggling with self-destructive thoughts. This became a key topic during the Q&R (question & response) session, and the discussion resonated deeply with him. The team was able to connect him with a talk by Clinical Psychologist, Tom Smiley, offering further insights and compassionate guidance on the subject. This conversation reinforced the importance of creating safe spaces where young people can wrestle with tough questions and find hope.

Here is Tom Smiley’s talk, Why Do People Want to Die? A Psychological Conversation About Suicide and Trauma. This resource is for understanding, not for those in psychological distress.

Meanwhile, a different young woman wrestled with deep theological concerns about the brokenness in the world and its relationship to psychological conditions. She asked thought-provoking questions about how God can judge people when he potentially made them that way, opening a rich dialogue about faith, free will, and redemption.

They responded to the invitation to follow Jesus

Among the 20 young people who attended, four made a personal decision to follow Christ. It was an incredible reminder of why events like these matter—providing a place where young people can bring their questions, engage in honest conversations, and ultimately encounter the love and truth of Jesus. At the end of every Reboot event, the team do an invitation to ask if anyone would like to commit to following Jesus. Four young people responded to the invitation.

Reboot Local Liverpool was more than just an event; it was a night of real encounters, thoughtful exploration, and a glimpse into how God is working in the lives of young people. We’re excited to see what’s next for these students as they continue their journey of faith.