Youth Ministry

I spent the first half of the year as a parent on the sidelines, watching Steven and the youth ministry exiting the pandemic, and joining the ‘All In’ as the speaker in May.

During summer 2022 I met the leaders and put on a few fun summer events, getting to know the youth and leaders. Then in September we made a few changes to balance the faithful Bible teaching with fun and growing friendships on Fridays. We started teaching on Jonah and followed with an advent series from Isaiah and the gospels. We regularly get 50 youth, something that has been fairly consistent this year, but we long to grow and reach more youth.

On Sundays we started a senior group on Sunday mornings alongside the junior youth group, regularly seeing 25 youth in the morning (15 junior and 10 senior). Sunday evenings lacked youth support and so we started a group that now meets after the evening service, (8-10 youth).

This year I have been keen to get the youth serving: Summer bible club, ‘Youth takeover’ services, and during the monthly youth gatherings, puppets and music as well as acolytes, readers and prayers.

In December we took 35 on a Junior Youth retreat to Kawkawa whilst the Senior Youth enjoyed laser tag at the Laser Dome.

Coming up in 2023:

We have a Senior retreat in February, a youth mini mission to Victoria in March, and the All-In Retreat in May, as well as the usual gathering on Fridays and Sundays. The grade 12 girls have a retreat with their parents, the grade 12 boys meet fortnightly for donuts and discipleship. We look forward to the return of Kathy in the summer knowing that Lorna steps down at Easter and there are several gaps on Fridays particularly with the girl’s groups.