Toongabbie Anglican Church Blog

Weekly Blurb What ‘Ignites’ at TAC

What ‘Ignites’ at TAC

Sunday 7 May, 2006 · Posted by Neil Atwood

Youth ministry at churches tends to be one of the forgotten elements of week to week ministry. Most adult members of churches like ours are only too happy to have the ‘young people’ run a youth group – just so long as they are neither seen nor heard very often!

But the truth is, youth and children’s ministries are the life-blood of churches like TAC. For example:

  • The vast majority of people in cultures like ours become Christians sometime before they are 20 years old. How? Usually though children’s or youth ministries at the local church and/or in local schools.
  • Youth ministries are vital training grounds for future ministry roles. Most people currently in full time ministry caught the bug for it by doing ministry in the context of youth and/or children’s groups. Even more actively ministering adult church members can say the same thing.

At TAC, our youth groups are the single biggest source of new Christians in our church!

At TAC, our youth ministry is the single biggest source of new leaders for our church and beyond!

Tim Adams cut his ministry teeth in youth leadership. Laura Rowland in children’s, and now youth work. Chris Forder started out in youth leadership in another church, and now shares his passion and enthusiasm in the work here.

We should thank God for our youth leaders, and the commitment and energy they invest in introducing so many young people to Jesus and building many new Christians. We benefit enormously from this at TAC, but (more importantly) the wider Kingdom of God does too.

So it’s sad when a number of parents appear to treat our youth group and their ministry teams in a less than helpful way. We’ve had a number of situations where parents have made the work that much harder than it need be for leaders in a number of ways.

If you are a youth group parent, please be supportive of the leadership teams. Ask them how things are going, consult with them if there are any perceived problems, and pray for them and the work.

If you are not a youth group parent, you can still do those things.

And here are some things you can be praying about:

  • For the rearranged ‘One80’ and ‘Ignite’ groups as they start out this term. Pray for continued growth in number and knowledge and love of God.
  • For the Weekend Away coming up in June. Pray for an excellent and safe time away and for powerful, life-changing teaching and time together.
  • For continued impact in Pendle Hill High School.
  • For the building up of leaders in training.

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