As I look to utilise this blog in a more determined and focused way in 2011 I thought I might take a brief moment to outline some of my plans for 2011, which you can expect to shape and influence my blogging this year.

Sync Young Adults
At Inglewood this year we have started a new group for young adults aged 16+. This will mostly consist of our youth from Sync last year, most of whom are entering years 11 and 12 in 2011. Over my years in Youth Ministry I have found that at around about 15-16 years of age, the dynamics change with teenagers and they begin to interact with leaders in a different way to when they are 12-15. The typical ‘friday night event’ youth ministry model doesn’t connect as well with this age group in my opinion. As such we are looking to use a different model with this age group in the hope we can better transition them towards an adult faith and involvement with the greater church.

Some of these idea’s are;
1. The formation of a dedicated, weekly small group for this group which includes fun, food & discipleship.
2. Opportunities for this age group to serve, both with the younger Sync Youth group and in the greater church context.
3. More 1-1 or 2-2 style relationship times, where adult mentors can build into them and speak directly into their life situations.

None of this is particularly new or ground-breaking, but hopefully we will see them engaging with the church in more mature, adult-like ways.

Sync Youth
I have always felt that the typical youth group works best with youth aged roughly 12-15. This age group is high energy and just seems to crave interaction with older teens and adults. They are generally happy to go with the flow and are less critical of things that are not as they would like. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a difficult age to work with, if you get it wrong they can shun you all the more, but I tend to find them willing to listen to and learn from older role models. A less hard ‘edge’ than older teenagers seem to acquire.

The Hub
Another hat that I am currently wearing, as if building a youth ministry from the ground up is not enough, is lead pastor of a church plant aimed at university students at a local university. We are in the early stages of this plant, and there is much to discuss. For the next few months expect to hear of our endeavours to serve students as they move in to the on-site student village.

My Book
Yes, my book is still on the horizon. As I have said before, I began to write a book during my travels in 2009. Originally I planned to work hard on it in 2010 however I have realised that this particular project is going to be a few years in the making. I mostly want to write the book for my own purposes, to help me solidify what I think and feel regarding ministry to youth and young adults, however I also believe my journey could be useful for other people so I intend to document my journey as I go. I have already road tested some of me theories and will continue to do so in the hope that when my book is complete it is more than just a heap of ‘theories’ and ‘throughts’ but stories backed up my real life experience. Only time will tell how this goes!

So there is a very, very brief overview of my plans and some of which you can expect to hear about. I will also be endeavouring to write my story, how I got to where I am today. This will likely be 12-20 entries spread out throughout the year.

I hope you enjoy!

I have just returned from the funeral service for Pastor Graham Johnston. Pastor Graham has had a major influence on my life. Back in 1989 he married Tracey, his wife, and started in the role as Senior Minister at Subiaco Church of Christ. Shortly after this, in 1990, my family began to worship at his church.

My first involvement with Graham was in 1993 when I decided, at 8 years of age, to be baptised. I still remember sitting in the little room by the old stage, which I believe was his office. He was asking me some questions about faith and baptism, making sure that I understood the commitment that I was making. I obviously answered them to his satisfaction because on May 2nd, 1993 he baptised me in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Shortly after this we moved to Albany.

Graham’s influence on my life was only beginning. In 2003 I moved back to Perth to attend university and once again started to attend Subiaco Church of Christ. I remember the first day I walked into the church, welcomed by many people but welcomed by name by Graham. He still remembered me, 10 years later. Graham always amazed me with his ability to remember people.

In 2004 I began to work at Subiaco Church of Christ. Though during my 4 years there I didn’t have a lot to do with Graham in a professional capacity, the way he led the staff team inspired me. He seemed to be able to strike the balance between being hands off, allowing his staff to do their job, and hands on when it was needed. I was also blessed to travel to Madagascar in 2005 with him and sit under some of the best, most dynamic teaching I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. If you think he was a good preacher and teacher on the pulpit in Australia, he was simply inspiring on that trip. Somehow he managed to take really complex biblical doctrines and simplify them enough so that every person in the room in Madagascar understood what he said. This was quite some feat as some 5% spoke English, most people relied upon Graham’s ability to make simple statements that were easy to translate.

When I left the staff team at Subi for new pastures, Graham wished me the best and every time I went back to visit, he would seemingly go out of his way to say hi and ask me how things were going. As late as June last year, right around the time he was diagnosed with cancer, he saw me at church and stopped me for 5 minutes to talk with me and encourage me in my journey.

Graham was a great man of God. He was strong, courageous and unafraid to follow the path God laid for him. This did at times put me off, and there were times I had difficulties with Graham, but his overall influence has been very positive. I live each day now inspired to be a pastor who loves people even half as much as Graham loved God’s flock.

Rest In Peace with our Lord, Graham. Till we meet again.