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Taking the pulse - Connect07

More than 150 youth leaders from the Far North to Southland spent the first weekend in July being inspired and equipped at this year’s Connect conference, held at Forest Lakes Christian Camp near Wellington.

Twenty-five delegates from the Council for World Mission’s Pacific Region youth conference were also part of Connect, adding an international perspective.

The new Presbyterian Youth Ministry staff team of Stephanie Redhead, Robyn Burnett and Judy Te Whiu provided organisational effort, guided by the Focus Group, which is a team of experienced youth workers from around New Zealand that provides ongoing input into PYM’s direction.

While Gore-based Stephanie was appointed late last year and Christchurch-based Robyn started in her role this year, Judy’s appointment is more recent. She lives in Northland and will balance her role at PYM with work for Open Tent Ministries.

Judy says the Connect experience was “overawing”.  “I’ve been blown away by the energy and servanthood of the Focus Group.” She says the initial focus of her PYM role will be listening to youth leaders about where and how they need support.

Judy spent a lot of time with the international guests, who were enjoying the passion of Connect despite the physical temperature difference from their homelands. “It’s inspired them to go back and talk to people in their churches about trying
new things.”

The CWM delegates came from Papua New Guinea, American Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati. Three Vanuatu youth leaders also attended Connect as guests of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Kiwi Presbyterian delegate Andrew Colgan says it was the first regional youth conference of its type for the Pacific and will hopefully be a regular event in the future. It had the theme of “transforming youth in the communities of the Pacific”, with speakers on: children’s ministry, youth issues, HIV/AIDS, youth Alpha, Christianity and culture, fair trade, leadership, culture and personal boundaries, mission and going somewhere.

Andrew says the highlight of the conference was the relationships formed and the energy for continued and frequent interaction between youth of Pacific churches in future.

“The international guests were very impressed by Connect and all wished it had been longer.”

Connect 2007 keynote speaker Neil Carter, youth worker at St John’s Rotorua, focussed on PYM’s guiding principles of “in, around and out”, with a particular emphasis on how to build young people into disciples.

As in previous years, worship lead by the Connect Band from PIC Newtown was one of the high points of the weekend.

Wet weather meant a basketball tournament instead of the usual outdoor games on Saturday afternoon, with winners receiving PYM hoodies. Participants included a team comprising Moderator Pamela Tankersley, Assembly Executive Secretary Martin Baker and National Mission Enabler John Daniel, although their team failed to advance past the first round.

Saturday night saw the dinner hall decorated for a special meal, after which the CWM delegates introduced themselves and performed some songs.

Other dinner entertainment included one quiz on aspects of Presbyterianism, won by the table at which the Moderator happened to be seated, and another on the Pacific, at which the CWM delegates proved strong.

Sandy Gorman, a first-time attender from Dunedin’s Otago Peninsula Presbyterian Parish, says she found Connect inspirational. Sandy started as youth worker at her church at the end of April, with the aim of establishing a youth group, after realising that their 10- and 11-year-olds had nowhere to go next.

“I’m so excited to come here. I’ve met so many people and it’s so supportive.”

By Amanda Wells