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Fronting up - Steve Milward

What does your role/work involve?

Making Jesus known! That is the vision of Presbyterian Youth Ministry and it pumps! This involves:

  • networking: phoning, visiting, the Connect conference, Faithfests
  • leadership training: Beach Mission at the Mount 28 Dec – 01 Jan, Faithfest Roadshow Worship Workshop
  • resourcing: helping people be aware of our youth library, our Fuel publication, Connect, and other youth resources……
  • advocacy: helping where I can

Why did you choose this ministry?

Young people have energy and it all just followed on from the local youth work and the Faithfests we had been organising here at Crossroads. One thing leads to another… 

What have you learned about God through this work?

God wants us to get out of the boat and walk on water!

What is the most exciting thing about being involved in it?

I love the vision. And it is an awesome opportunity to be a part of a bigger picture. I have a heart for our denomination/movement and desire to help identify, mentor, and encourage new and veteran leaders to go on making Jesus known, win people for Jesus, and ultimately help grow our denomination/movement.

What have been the biggest challenges?

Believing God wants to do immeasurably more than all we ask or think according to His power at work in us. He really does!

Communication of the vision, but I am relatively new in this role, so that will happen.

Getting us all to believe we can do more together than alone. Let’s use our connections to grow our Church and positively impact New Zealand and the world.

Who has inspired you?

Ruth, my wife, and our amazing grown up kids; David Watson; John and Carol Balchin; my Dad and Mum; and anyone who has had to battle for what they have achieved. I love it when the underdog wins against the odds.

Where to from here/what are your future plans?

I believe PYM can help move our denomination from survival to revival, from head down to head up, from losing to winning. We have sown and too often others have reaped on our behalf. It’s time for us to do some reaping. The giant is awakening! Let’s go take some land for God! (I speak metaphorically, of course)

Do you have any recommended books/CDs?

Leadership Next by Eddie Gibbs, Leading Congregational Change by Jim Herrington, Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels, and I could go on. Stand up and Shout It: Kiwi Success Unplugged is inspirational, books by Lance Armstrong, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, and anything by Leon Uris, Anthony Grey, and Herman Wouk; The Caine Mutiny is all about how not
to do leadership!

Where can I learn more about what you do?

Check out www.presbyterian.org.nz/youth and www.faithfest.org.nz