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Connecting Regionally

<typohead type=2>Why connect regionally?</typohead>

To share ideas, support, resources, give young people the opportunity to meet other Christians in other churches, do big events, organise leadership training…

<typohead type=2>We don’t have the time for ANOTHER committee how do we connect without the waffle?</typohead>

Mark Johnston
Gives some ideas of what makes the Wellington tribe of youth leaders connect:

What are we up to here in the Wellington Region with connecting youth ministry? Its pretty basic – relationships. We formed a regional group to stimulate regional support and relationships between leaders and groups in Presbyterian and CV churches. Its 4 years since we started doing this and over that time we have strengthened a regional network, employed a regional youth support person, consolidated annual Easter Camp and Film Festival, produced a regional newsletter once a term, supported youth-workers and their employment conditions, shared resources with one another and launched an emerging leaders programme. We have a budget of about $16,000 a year supported by Presbytery and Methodist Synod, and produce an annual report for churches.

The JYMC as our regional working group is called, is a loose collection of
senior leaders, youth workers and one or two (young at heart) clergy types who do the regional business of coordinating and resourcing. We work at enjoying each others company, business meetings with a slightly crazy sense of fun, surprising food, and sharing responsibility so no one person ends up loaded. People look out for each other and meet up at other times. It’s about
doing something which we believe in – young people journeying with the Christ tribe, discovering Christ for themselves, and making stuff happen for the sake of others and the world. It’s about doing something which is life-giving for us in the church as well as other young people. It’s about doing what comes naturally and not because the church says we should do it this way. It’s about stimulating a movement so that local Presbyterian and CV Christtribe’s do not totally lose their way with the young.

Mark Johnston
Mark Johnston (along with Chris Purdie) leads the Wellington Pressie/CV Christ tribe (otherwise known as JYMC). Mark is also
known for his passion for coffee and couches in church, being the minister at Wadestown Pressie, and being an all round good guy and inspiration to many.