"In a world were truth is relative and happiness is getting what you want, there is a greater need for our leaders to be rooted in scripture, confident of it’s truth and equipped to faithfully follow it through in their own lives,while they teach others. Building to Grow will do that."
Aaron Douglas
Youth Worker - Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church
Aaron Douglas
Youth Worker - Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church
THE HEART OF BUILDING TO GROW
Building to Grow started as a conversation about why so many people leave the church after their 18th birthday. We believe the root of the issue is a spiritual one, and so the solution has to be a spiritual one. At its core youth ministry must be about faithfully proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is only when young people are trusting in Jesus will they see the need to be loving God’s Word and loving God’s people. We believe young people who are trusting Christ will be attending and serving the church well beyond their 18th birthday.
It was with this in mind that Building to Grow was born. An organisation which aims to train and equip children’s and youth leaders in Bible-centred youth ministry. In February 2018, we launched an exciting new training course for youth leaders, both voluntary and employed, across all denominations. The purpose of the course, is to equip participants in both the theory and practice of biblical youth ministry. This first course had 39 participants. The course now runs annually, from September to June.
Now, alongside the course, we offer one-off training events for those involved in children's and/or youth ministry. We have run training events with Ken Moser (Asst Prof of Youth Ministry at Briercrest College, Canada), Mel Lacy (Executive Director of Growing Young Disciples) and Rory Bell (Director of TnT Ministries).
Building to Grow started as a conversation about why so many people leave the church after their 18th birthday. We believe the root of the issue is a spiritual one, and so the solution has to be a spiritual one. At its core youth ministry must be about faithfully proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is only when young people are trusting in Jesus will they see the need to be loving God’s Word and loving God’s people. We believe young people who are trusting Christ will be attending and serving the church well beyond their 18th birthday.
It was with this in mind that Building to Grow was born. An organisation which aims to train and equip children’s and youth leaders in Bible-centred youth ministry. In February 2018, we launched an exciting new training course for youth leaders, both voluntary and employed, across all denominations. The purpose of the course, is to equip participants in both the theory and practice of biblical youth ministry. This first course had 39 participants. The course now runs annually, from September to June.
Now, alongside the course, we offer one-off training events for those involved in children's and/or youth ministry. We have run training events with Ken Moser (Asst Prof of Youth Ministry at Briercrest College, Canada), Mel Lacy (Executive Director of Growing Young Disciples) and Rory Bell (Director of TnT Ministries).
Meet the Lead Trainers
Johnny BeareJohnny is the Associate Minister at St Elizabeth's Church, Dundonald. He has been in that post since August 2018, having previously been the youth worker there from 2009. Before moving to Dundonald Johnny served as a youth worker in Hillsborough, Moira and with Crosslinks Mission Society. He is married to Susanna, and they have one daughter and one son. Unfortunately for him, Johnny is a long-suffering Liverpool FC supporter! His love for Jesus Christ ignited as a teenager (in 1995), when his youth leaders took the time to explain the Bible to him. He became convinced that the Bible was more than just a book, and was in actual fact the very words of the living God, calling him to ‘repent and believe the good news of Jesus’. Johnny is passionate about sharing the good news of Jesus with young people and equipping others to do likewise.
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Colin MorrisColin is married to Jenna and they have one daughter and two sons. Despite being told he could never be a youth worker because he didn’t like coffee nor could he play the guitar he has served as a youth worker in both the Church of Ireland and Presbyterian Church. More recently he has been the Ireland Staff Worker with Crosslinks mission society since 2012. As a teenager Colin was thrown into teaching a Sunday School class which was a true blessing giving a lazy teenager the impetus to spend time in God’s word preparing for the Sunday lesson. A love for God and his word took root and bore fruit and he hasn’t looked back since! Colin enjoys cheering on United, eating ice cream with the family and will now even dabble in a caramel latte.
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“I believe any opportunity to reflect, develop and sharpen ministry practice is worth taking and so this training offered by Building to Grow sounds like a great opportunity to deepen your understanding and widen your influence. It is vital that youth ministry maintains a sharp focus on growing disciples of Christ, and by engaging in these topics you will be equipped as a disciple-making youth leader.”
Rick Hill
Discipleship Development Officer - Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Rick Hill
Discipleship Development Officer - Presbyterian Church in Ireland