Beginnings

While I boarded that plane 25 years ago, I think my journey into youth ministry started a few summers
previously, on a train in Vienna, Austria. Yes, I had hair that wasn't grey back then (third from left). I was one of eight young people representing the Irish Methodist Church at the European Methodist Youth Conference, and after an amazing week in the mountains, 4 of us stayed on for a few days sightseeing in Vienna. I still remember saying, as we were on the train one day, talking about the week, "I want to give other young people the opportunity I've just had". Little did I know... 

The memories formed that week linger still. Worshipping with 200 other young people using multiple languages. Having a snowball fight in July. Hearing testimonies from young people who had grown up behind the Iron Curtain and whose were attending EMYC for the first time. Stepping in a wasps nest and easing the pain in an ice-cold river. Friendships formed then that are strong to this day. Encountering so many cultures and leadership styles. Realizing what was possible in a  church I now understood to be global, that until then had just been a local thing in Ireland.

When I got home, I wasn't sure what the next step would be, but over the next few months God opened my mind to the idea, and opened the door for it to happen, of doing a year-long Diploma to deepen my Biblical knowledge. I knew then that whatever I was going to do I would need a deeper knowledge of Scripture than I'd be able to get at home and at church. The course just happened to include a module on youth leadership.... 

Two years later, in 1994, I had another opportunity to travel, this time to the US, to do several weeks at a couple of United Methodist Summer Camps in Michigan as a counsellor. The six weeks vanished in a flash, again with so many memories, and scrapbooks full of photos. That trip gave me a chance to lead for a concerted period, have responsibility for a group of campers for the duration of each week and try and be a good example of Christ to them. It also opened my eyes to America, a country that, until then, I had had no great desire to visit. Little did I know...

Even before I took the plunge and moved to England, God was planting seeds. Seeds of experiences, different cultures, different ways of doing things, nudging me towards youth ministry full time. One of the pastors I met that summer in Michigan tried a couple of times to get me to join his staff as youth director. Turns out the timing wasn't quite right, but since I've lived over here I've had the deep pleasure of catching up with Joe for dinner a couple of times. All of those experiences, in Austria, in Michigan, and so many locally in Ireland at the same time, were helping me prepare for what was to come.

Those experiences shaped me then, and continue to do so. God was at work then, and continues to be today. Just as he planted seed then, I hope to plant seeds of faith now and provide to other young people some of the opportunities I've had. 








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