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Melbourne Youth Ministry Conference

Filed Under: Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry Training by Jodie — Leave a comment
15 July, 2004

Delegates visit the rooftop of Central Baptist Church, as part of the 'City Walk'

During the week beginning the 12th July, I attended the Melbourne Youth Ministry Conference, held at Ridley College. The first half of the conference aimed to address the theology of youth ministry, and featured papers by Peter Corney, Stephen Hales, David Tacey, Alan Hirsch, David Fuller, Graham Stanton (reading a paper by Andy Stirrup), Fuzz Kitto, Ken Moser and myself.

My paper ‘Edification and Youth Ministry’ examined the theology of Edification within the Bible, and its application to youth ministry. I expect this paper to be published at some stage in the future.

The conference will next occur in 2006. For details contact David Fuller at cycm@ridley.unimelb.edu.au

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Platform 7 off to a great start

Filed Under: Schools Ministry, Sydney Anglican Diocese, Youth Ministry by Jodie — 1 Comment
9 June, 2004

Platform 7 students playing 'Find your Twin'!

Platform 7 is a one-hour Christian meeting for year ten to twelve school students at schools within half-an-hour of the city. It includes Bible teaching, music, food, multimedia items and more!

My role each week is to plan and prepare the program, as well as lead some of the upfront segments.

It runs from 4pm to 5pm on Friday afternoons in the St Andrew’s Cathedral Chapter House during school terms (except the first and last Fridays of private school terms). Doors open 3.45.

The aim is to strengthen Christian ministry in schools by providing good Bible teaching with an evangelistic edge, in an age-appropriate, high-quality, mixed-school environment. In other words, it’s a good excuse to get together with other high school students to hear the Bible and enjoy each other’s company without the cringe factor!

We’ve started this meeting because we want to support the existing ministries in the many schools around the CBD and beyond. Because we’re all getting together in the one place we can get great speakers, enjoy good quality music, and experience the buzz of meeting with many like-minded people. Platform 7 will give Christians some encouragement from God’s word and from each other, and will provide non-Christians with a great place to get their questions answered and to see Christians in action.

Full details at http://www.platform7.info

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Go and see ‘In America’

Filed Under: Movies, Theology by Jodie — Leave a comment
27 May, 2004

If you’re looking for a great DVD, go and borrow ‘In America’ (http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/inamerica/).

This beautiful tale of an Irish family who moved to America deals with the issues of grief and spirituality in a profoundly emotional, yet non-manipulative fashion.

Amidst the laughter and the tears, the issue of life-after-death often arises. The bereaved family members are confident that their child has gone to heaven, and some even continue to speak and make requests to the little boy.

As the credits rolled I felt sad that the hope these people shared had no basis in the truth… that only those in Christ Jesus Christ will rise with him to new life after death. Sadly, the world is full of people who are sincere in their faith, but are sincerely wrong.

In what can we truly hope? “In God’s great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time”. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)

Buy or borrow the movie… it really is a wonderful story. But trust in the only one who has conquered death, giving us a living hope!

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Two great weekends at Kyckstart

Filed Under: KCC, Youth Ministry by Jodie — Leave a comment
29 April, 2004

The last two weekends of April were a great highlight. I was privileged to be a part of the committee that put together Kyckstart, the annual Katoomba Christian Convention event, attended by nearly 4000 youth.

It was a special joy to lead the Saturday night ‘Kycking to the Core’ event. This two-hour event showcased what God has been doing in the lives of many of the youth groups and young people from throughout Sydney and beyond.

Some of the stories brought us joy. Others brought us sadness. But in all cases we were able to rejoice that through our sufferings God is producing perseverance, character and hope… which does not disappoint us (Romans 5:3-5).

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1300 Trinity Grammar Students Guilty Of Nailing God

Filed Under: Schools Ministry, Youth Talks, Youthworks College by Jodie — Leave a comment
7 April, 2004

Trinity Grammar students attend one of the 'Nailing God' seminars.

In the days leading up to Easter, 1300 Trinity Grammar School students heard that they were guilty of nailing God.

The annual Easter Mission was run this year by staff and students of Anglican Youthworks College. The theme, ‘Nailing God’, showed how every person alive was guilty of killing Jesus.

The mission included a one-hour seminar, which was repeated for each of the six High School year groups. The seminar included talks from Jodie McNeill, Graham Stanton and Al Stewart, as well as music from Nathan Tasker.

During the hour the students assembled in small groups of around six people, where a Youthworks College student led them in interactive discussion about the material presented.

In addition, the Youthworks College students taught many of the Christian Studies classes, as well as spending time in informal discussions during lunch time.

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