we’ve ever been before about reaching young
people. I believe God is doing such a significant
thing at this time in history, right now. Were just
so excited for the next few months and what
that brings for us.
[WM] Do you think the possibility for
congregational interaction is greater within
a younger teen age group than it might be
within “adult” church? There are certainly many
teenage problems to discuss and address, as
well as the encouragement of the tremendous
giftings present within this age category. Are
there greater and more frequent chances for
engagement when working with youth? Do
most church workers see youth ministry as
a high calling, or do you think that they view
youth leadership as a “stepping-stone” toward
adult church responsibilities?
[Laura] That’s something that my husband
and I talk about all the time when it comes to
our leaders and what we’re inputting into our
name and own identity, something to own. these incredible songs that God has breathed leaders. We always say that the youth ministry
Obviously, with the history of our church and upon. And now it’s making an influence around is not this separate thing from the church. The
our youth, with Hillsong United, it was pushed the world. It’s not something that we can do, youth ministry is the church. I feel like if we
from our ministry originally, and then as it grew it and there’s no formula to it, but it’s truly God can sow back into our young people that this
began to really send an influence globally. There putting His hand upon something. I guess the is not just a phase for them, they’re going to
was just this gap within the youth ministry, and Hand landed upon our church to do so. go through lots of phases, but this is not just
I sensed that gap and saw the opportunity to
bring through our young worship leaders and
songwriters and musicians. I really just wanted
to give that sense of ownership, for them to
be able to write the types of songs they could
share with their friends.
It was as simple as that, and at the same exact
time the Holy Spirit was doing the same thing
in my Dad. He gave us the full go-ahead and
the full backing of our church. Something that
is incredible to see is that when God breathes
a phase, this is building a Godly foundation for
them to build upon for the rest of their lives. This
“...the youth
time in youth for them is not just a moment, it’s
ministry is not this something that they can carry on. So, for our
separate thing is ministry. This is such a high calling. This is
from the church. and this is the present. In all of history young
The youth ministry
IS the church.”
upon something, He just brings people into life.
youth leaders this is not a stepping-stone, this
not just the future of our church, this is now,
people, a generation, has risen up and they
change the trajectory for the world. They will
change it, because they’re history makers. It is a
huge privilege, an incredible honor, and a great
responsibility. I think we must keep the main
There were these young people serving our
theme, which is to point people toward Jesus.
Friday night program, leading worship, and I I’ve always just been about reaching young Young people don’t need to be entertained,
just never could have imagined the potential people where they’re at and giving them a voice and they don’t want to be impressed. They
that was within them. You hope for it and you and a way to express their love for God, and to can go to so many different places to be more
dream for it, but to see it in motion and the process that discipleship journey with them. It’s impressed than we can offer. I think truly we
reality of it when Young and Free was birthed, been almost a decade for us now leading our just need to give them the viable, and praise
and these young people rising up and writing youth and we’re more passionate about it than and worship that honors the name of Jesus,
10
April 2020
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