Welcome...

Hello,

This blog comes with the idea that I want to talk about my vocation in youth ministry and use it as a tool to tell people how things are going and how God is working through the youth work at Guiseley Baptist Church. I can't promise you a highly academic insight in to the world of teenagers and what goes on in their lives but I can promise my honest views of things and updates on how things are going in the ministry.

Disclaimer: my spelling and grammar is definitely not not my strong point, so apologies to those that it offends...

Here we go...

I have been at GBC for 6 months now as the youth minister and my role here is really starting to take shape as we work out what God wants to do and how that is going to look over the next few weeks, months and years.

One thing that God has been speaking to me about over the last few weeks is about our call to serve Him in all areas of our lives, one that whilst exciting can some times appear restrictive if we look at the bible as a set of rules and regulations. However I have felt God pushing me towards John 10:10 and the call to live life to the full.

John 10:10 says: 'I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' (NIV) 

Reading this verse shows me that God does not want us to feel restricted, but instead wants us to live a live of abundance, a life that delights Him, a life that is full.

This is what I want my youth ministry to be like, I want the young people I work with to see that God is not a boring God that holds us back but instead is a God that wants to use us to do amazing things. In terms of doing this practically we have been trying to make the youth ministry accessible to all people so that they can hopefully see us living our lives in positive ways and see that God does not hold us back but instead gives us new life. 

We have done this my trying to be more open and welcoming with the youth work at GBC. We had a really great movie night where we chilled out, chatted, ate some food and watched a movie. It was a great opportunity for young people to bring friends along too and get to know the team and other people their age. These sorts of things are what we want to happen more often so that we can provide safe environments for young people to come along and bring friends knowing that we are not going to try to force Jesus and the bible on them.

I want the youth ministry to be about building relationships with young people and meeting them where they are at, through this we can show them the love God and how a life with Him can be a life to the full.

Thank you for reading.

Ben

We've got loads of things coming for the youth at GBC, such as an Easter sleep over, more movie nights, trips bowling and laser questing and loads more. Get in touch if you want any more info.