Youth Ministry Uncovered – Ballyholme
This Friday we hear from Andrew Watson, who has been the Youth Worker at Ballyholme Parish for four and a half years. Andrew also runs a YouTube channel called All Things Theology, where he posts videos about his faith and Christianity in a way that (he hopes) people find interesting!
What initiatives have you started since coming into the role?
I was fortunate to have stepped into an already thriving youth ministry, so when I started there was already a Youth Fellowship and Senior Sunday School. After–school drop–in had run previously, and I started that again in late 2020 when I felt that there was a desire for it. I’ve also started two Bible study groups, a youth praise band and a post–church breakfast for Year 12–14s.
What are you running on Sunday evenings and during week for young people?
On Sunday evenings we have a Youth Fellowship – though in terms of its programme it looks and functions more as a youth club. During the week we have Bible study on Tuesdays (two groups meeting on alternate weeks); drop–in on Thursdays; praise band on alternate Fridays; Senior Sunday school on Sunday morning; post–church breakfast on Sunday mornings.
How can we in the diocese pray for you and your work?
We as leaders are really trying to support young people and help them to develop spiritually, relationally, and personally. This brings a lot of challenges as life can be difficult and complicated for teenagers today, but we’ve established a lot of trust and that provides a lot of opportunities to disciple the young people. Our prayer request, then, would be for wisdom in knowing how best to help them, and that our witness would help them to grow in their love and knowledge of Jesus.
Follow Ballyholme Youth on Instagram HERE