A time to thrive

Are you a youth or children's worker? Do you know a youth or children's worker? Are you attending Thrive this weekend?

We love asking questions, and we love children and youth workers so we decided... why not both?!

So we got together with four very different people involved in Thrive (The Salvation Army's Territorial Youth and Children's Ministry Conference) at Silverstream this weekend, and asked each of them what they had to say about this highly anticipated training event.

Check out Thrive's website https://www.thriveconference.co.nz/ to see some of the cool content on offer!

LESLIE D'MELLO: TERRITORIAL YOUTH ADMINISTRATOR

Leslie, you've been in this role for fourteen years! What have you seen change over that time for youth leadership?

I have seen youth leadership and youth work has become more professional. There has always been some kind of leadership development but now we have developed valid accompanying qualifications and career progression options. This is a good way to honour the profession and calling for children and youth workers.

What is the upshot for those leaders attending Thrive?

The Salvation Army’s various youth expression is so wide – leaders might work with a Corps, Center, addictions or many other doorways into youth culture. At Thrive, you will benefit from the experience of both church-based and community-based leaders, all seeking to help develop young people in many different fields of expertise.

Thrive is rebranded from the old TYCMC (Territorial Youth and Children’s Ministry Conference). If we want to remain relevant to the people we hope to serve, we need to have ministries and leaders who are fresh and appealing in facing new challenges for a new world (and social media!).

Why do you recommend Thrive?

Thrive is an investment in the young people we serve - if you want to develop someone from A to B it's a safe place to come as you have gurus and apprentices under the same roof, feeding off each other. There is something for everybody who comes to thrive.

BEN MAXWELL: TERRITORIAL YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Ben - you're Australian.

Yes - I am Australian! I have spent over a decade working with young people in various capacities. I have now served in The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga for 18 months in the Youth Program Coordinator role. I think New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga is blessed with a wide range of youth leaders, all from different backgrounds... but we all serve with the same purpose: to see young people realise their full potential.

What are some challenges youth leadership faces in NZFT?

Some of our challenges are finances and spreading the opportunities around! We have regional challenges also, in trying to get the teaching and leadership opportunities outside of the main centers in Wellington and Auckland. We are looking forward to being able to resource ALL leaders throughout NZFT.

Why train your leaders?

Upskilling your leaders is such an invaluable investment into your youth work and children's work! If you want to see the Salvation Army be successful in mission, you have to make an investment in order to see them thrive. The Army is thriving when the leaders are thriving!

Ben, sell us on Thrive itself!

What better way to spend your weekend than with fellow youth and children’s workers? Come enjoy the space, networking, speaking and encouragement.

HANNAH MEDLAND: TERRITORIAL CHILDREN'S MINISTRY DIRECTOR

What are you excited about for Thrive for the children’s leaders?

I’m really excited about our workshops - offering different areas of expertise and opportunity that are practical to the everyay children's ministry worker. I look forward to seeing child-development focused learning – meeting the needs of children where they are at, rather than telling them where we think they are at! We are looking at preschool-aged groups too - what needs they have developmentally rather than pursuing programs.

What are some key teaching highlights?

We will be looking at incorporating rituals in beautiful environments – giving children the language to express the God they know, and using patterns to help reveal this. We will be looking at working with children with disabilities and mental health, or alongside parents suffering from addictions and looking at holistic solutions for the family.

What is Thrive going to offer children's workers?

Thrive will be well put together, fun and intentional! We will be working for our children’s leaders to come away feeling inspired and excited again about what they are doing and the impact their hour a week has on a child. We will be having a strong focus on leadership workshops - leading and leading well. This isn’t just about leaders of a program… anyone who would work with children in any capacity – we want to resource you! We want to leave you feeling full - not just your senses - but full of promise in your capability as a minister. We want to tell stories with one another about what's happening around our NZFT Territory.

What are your hopes for Children's Ministry going forwards as result of Thrive?

I hope that every leader goes home and starts or continues looking at needs of specific kids and how to meet these. And then from there - how to get them to meet Jesus! It’s about being intentional and present, not just doing what’s always been done! We want to go away seeing each child as a whole person - social, familial and physical - and as part of a family unit. We want to go away making sure people – our leaders and those we serve - are well.

ALLANA LLOYD: THE SALVATION ARMY UPPER HUTT CORPS CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES WORKER

Hey Allana - we hear you are going to Thrive as a Children's Ministries worker!

Yes, I've been an employed children’s worker for a year and a half at The Salvation Army Upper Hutt – but I have worked on a voluntary basis for The Salvation Army for the last 6 or 7 years.

Tell us what you are looking forward to!

Major Heather Rodwell is speaking and so is Alana LePine – I look forward to their great knowledge and wisdom. I know there are other experts in their fields coming and I look forward to benefiting from that! I am expecting – not all my problems to be solved, but some opportunities to learn about how to deal with certain things. Maybe that’s in leadership, or for example in Upper Hutt – how to encourage others to become leaders.

How do you see the networking being beneficial for your role?

I am big on building relationship and am looking forward to networking with other youth and children’s workers. I look forward to building community, the sense of whanau – doing the mission together with you all as well. I am looking for that sense of not being alone – of sharing stories and hearing about the struggles and others getting some wins also. This will help me in my role to learn, and serve even better the children in this ministry!

What is a highlight you are looking forward to?

For me - I know that Thrive is going to be having a powhiri! I am really anticipating the biculturalism. I know that this is not going to be tokenism, and it isn’t just going to be a one off. I hope the biculturalism is carried throughout the whole weekend and I know it is being done in the right spirit.

What are you expecting from the spiritual element of Thrive?

I’m expecting for me to be ‘fed’ – because as children’s leaders we often miss out on that. We are out of the room for so many of the services and sermons, we are busy ministering - while there is not often an opportunity for us to be ministered to, if we don’t have the leaders to cover us. I look forward to creating relationships looking forward to knowing you can email or message someone if you need help.

 

It sounds like Thrive is going to be off the chain. Would you join us for praying for those children's and youth workers attending over the weekend? We are passionate about supporting every ministry in our Army, and we long to see each part of it thrive.