Albany Youth Team commissioned and ready for action!
With a month to go before they leave, this year’s Albany Youth Team was commissioned at the summer Saturday Night Live last weekend.
Mark Wells (Youth Worker with Bangor Parish) and his wife Abi will lead the team as they spend two weeks assisting at Beaver Cross Ministries Summer Camp.
Beaver Cross Ministries is the youth ministry aspect of our partner diocese of Albany which is in New York State. Our team will be joining two camps: Discoverers and Beaver Bound, which are tailored for ages 5 – 13.
Six of the team of nine come from Banbridge parish plus one each from from Donaghcloney and Waringstown, High Street Methodist in Lurgan and Brannockstown Baptist, Kildare.
Bishop Harold is attending the Albany Convention so in his absence Archdeacon Roderic West commissioned the team and Mark and Abi.
The mission trip will be a brilliant opportunity for the young people to experience youth ministry in a different context, to learn and grow personally and spiritually and to be part of a significant ministry in the diocese of Albany.
The team will be serving in various ways, from helping out in the kitchen or helping care for the grounds, to helping to lead groups of around 12 – 14 children and young people as they engage in various camp activities. They will also be sharing their faith through a Christian Education programme. The days will be long and hard work, but also a lot of fun.
What are the team looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to working with young children and working with a team and developing and growing in my faith as well.
Rebekah
I think we’re all kind of excited to be there to encourage the kids and build them up in their faith.
It will be really exciting, and it’ll be nice getting to know them.
Jessica
I’m looking forward to meeting the kids and sharing my faith with them.
Luke
And what are they most nervous about? Travel, sunburn, scary bugs and snakes!
Here’s what the team would love us to pray for them:
- Safe travel for the team and the children.
- Good teamwork and a willingness to serve.
- That the team would set a good example and encourage the kids in their faith.
- That the kids on the camp would hear about Jesus through them.
(The guys leave on Friday 5 July and will return on Wednesday 24 July)
