We’re all about knowing Jesus through God’s Word, growing together as followers of Jesus and showing how good it is to live for Him!
Team Leader: Ling Luc
Highlights
Give thanks with us for some of the great things God’s been doing through CPE’s Youth Ministry:
- Teens praying for and inviting non-Christian friends. I’ve heard some of our younger boys pray for their Muslim friend, struggling and hurting friends and some even inviting their friends to youth nights. We’ve had lots of new teens visiting and joining the ministry, sometimes bringing their families with them!
- Quality time in small group Bible study - we spend 1/3 of the night in our year level small groups digging into God’s word, sharing life, faith and praying for each other - similar to Life Groups. It’s been encouraging seeing consistent groups of teens showing up each week, growing in relationship with one another, their leaders, and with God.
- A growing sense of community - teens serving one another, existing teens welcoming new teens, year levels mixing and having fun together during our all-in games and hearing teens sharing upfront how God’s been at work in their lives and relationships. Respect, love and service of others is what we love to see and encourage.
- Teens committing to trust in Jesus and getting baptised! It’s been a great joy to see teens responding to the Gospel and making decisions to put Jesus first in their life. We’ve had a good number of teens attending our Youth Baptism Course with 3 young men publicly declaring their faith in Baptism last year and another 6-8 teens interested in getting baptised this year.
- God’s provision of new youth leaders this term who bring new strengths and more support into the team. The youth team have been so generous with their investment in the next generation of devoted disciples of Jesus, intentionally preparing before Fridays, connecting with teens and parents outside of formal youth programs, showing up to Friday nights with tanks half-full yet still giving their best for God’s glory. It has been a delight to serve with such a team of gospel-motivated brothers and sisters.
- Appreciative and generous parents who bring their teens along each week and cooking delicious dinners for us to all share as we start the night (along with other people from our wider church community - thankyou!).
- A huge combined evening with Young Adults Fellowship for a Mission Partner event with ‘M’ - together we had over 90 people encouraged that Jesus is the way, truth and the life.
Offsite socials for some fun. OG Laser Force at Woollongabba!
Combined night with our Young Adults Fellowship for M’s missionary visit.
Challenges
In this age, until Christ returns, challenges are expected as we seek to live for Jesus doing his good work and longing for His glory. Here were some of the challenges we’ve faced in Youth Ministry in the past year.
- At the end of 2024 we said goodbye to 4 of our dearly loved and experienced youth group leaders (Teresa Poon, James Chan and Carlos & Sinead Monterrosa) and so we entered 2025 praying for God’s provision of suitable leaders to care and disciple the teens to the best of our abilities - and he answered!
- Preparing and organising the team early in the week so that they can have enough time and space to prepare intentionally and prayerfully before Friday youth nights. This meant team leaders had to grow in more effective and timely communication so to love the team better.
- Dealing with unloving and hurtful behaviour from a small group of teens’ speech and actions. We’ve been seeking to discipline them in a God-honouring way, wanting to hold out the gospel of grace and forgiveness while at the same time correcting when inappropriate and anti-social behaviour.
- The need to spread awareness of the ministry to our wider church community so that you can pray for God’s work in the next generation.
Leaders having just as much fun as the teens!
Word you heard - one of our upfront get-to-know-you segments. This one’s about sharing with the group what you’ve been learning about from God’s word