Participants of our first Catalyst cohort attended a ceremony at Ridley Hall, Cambridge on Saturday 5 October for their graduation from the children and youth ministry training.
Anyone over 18 who is either involved in children and youth ministry voluntarily or employed, or wanting to develop their knowledge and skills in this area can take part in Catalyst. They have the opportunity over nine months to deepen their knowledge and understanding in children and youth ministry, learning and reflecting on the theological underpinning of ministry with children and young people.
Facilitating the free course for the Diocese of Canterbury was Lead Officer for Children and Youth Ministry, Jen Tobin. Reflecting on the course, Jen said: “It has been a privilege to work alongside the first year of Catalyst participants and watch them flourish in their ministry with children and young people.
“We have seen them grow in confidence, and they will continue to resource, support and pray for one another in their ministry journeys.”
If you would like to be part of a future cohort and will be able to attend free monthly training sessions, you can contact Jen Tobin.
The training consisted of online learning and monthly sessions with participants from both the Dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester (affectionately known as Canroch). Participants also attended a national conference with 140 other Catalyst participants from across the country.
Their dedication and hard work was brought together in the final session where individuals shared the projects they had worked on, prayed for one another and celebrated all that God has done through their ministry.
Some of these projects included creating an SEND support group for families and young people who find it difficult to access mainstream worship, holding after school drop-ins and starting a small discipleship group for older youth focusing on the concept of spiritual multiplication.
One participant said: “Talking with everyone about their ministries helped me figure out my own path. The big moment for me was putting together my presentation and paper—it made me align my core beliefs, effective teaching methods, my personal mission, like discipleship and whether any of it has a lasting impact.”
Another said: “The opportunity to nurture and spiritually help those who God leads through our doors is a privilege and honour.”