Bible studies

Each day of ncyc11 will include time for Bible studies. This is an opportunity for some great Bible study leaders to unpack each day’s theme a little further to get you thinking…

There will be 3 different categories that you can choose from: surfing, snorkeling or scuba diving. Surfing is for those just starting out in faith, snorkeling if you’re looking to go a little deeper and gear up for scuba diving!

Below are some of the leaders we have so far; we’ll add more just as soon as we have their pics and bios!

Surfing

1: Gillian Best

The Bible is not just words on a page to be read and understood but an adventure in getting to know the God who loves us and invites us to join with Him in his plans for the world! How exciting!!! In our bible studies we’re not just going to read and study we’re going to participate, think, feel and live the stories of Jesus, as we discover how we can find our place in God’s story!

God created the whole of us, so we’re going to use our senses to try to understand what the stories of Jesus might have to say to us today. First, we’re going to use our eyes, then our ears, after that our hands and feet and finally our noses (yes even your nose!), as we work out how to turn up our faith, and turn up our impact for God!

Bio

Gillian has been in full time ministry for 12 years and began work as a university chaplain and youth worker before moving into the role she is in now. Her official title is Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Methodist Church in Ireland.

Her passions are developing young leaders and seeing the church become the missional community it should be. She has led 9 international mission teams to France, Ibiza, London, Nicaragua, Zambia and Romania, 6 of them with Christian house building charity Habitat For Humanity.

She loves nothing more than seeing young people get their eyes opened to the need in the world and engage with people through working alongside them as they build their own home.

2: Mark & Hollie

Race around the Kingdom
An overview of radical discipleship.

To follow Jesus is the most radical decision that anyone can make. Unfortunately however much of what passes for Christianity in the West is neither radical or Good News for people or our world. This Bible Study series will explore in overview the radical nature of following Jesus and what it means for how we live our lives.

Bio – Mark Cornford

Mark is passionate about what following Jesus means in the day to day reality of how we live. “If Jesus truly meant that He was the Good News of God’s Kingdom, then surely this Good News must be Good News for the whole world (including the environment) and not just good news for those of us lucky enough to be middle-class people who live in first world countries. This Good News should then be embodied (incarnated) in how we and our churches live our lives.”

Mark has lived and worked in urban disadvantaged communities as a church and community youth worker, pastoring a congregation and now as chaplain to the University of Queensland.

Mark is married to Leesa and has 3 boys Jordan, Micah and Caleb, living at Deception Bay (just north of Brisbane) on acreage which they share with 3 cows as they explore what sustainable living means.

Bio – Hollie McNaught

Hollie is a social worker who lives in West End, an inner city suburb of Brisbane. She is passionate about living out her faith in a community setting, inclusive of people on the margins.

“My goal is to live a life that reflects Jesus in every respect, most particularly by being a friend, advocating for change and working against societal oppression. I believe Christ’s body, the church has the ability to be the change in the world and I believe it is the young adults and youth that will be at the centre of this change!”

3: Rob Hanks

Interactive and experiental Bible Study space using: live music, multimedia, small groups, creativity, puppets, drama and ‘stations’ in the space with different styles each day to help the participants unpack what they hear in words and music. 

Rob Hanks

Rob is a Youth Worker in his 11th year as Coordinator of the Synod Youth Unit in NSW/ACT. His focus is on helping young people find identity, meaning, belonging and faith shaping in their interactions with the Church and each other.

Involved with NCYC since 1987 in a variety of leadership and organisational roles with the event itself and with a range of regional tour groups every year since. This will be Rob’s second time as a Bible study leader after NCYC09 in Melbourne.

4: Congress surfing

Bio – Milton Wynne

Milton Wynne is a Nyungar Man from Western Australia is passionate about his Nyungar Culture, tradition and his love for Jesus He now resides in Victoria along with his wife Pam, nephew Liam.

Where he Works for Congress Victoria as a Youth Coordinator, based at Narana Creations. Milton has so many great stories of his journey and experiences in ministry.

He has also travelled extensively throughout Australia evangelizing and telling the Good News of Jesus travelling as far has South Africa in 1998.

Milton loves playing his guitar and singing which is a great expression of his love for the Lord, and will be leading Bible study at this coming NCYC. Milton also loves to see all people touched by the power of God especially the youth.

Milton is looking forward to the opportunity to share the love of God along with his knowledge and experiences of Gods grace and Love.

See you there!!!

Snorkeling

1: Adrian Greenwood

Activist Bible Study, we will look at some of the theology and spirituality behind the submersion idea we ran with in NCYC09 and the radical discipleship movement. Exploring themes of Non Violent Theology, Power and People, Policy and Justice, Consumerism and the Environment.

Bio – Adrian Greenwood

Adrian is the UCA Vic/Tas – Discipleship Educator (Young Adults) and the founding member of morepraxis.org.au an online community and resource for social action and theological reflection.

Those who went to NCYC09 may have seen him helping thousands of young people get into trouble as the ‘Submersion Day / Fed Square Public Rally’ bloke or he may have made you a coffee at café praxis.

He has experience in a wide variety of ministry setting including congregational, chaplaincy, schools work, street work, activism, camping, alt worship, counselling, outreach groups and regional work. He is passionate about connecting life, faith, spirituality and justice in a way that is authentic, non violent and meaningful enough to make others eternally jealous of our soul life.

Adrian lives in Melbourne with his wife Lyndal, son James, twin girls Jasmine and Chloé and a big dog ‘Jamy’.  He enjoys creativity, red wine, coffee and friends.

2: Sarah Agnew & Nathan Whillas

We will be linking the Biblical texts with social, environmental issues and personal ways to engage these issues as Good News.

Bio – Sarah

Sarah is a biblical storyteller, which means that she learns portions of the bible word for word and stands in front of people and tells the story. It’s a bit like acting, but playing the part of the narrator.

Sarah is also preparing for ordination, as a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church, which will happen either at the end of 2010 or early 2011.

She leads a fresh expression of church called ‘The Esther Project’, which is an artsy, storytelling kind of a church. Sarah loves Shakespeare and jazz, netball, soccer, cricket, aussie rules, and dreams of going to France one day.

Bio – Nathan

Nathan is a Youth Pastor at Parafield Gardens Uniting Church.  He is married with three beautiful children.

He like to tinkle the ivories from time to time, loves all things IT (with the exception of mobile phones) and is into British comedies, particularly Black Adder and Red Dwarf.

Nathan has a passion for Scripture and love drawing out the Good News message for people today in a way that is understandable and relevant.  His greatest joy is seeing lives transformed by the Spirit as that message speaks into their hearts.

3: NSW team: Salesi Faupula, Steven Faupula, Masiu Moala

Our collective stories are perhaps similar in some ways but unique in others. It is not our aim to suggest that God is more evident to those who run or are rebellious but rather that God is able to speak even to those who are lost and on the edges.

We could not merely state who we are now without acknowledging first where we have come from, because for us it is clear that it is God’s saving grace evident in our lives that deserves recognition, rather than our own abilities or achievements.

Bio – Salesi

A candidate for Minister of the Word in NSW, Salesi was born in Tonga before moving to the Northern Territory early in life with his Methodist Minister father, growing up with the indigenous people in Yirrikala, Arnhem Land. From age 10, the next 10 years were spent in the Northern Beaches of Sydney where Salesi struggled with his cultural identity. Returning to Tonga for two years, he grew confident in his identity and his behaviour settled.

Upon return to Australia, Salesi joined the Automotive Mechanics trade for 16 years. In 2001, he felt God calling him in a different direction and explored ministry through a period of discernment. In 2003, he believed he would not be in ministry just yet, but in 2006 he decided to “make good the promise I had made to God years previously.”

Since then, Salesi has worked with the Board of Mission as a Cross Cultural Consultant working and learning ministry with many congregations and in different levels of the Uniting Church.

Bio – Steven Faupula

Born in Tonga, Steven struggled in his teenage years with a cultural battle and difficulties at school. Leaving home at 14 to explore life in Sydney, he was in and out of juvenile detention centres. Perhaps the turning point for Steve, whose life was destined for prison, was his at age 18. For an incident that should have seen him spend time in prison, a magistrate instead gave Steve a second chance with the warning that if he ever appeared before the court again, no mercy would be given.

A cousin moved Steven out of Sydney and this provided God the opportunity to speak to him. Away from the bright lights, Steve began to change. Having completed a degree in Sociology, he is now studying his masters in Theology. Passionate about youth he is now an accredited youth worker with the Uniting Church, and has worked with congregations of both anglo and migrant ethnic backgrounds.

Bio – Masiu Moala

Born in Tonga, Masiu migrated to Australia with his family for his father’s ministry, experiencing tensions of being on the edges as they were almost illegal immigrants (overstayers). He has moved around states in both rural and metro parts of Australia, settling in Sydney where he met his wife and had four gifted children.

In 2009 he “gave up running from God” and answered what he believes is God’s calling on his life. Three months into his period of discernment with the Uniting Church, he is hoping to discover the path he is to walk.

“I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to be involved with ncyc11 and I’m looking forward to uniting and joining in fellowship with all.”

Scuba Diving

1: Ralph Mayhew

Learn how to turn up your faith so the impact your life and the life of the community you are a part of can make a significant difference through the power of Jesus Christ to alter the current state of the world in which you inhabit!

Bio – Ralph

Ralph is 32 and married to Lyndal and has lived on the Gold Coast for the last three years. In that time he says “I’ve tried and kind of succeeded at surfing, guitar playing and turtle racing.”

He loves to scuba dive and watch movies and being the youth and young adults minister at Newlife Robina Uniting Church.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what God’s going to show us through the Bible studies!”

2: Dave Andrews

How people can jon the blessed revolution of Jesus and be the change they want to see in the world.

Bio – Dave

Dave is particularly interested in radical spirituality, incarnational community and the dynamics of personal and social transformation. He is the author of many books and articles, including Christi-Anarchy; Not Religion, but love; Building a better world; Compassionate community work; People of compassion; Living community; A divine society; Plan Be; Hey, Be and See and See what I mean?

Dave and Ange and their friends started a residential community called Aashiana out of which grew Sahara, Sharan and Sahasee – three well known Christian community organisations working with slum dwellers, sex workers, drug addicts and people with HIV/AIDS in India.

They are currently part of Waiters Union, an inner city Christian community network working with Aborigines, refugees and people with disabilities in Australia. Out of the Waiters Union has grown the Community Initiatives Resource Association, auspicing local experimental community activities, and the Community Praxis Coop, providing holistic community work training.

Professional Development

Professional Development for ministry with children, youth and families

Duncan Macleod and Craig Mitchell will lead four 90 minute sessions introducing resources for ongoing development for leaders. Each session includes take-home resources.

1. Youth Spirituality. How do we journey with children, youth and young adults as they develop their sense of spirituality? We look at story telling, popular media and shared experiences as stimulus for spiritual reflection in times of transition.

2. Inter-generational Relationships. How do we foster the development of an inter-generational community in which the strengths of emerging generations are nurtured? We look at ways to build self-awareness for members of all generations, conversation starters and keys for all-age diplomacy.

3. Mission-shaped Youth Ministry. How do we keep our focus on being “sent” into our communities, without being caught up in compulsive or guilt-ridden activity? We look at ways to celebrate the stories of small ordinary expressions of mission, along with practical experiences that build “missional imagination”.

4. Media and Youth Ministry. How do we learn from, adapt and shape our use of popular forms of media? We look at ways to engage with gaming, visual media and music, and online community.

Bio – Duncan

Duncan grew up in the deep south of New Zealand. Moving around NZ for 39 years, he pursued many interests including study, youth work, keyboards and guitars in jazz and rock groups, horticulture, theology, married and raising kids.

After crossing the ditch, he did more of the same as well as being a Uniting Church minister and studying for a Doctorate of Ministry.

He is known as a blogger, online journalist, speaker, workshop leader and facilitator; a consultant in online communication, generational change, youth work, theology, faith development, missional emerging church, multimedia, leadership, advertising, consumerism and popular culture.

Bio – Craig

Craig lectures in youth ministry, discipleship, media, spirituality and other stuff at Uniting College in Adelaide, SA. He’s been involved in youth ministry for more than 25 years in local churches, presbytery, synod and national levels.

Craig also plays with multimedia, cooks, blogs and plays in a band called The Wanted Men. He’s interested in the relationship between digital media and the spirituality of children, youth and young adults.