Left to right: Revd Chris Hodgkins, Verity Eason (course facilitator), Revd Sandra Marsh, Bishop Rose, Jen Tobin
A celebration of the latest cohort of Launchpad, a training course developed by as the first step in developing youth ministry, was held earlier this month.
The course provides clergy with a number of training sessions to explore why they want to develop youth ministry, how they could go about doing this, and what this could look like in their church setting.
The is suitable for churches with little or no presence of children and youth ministry, but also for churches with an active children’s ministry looking to develop a programme as they move from primary to secondary school.
During the celebration in Charing, representatives from Youthscape alongside Bishop Rose heard from members of the Launchpad cohort about their experiences on the course and where this has taken them on their youth ministry journey.
Revd Chris Hodgkins receives his certificate from Bishop Rose
Revd Chris Hodgkins, Team Rector in the Romney Marsh Benefice, took part in the training, and shared his thoughts at the celebration, saying: “The course has really helped me to think about how best to start children and youth ministry. The self-learning helps you to transfer ideas into your own setting.
“We have gone from no youth ministry to having three projects around youth, including a homework club and an ecumenical youth project.”
Revd Sandra Marsh, Area Dean of the Ashford Deanery was also at the celebration and said: “Launchpad has allowed me to keep children and youth ministry at the forefront of my thinking.”
Alice Smith (Youthscape) and Revd Sandra Marsh
To register your interest in being on the next Launchpad cohort contact Jen Tobin, Lead Officer for Children and Youth Ministry in our Diocese.
Those who have completed the Launchpad course can continue developing their youth ministry with the next stage of Youthscape training: . There are still places 兔子先生 for this, funded by our diocese. Contact Jen Tobin to register your interest.