I began my youth work journey as a young person who was significantly impacted, wait for it, by a youthworker! But seriously, the example my youthworker gave me and the time they invested in me, has shaped not only my faith but also my calling. Despite being a fairly chaotic teenager I still had value spoken over me regularly by my youthworker. It was this love and faithfulness that spoke volumes to me.

I continue to be amazed by the fact that God would not only be interested in me but also send His son to die in my place. As you would expect, the importance of youthwork is something I am hugely passionate about and so through the ministry of 267 I want to support and encourage everyone, whether paid or a volunteer, in their ministry. I look forward to seeing what God is doing where you are and I hope that we can support you.

Through getting involved as a volunteer youthworker I discovered the world wasn’t just about me and also that there were people who really believed this God stuff. Over time I began to see that their faith wasn’t just a part of their life but was central to all they did, and through some of these people I started to see that God had a plan for me, that He loved me so much and that He was always going to guide me. From here I decided to give up my job and go into youthwork full time.

After spending two years as an outdoor sports instructor I decided to apply for some church based youthwork jobs. In September 1997 I started at St Luke’s Church, Bricket Wood and this was to be an amazing training ground for me. I spent 4 years there before embarking on a 3-month youthwork experience in America. After returning and finding that I wasn’t quite happy just doing a normal job I spent time asking God where he wanted me next. For some reason God was sending me back to St Luke’s and this proved to be the most fantastic 4½ years of my life.

It was in this second contract at St Luke’s I started to build some amazing contacts across the St Albans area and get more involved in wider youthwork. And so sometime in the first half of 2007 the267project was born. I felt hugely privileged to be paid to do youthwork and realised that most churches will never be able to employ a paid worker. But this should not exclude them from having access to the very best youth and children’s ministry resources. Our initial mission hasn’t changed; to ‘resource-grow-celebrate’ youth and children’s ministry wherever it is and whatever it looks like.

Mike rescued me when I was first commissioned to resurrect youth work in our church! So I have seen, first hand, the difference the project can make to front-line youth and children’s ministry. I love the hands-on residentials, seeing the light-bulb moments in young people’s faith. I adore Haven and the unique space it provides for people to wrestle with modern life and how Jesus fits in. I am a total, unashamed devotee of the Youth Leaders’ Network – supporting these crazy, big-hearted and creative workers who give so much for God’s Kingdom!

What is it about the267project that is unique and significant?

By providing a safe-space for churches to come together, we bring unity where there can sometimes be territorialism. And by providing bags of enthusiasm, experience and energy we help to inspire exceptional children’s and youth work (we hope and pray!)