PRIORISING ENGAGING THE NEXT GEN IN FAITH SERIES

Young people from 14 churches joined together for a Servanthood Conference at Wodonga and District Baptist Church (WDBC) in February, to explore the value of having Christlike, servant hearts.

More than 90 people attended – most aged between 18-30 years– including high school students, young adults, and youth leaders. It is the third conference of its kind organised by three church leaders – Kendal Seaton (WDBC), Emma Turner (Corowa Baptist Church) and Matt Thorp (WDBC Associate Pastor).

“The idea was born in a local cafe where Emma and I regularly met to discuss youth ministry,” Kendal says. “We saw a need to equip and encourage local ministry teams without needing them to travel a huge distance to Melbourne, Canberra, or Sydney for conferences. So we created a conference, by the local church, for the local church – one that would challenge, equip, and encourage our community. From the first year, Matt Thorp joined the team as a support on tech, but he has since played a significant role.”

“Our community desires to grow, be equipped and be encouraged, and we’ve seen first-hand how this conference has helped people step into their calling to serve,” says Emma. “One of the most exciting outcomes has been seeing attendees stepping into ministry after attending Servanthood. Since the conference isn’t just for those already serving, it has helped many recognise their calling and take that next step.”

Six electives run by six speakers at the conference focused on different aspects of servanthood: Imperfect Servants; Servant Leadership; Theological Bulldogs; Intentional Shepherds; Filled Up to be Poured Out; and You’re Invited.

“Previously, we had a main speaker, but this year we opted for an elective-based format, which received positive feedback,” Matt says. “Each participant could attend three electives that aimed to be super practical.”

Many participating churches contributed to the music, tech, electives and serving delicious food while the attendees connected with each other. “The feedback emphasised how valuable the informal discussion times were, as they allowed people to connect with people outside of the ministries and churches they served in,” Kendal says.

Responses to the event have been “positive and encouraging”. The team is unsure whether this will be an ongoing annual event. “We ask the same question every year and it has now been running for three years,” says Emma. “At the end of this year’s conference we could clearly see the need being met and the encouragement in the room. We’re prayerfully considering what’s next.”