At Grace Church in Nelson, developing spiritually healthy young adults hasn’t been built around a single programme or personality. It has come through years of people working together—discipling, encouraging, and walking alongside young people as they grow.
For Sean Young, who has been involved in youth ministry since 2014 as a volunteer, youth pastor, and now as a parent, that commitment is personal.
“For me, I was never really discipled when I came to faith in my 20s,” he says. “So when I came into youth ministry I felt that they’re just such crucial years to engage with young people in discipleship.”
Sean points to the role of CCCNZ and First Training in shaping both him and the ministry. “The connection with CCCNZ was really vital for me. I came into youth ministry with a lot of questions, but with a great equipper in CCCNZ and First Training being in play—and you can build off the back of those things. These things helped us establish the priorities of evangelism and discipleship as two crucial aspects of our youth ministry.”
That focus was carried by a team. Sean highlights leaders like Katrina Allred, now Children’s Pastor, and Sam Marshall, now Youth Pastor at Grace Church, as key contributors.
“There was a real emphasis on all the leaders that came through—that we would encourage one another to do what we can to engage with young people both in youth group and outside of youth group.”
Over time, others stepped in and built on that foundation.
“After I finished up as Youth Pastor, Waweru Kanene came—and the mission trip he led was very significant for a number of young people. Then when he moved on Ross McDonnell stepped up, working a full-time job and leading the youth ministry at the same time—bringing that consistent leadership and input and carrying on what others had started.”
“The thread has been a passion to engage with young people and encourage them, reading the Bible together, praying, meeting with other believers… it’s a legacy that goes through; it didn’t start with us and by God’s grace it will keep going.”
That long-term investment is now visible in the next stage of church life. Cam Smith, an elder at Grace Church who now leads the young adults ministry, sees the fruit of those earlier years.
“There are so many people investing in and growing people in faith—and that has spin off into everything,” he says.
“I think it’s making people, right from their early teens… helping people to recognise that leadership goes through all stages. You can be a thirteen year old and be a leader—it’s showing people to take responsibility for discipling others who are younger in the faith than them. It’s a pathway.”
Sean reflects on a group of around 20 young people who attended CCCNZ’s First Training in 2019, a training weekend for developing young leaders aged 16-18. “They’re the ones who are now preaching in our church, who are leading in our youth group,” he says. “First Training was really integral in us establishing a group that we invested time in.”
That investment continued beyond the event through regular catch-ups and shared learning. “I’ve got a photo of the group we took of First Training that first year—out of that group all but one are fully engaged in church life.”
For Cam, that same pathway continues into young adulthood. Many are already serving across church life, particularly in younger age groups. “A lot of our young adults serve in teenage and intermediate age and kids ministry.”
And the hope is that they continue to grow into wider leadership. “It would be good to see young adults keep developing on that track to taking ministry leadership roles and developing skills for eldership as well… You see so many churches with the old boys just hanging in there and there’s no one coming through to replace them… it’s so important you have a succession plan.”
Disciples are formed in community
If leadership is one outcome of discipleship, community is where it is formed.
Cam Smith says he has been struck by the conviction of the younger generation: “I think there is actually a real boldness… they’re just so much bolder than I was at that age. In this day and age where anyone can be whatever they want to be it’s an intentional choice to be a Christian in school and in the work place.”
That boldness is expressed in a genuinely welcoming community.
“There’s a real mix in backgrounds in our young adults group—new Christians, those who’ve been raised in the faith and people who don’t believe turning up… ‘can we be a part of it?’”
The group is hosted by Cam Smith and his wife Rachel Smith, who took over from Jeff and Rachel Kennedy. The Kennedys established a pattern of hospitality that continues to shape the ministry.
“I think the biggest thing for us is just opening our home on a Wednesday night… having a place where they feel they can come and just be. We open the Word, we pray and we talk about stuff… Too often we make small group setting complicated—it’s not rocket science. It’s about creating community, opening the Word together and spending time praying for each other.”
That environment is sustained by a wider team, including the Kennedys and others. “All of us who are involved regularly are in our 50s, holding down jobs and carrying other responsibilities in the church.”
For Cam, it’s a crucial stage of life to be investing in. “There’s a realisation that these guys are at the age where they’re making life choices—around career, or who they’re going to marry. Putting those foundational principles in place matters. As I sit there teaching on a Wednesday night, I often think about the people that taught me this stuff when I was this age, and it’s still with me today.”
