Youth pastor and author Tim Hawkins celebrated 30 years of youth ministry on the weekend at a special event held at St Paul's, Castle Hill.
Mr Hawkins is currently youth pastor emeritus at St Paul's and has been part of the youth ministry there for 20 years.
Mr Hawkins now works three days a week at St Paul’s training youth leaders and mentoring the key youth staff as well as preaching and teaching, allowing him to spend the rest of his time running Hawkins Ministry Resources.
"By only working part-time, I am available to other churches, Bible colleges, schools and Christian organisations to help strengthen and encourage them in their youth ministry," he says.
Mr Hawkins started as a volunteer youth leader at St Alban’s, Frenchs Forest, the church where he first came to faith in Jesus.
While most who attend Moore College ‘graduate’ to congregational or parish leadership, Mr Hawkins chose to continue in full-time youth ministry after graduation as he always "knew that God was calling [him] to youth ministry'.
"I did not get ordained because in those days it was a barrier to youth ministry. I cannot think of anything more strategic to do than minister to young people. They are at the stage of life where they are making most of their life decisions and are open to thinking in new and different ways," he says.
"I have grown to love the people of St Paul’s, Castle Hill over the last twenty years. It is both thrilling and humbling for them to honour me this way."
The Rev John Gray, who has been the rector of St Paul's since 2001, calls Tim "one of the most underrated ministers of the gospel in Australia".
"He has had a profound impact on our church and has produced a generation of leaders who are now serving around the world and shaping churches," he says.
"In fact, I came to St Paul's, in part, because Tim was working here as a youth minister and it was a attractive to work with a guy who is so good."
