As they prepare for their March wedding, Chris Holding and Melinda McKane are also part of a boom of Youthworks College graduates going into parish ministry.
As part of a large crop to graduate from the college on February 2, Chris and Melinda " who have just completed the Diploma of Theology course - have joined forces to take on two new full-time roles at Helensburgh & Stanwell Park Anglican Church.
The previous full-time position of youth and children's minister at Helensburgh & Stanwell Park Anglican Church has now split into two full-time roles, with Chris taking the youth ministry role, and Melinda as children's minister.
Youthworks College Dean, Graham Stanton says graduates like Chris and Melinda are an encouraging sign of the growth of youth and children's ministry in the Diocese as a whole.
"In the past, we've had more people going back into secular work or uni, but there's a large number of people now taking up or continuing jobs in churches."
Some of the 20 graduates have been "sponsored' by their home churches throughout their studies so that they can continue their current ministry, while others, like Chris and Melinda are joining new churches in new positions.
Of the 20 graduates, 15 completed the Diploma of Theology and five received an Advanced Diploma in Ministry.
Mr Stanton points to results from the 2006 NCLS which show an increased success rate in leading young people " especially between the ages of 15 and 19 " to Christ, as evidence that ministry to youth and children is making strong progress in the Sydney Diocese.
"There's an expansion in ministry to children and young people in various places around the Diocese as a result of what graduates are doing," Mr Stanton says.
"There's a sense that youth and children's ministry is being taken more seriously, and we're seeing the fruit of that."
Mr Stanton continues to be encouraged by the variety of people from different backgrounds who have shown interest in training for ministry at the college, the number of churches who are sending and supporting members to college to train for youth and children's ministry and the demand for trained youth and ministry leaders, which is outweighing supply with the college still unable to fill all the requests submitted from churches wanting trained workers.
Words from a student starting out
Reflecting on his two years studying for his Diploma of Theology at Youthworks College, Chris says the environment and fellowship at the college spurred him on during the most difficult days.
"The college was a really great place to go while being in part-time ministry because you're supported by people who are going through the same things and sometimes they are the only people you talk to when you have a difficult week at church," he says.
"It almost becomes your support network and the friendships I've formed over the past two years will continue."
Chris adds that he is already feeling the benefits of his Youthworks studies in the first weeks of his full-time ministry career.
"I think it's prepared me in understanding how God has revealed himself through Scripture, and how to better explain the bigger ideas in the Bible, and how to pull apart a passage to explain and expound it for a congregation, and especially for young people."
“It has also helped me in grappling with the big ideas such as sovereignty and why we believe the things we believe as well."
Chris is naturally thankful also that Youthworks College "introduced him' to Melinda, whom he will marry on March 15, and the couple are excited about starting ministry together.
"I was looking at being in full-time ministry and she had always wanted to support someone in full-time ministry," he says.
"Going into a church not knowing anyone, I've already got my best friend by my side, and we have each other for support."
