Elise Paton – youth and children's minister, Glenhaven

Although I knew of Jesus, I came to faith in youth group. My friend invited me along to youth group. She was the only female and she wanted a friend! She begged me to come back, so I went again the following week.

I was blown away by the love I received. Even simply the fact that they remembered my name! I appreciated the faithful women that were involved in serving that youth group. [They] had their own personal lives, getting married, having significant careers, but our leaders always took the time to relate with us. They were honest and vulnerable and shared how God was at work in them. That formed a foundation for me.

Particularly when I was in senior youth, I had a leader named Rachel. At the end of her week of full-time work she would come and spend her Friday night with us, in all our teenage-ness – sometimes craziness, sometimes tiredness. She had the patience to point us to the Bible, to be kind, to sit and pray for us.

In the couple of years following, she helped us transition from youth into church life, and was a familiar face in the now-big adult world of Bible study and life. It definitely made an impact.

I don't have that “coin-drop” come-to-faith memory. I remember my time in youth ministry and how I was faithfully taught the Bible and encouraged in community. I look back at my confirmation, and… I was convicted to stand in front of family and friends. You don't need a big come-to-Jesus moment, sometimes you keep growing in your faith.

I appreciated coming to an assurance that God was always with me and I would never be alone.

 He was there to hear my every thought and prayer. Being in a public school, I knew there were a few other Christians at the school, but I realised I needed to be a witness. On my Year 12 jersey I had embroidered 1 Tim 4:12 – because, as a leader in the school community, I'm not just representing the school but I'm representing Jesus. It was a great evangelistic tool when others would ask “What's that mean?” and it was a reminder to myself that I'm to be an example and live out my faith.

I would love my kids and youth at Glenhaven to understand and trust with their whole hearts as they grow into a more independent faith from their parents – that Jesus really did die for them to forgive their sins, and he really did rise again and offers new life. He is their friend and also their Lord.

I love when there are lightbulb moments of realisation, that it's not just stories or things adults have told them and that we repeat in church, but it's truth and reality for eternity.

The greatest encouragement lately has been seeing some of our youth stepping into junior leadership roles and seeing them flourishing. They're using the faith… to now share with those a little younger than them.

Praise God for the culture that is beginning to grow across our kids and youth ministries, where more and more children are becoming joyful to be in the word, asking insightful questions, singing praises and exploring what the Christian life is like.

We continue to pray that God would give them a sense of joy in the gospel and thankfulness in the community he has given us to encourage one another.