Kathryn Stevenson may be young, but the new youth and children's worker for CMS-NSW has the world in her hands.
At the tender age of 23, Kathryn (Kat) already has 10 years of youth and children's ministry behind her.
She says she is keen to get other young people fired up for world mission.
"I never tire of seeing young people come to know and love our amazing Lord and grow in their relationships with him,” Kat says.
"It's important for kids and youth to know there aren't just Christians in Australia who look and speak and act like them. They need to have a world focus."
In her role, Kat will be co-ordinating the youth and children's sections of CMS-NSW camps.
This includes CMS Summer School where hundreds of children and youth participate in days of activities in early January.
Kat will also be involved in speaking engagements at youth groups and in primary and high schools around Sydney Diocese and within NSW.
Kat says young people need to be open to the idea that missionary service is a path they could take in later life.
"We want to be educating them that the mission field is something that is a real possibility and that it is important " and also to realise they do have brothers and sisters all around the world," she says.
"Kids can realise there are people all over the world who do need to know about Jesus. It's just unheard of for some of the kids."
While Kat has no definite plans as yet for venturing overseas to serve, she says South America is one place that is on her heart.
"There's just such a need for people to go and put Jesus in South America," she says.
"There are just horrible things happening, like child prostitution and the drug trade."
Kat is finishing study at Anglican Youthworks College this year, where she is completing a two-year Diploma of Theology. During this time she has served as a trainee Youth Minister at Dapto Anglican Church.
She is currently living in Bankstown and is looking to move churches at the end of the year, keen to find somewhere closer to work where she can serve.
In the meantime, she asks for prayer as she embarks on her new role.
"Pray that I'll settle in and get my head around how it all works and be able to be an encouragement to the directors," she says.
Pastors, teachers and youth ministers can contact Kat on kstevenson@cms.org.au or at CMS on (02) 9267 3711.
