mySalvos

Across two weekends, almost 400 Salvation Army leaders took part in the annual Youth and Kids Ministry conferences held in Brisbane and Sydney.

Almost 400 leaders attended this year’s Salvation Army Youth and Kids Ministry Conference, held over two August weekends in Sydney and on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. 

The first was held at The Collaroy Centre in Sydney from 1-3 August, and the second at Alexander Park Conference Centre on the Sunshine Coast from 29-31 August. 

They were organised by the Army’s Australia Eastern Territory Youth and Children’s Ministry team and aimed at equipping leaders for ministry in their communities. 

“My personal highlight is seeing leaders excited about what they’ve received, that’s better than any sort of moment that could happen on stage,” says Claire Hill, Territorial Youth and Children’s Team Leader – Resources. 

“Lots of those moments where leaders came up [to me] and were really thankful or grateful for the things they have received.” 

There were a few new workshops which dealt with issues such as autism, classroom behaviour and managing trauma in children. All new workshops came out of feedback from previous conferences, says Claire. 

Among the guest speakers in Sydney were Rob Noland, Director of The Salvation Army’s Revolution Hawaii program, Shandri Brown, Territorial Mission Consultant – Youth Leadership and Dan Lian, Youth and Young Adults Pastor at CityLife Church in Melbourne at the Sydney conference. 

On the Sunshine Coast, there was Claire Hill, Jim Sparks, Youth Development and Leadership Director in the Western USA Territory and CathTallack, Children’s Pastor at Gateway Baptist Church in Brisbane. 

A resource zone was also on offer at each conference. Each zone included guest speaker resources, recommended resources from the territorial youth and children’s team, a stall run by Booth College and another stall by the School For Youth Leadership. 

At the Sunshine Coast conference, the Territorial Youth and Children’s Ministry Department announced the launch of its new resources website, “mySalvos Toolkit”. The website features resources including life guides, junior soldiers programs, Agents of T.R.U.T.H resources, SAGALA materials and games and ice breakers. Go to toolkit.salvos.org.au/youthandkids for more information. 

Each session at both conferences were recorded and are available for purchase at salvos.org.au/ykmc 

This article first appeared in the October edition of Pipeline.