Articles

I remember the first time I travelled overseas. It was to a United Nations Youth Workers Conference in Hong Kong. I remembering landing and thinking this is different to home, this is not Australia. After landing I was taken by the number of neon signs and posters for products I was familiar with. Companies and products that I thought were from home. People were at the conference from around Asia, Australasia and the Western Pacific. They came from government, churches, other religious groups and youth organizations. We were there to look at common issues facing young people.

We will call her Julie. Julie was 15 and went to the local School. She did not come from a church family. However through some friends Julie came to an Easter camp run by their church. Julie really enjoyed the community at the camp and the main sessions were started by singing and worship that was awesome and was followed by a speaker who was charismatic, funny and clearly spoke about so many of the issues she was facing. He was helpful and relevant and opened up the offer that God generously loves us, forgives us and sees us as important.