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This Sunday (20-09-98) six young Presbyterians will be commissioned as members of the 1998/9 Presbyterian Youth Team at a special service in Annalong Presbyterian Church at 7pm.
The six young people, 3 from the North, 3 from the South, will spend the next 12 months working as volunteers in Church projects based initially in Annalong, followed by periods in the Bloomfied congregation in Belfast, Donegal and Monaghan Presbyteries and First Dunboe congregation.
'The Youth Team was developed some years ago to fulfil two main aims: to provide an opportunity to mobilise enthusiastic, committed young people into full-time ministry for a year and to assist congregations in fulfilling the visions and dreams they had for their locality,' explained Daniel Kane, convener of the Presbyterian Church's Youth Board.
Young people between 18 and 25 apply to join the team and then are selected through a series of interviews and a residential weekend. Once chosen the team then undergoes various training programmes before being placed in congregations either as a complete team or in smaller groups.
The projects worked on can be anything from painting walls to speaking to large congregations, helping with youth organisations or addressing school assemblies, indeed anything which helps a congregation in their outreach to the local community with an emphasis on youth work.
This years team members are Claire Mitchell from Lisburn, Kilkenny girl Sandra Drennan, Claire Richie, a member of Downshire congregation in Carrickfergus, Lucan's Angela Prescott and from Monaghan, Elaine Stewart. The only boy on the team is James 'Jimbo' McDowell from Castlereagh in Belfast.
'For the team members it broadens their outlook in respect of the Presbyterian Church,' says Daniel Kane, 'as well as giving them the opportunity to learn and grow from team life, meet lots of new people, develop skills and experience and most importantly grow in their Christian faith.'
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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