It was great to take part in 2019’s Hungarian-grown national youth leaders training weekend this March. Over 250 people joined together to be nurtured and trained in their ministries around the country. Speakers gave messages based on the characters of Gideon and Jeremiah in the main meetings, together with the encouragement that ‘we’re not alone’ as youth leaders often working in small church youth ministries. We were inspired, thinking through countless themes including understanding the online world, relating to girls, cyber bullying, how to use religious studies sessions in school and how to prepare a youth group session.
Andy Oatridge from ACORNCAMPS helped youth leaders consider the relationship between families and youth ministry within church, together with holding a workshop on how to prepare and teach passages from the Bible.
The weekend was excellently organised by the group who announced a new Ifi Vezető Képzés (Youth Leaders Training) organisation beginning this Autumn. This will seek to support those involved in youth ministry in a variety of ways. Already in existence, and promoted over the weekend, is the ‘Ifi Ambulancia’ (‘Youth Group Ambulance’) - a 24/7 service for youth leaders to access support when they need it from more experienced volunteers. Over the course of the conference, dozens more ideas were modelled with great skill and high quality.
Acorncamps is excited to be starting a new partnership with IVK, providing training to youth leaders in Bible-handling and teaching.