Episode 3: Benyamin & Josh

In this episode, Rev Neil speaks with Youth Leaders Benyamin & Josh about their involvement in UICS youth work around the different worship centres and local schools. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:02

Welcome back to the United Irvine Podcast. And today we have uh gleaming and beaming beautiful faces here of Josh Ferguson and Benjamin Judge. Indeed. Lovely to have you with us here. And we are considering what you're involved with, your journeys of faith, and what's happening in United Irving, what's happening in in your various moods or uh swings, or what am I looking for? Ministries, that's what I'm looking for. Um, and uh it's good to hear about people from roundabout as well who are involved. We've got a team, we've got teams, and we aspire, we've got dreams. So we're gonna explore all these things. So, first of all, tell us tell us a bit about your journeys of faith. Josh, what about yourself first?

SPEAKER_00 0:52

Uh well I've always uh been a Christian, I was brought up in a Christian family, um going to church and stuff, but I'd uh I think uh an important part of my journey has been like figuring out what it actually means for me and like you know, finding out like do I actually want to be a Christian or am I just a Christian because my mum is, you know. So I've been doing a lot more digging into it in the past kind of few years. I've been doing uh Bible studies and stuff, uh I've been enjoying it. Thankfully, I I do actually want to be a Christian. But uh it's been good. That's great.

SPEAKER_02 1:22

And what difference does it make to your life, do you think?

SPEAKER_00 1:25

It just gives you a sense of peace, you know. It doesn't really matter what's going on, it just uh you know you can always rely on God. It's nice.

SPEAKER_02 1:32

Uh someone who's who's who's got your back and is in control when especially when you're not. Yeah. Yeah. Peace, purpose, brilliant. And Ben, Benjamin, tell us tell us a bit about your journey.

SPEAKER_01 1:45

Um so I got saved at a young age. Um my dad read me the story of but the parable of the rich fool, of at least I think that's the one, uh, where he was storing up his uh crops and then he kept on doing it, making his barn bigger. And eventually uh at the end he was like, Oh, I finally can relax now, and then God's like you fool your souls, and you know, it's now time's up, and he didn't have anything, like his wealth and all that was just gone, it's nothing. And it was then I realized that I didn't want my life to be meaningless, I wanted to be meaningful, and uh especially the work I do, and I also realized that you know he lived a pretty lonely life, uh, which I didn't like, so hence why I'm here. Um very job that demands to be around people a lot, and also doing God's work, shining some light, making my life as much as meaningful as it can be for God. Hmm. So tell us a wee bit about your role.

SPEAKER_02 2:51

You've been working for the last six months as our children and families, youth worker. Tell us a wee bit about what's what what's that involved.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

Um, it's certainly been interesting. There's never a dull moment in um children families or youth work. Um yeah, so it's it started off with volunteering and then got into the role um picking off where I left off as a volunteer, um, but then realizing the leadership ropes of things of oh, this is actually a job now, uh rather than just being a volunteer. Um so that it's it's been a learning curve a bit, and um we've we've been in some schools for school assemblies, lunch groups, we have had youth groups running, a jump in TGIF, and helping out with um Lam Montgomery's primary school SU group. Um so it's been here, there, and everywhere it seems, but it's been a good six months.

SPEAKER_02 3:52

It's brilliant. And tell us, Josh, a wee bit about what you've been involved in in terms of the youth worker here, the that that TGIF. What does TGIF stand for?

SPEAKER_00 4:03

It's uh teams growing in faith. Um been doing that for three years now, I think. Yeah. Uh which is kind of scary. Um but it's been it's been great. Uh we've seen lots of kids coming through and and growing up. Some of the kids that have been there from the beginning are now ages that we were when we started, which uh scary. Yeah, very scary. Uh so that's been good, that's been a real blessing. Uh and I also help out at the uh Loud and Montgomery show group for years since I've been like 14, I think. So I really enjoy that.

SPEAKER_02 4:33

Yeah, that's been a great way of journeying into mature it mature faith, isn't it? But also leadership skills that you've been honing and uh growing in, and and and good to see some of these young people coming through into TGIF as well, hopefully.

SPEAKER_00 4:50

Yeah, definitely it's been good. I have quite a few that uh have known us from scripture union so then end up coming to the Friday group as well, so it's been good.

SPEAKER_02 4:59

Hmm, that's good, that's excellent. And uh you mentioned you mentioned your other involvement as well, Benjamin. Tell us a wee bit about what that has involved in terms of schools and what you are hoping to do in the future.

SPEAKER_01 5:20

Yeah, um well with the schools, um again for lunch groups and uh school assemblies with primary schools and high schools. Um and it's been a real joy being there and um grateful that we have those open doors at the schools. Uh we don't have any um bar um the one at Loudon Montgomery. Um there's no after school or lunch group that we're involved in for the primary schools, so um my hope is to start one up there. Um SU has a great material, um Bible Live, which um I'm looking at to use. Um so it's it's working at all the logistics of it all, um for sure. And then I'm using it as um a way to make relationships and so people know my face and other volunteers so when they go to church they can recognise a face rather than it being so daunting, like going to a new place and then not knowing anyone at all. So that's that's my main key.

SPEAKER_02 6:24

So you're hoping to be involved in starting a new scripture union group in at one of the primary schools that we're we're involved with at the moment?

SPEAKER_01 6:33

Aye, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:34

Yeah, that's great. And what's it you know what's it like for young people growing up today, do you think, in relationship to faith, church? Is there is there a a greater openness, do you think, or what what's what's been your experience?

SPEAKER_00 6:54

There's definitely there's uh pros and cons to the the time we're in now, I think. Because you've got so much information coming towards you all the time, it's kinda hard to to make up your mind, I think. Especially I I can't imagine for the the kids growing up now. Uh that was just from my experience and that was longer ago now than I like. But yeah, no, it's it's difficult because you've got so much information coming at you. Um but it's also I suppose there's a a good side to that in that you can kind of find out whatever you want about you know Christianity, about God. You know, you you've got answers to your questions rather than having to to go and talk to someone about it. Um But yeah, I don't know, it's uh it's a strange, strange.

SPEAKER_02 7:33

So the internet has has opened things up in a in a way that wasn't there before. Uh and younger people are are certainly plugging into the internet, I suppose. Definitely, yeah. Uh which is good and bad, of course, sources. Yeah. But you're s what you're saying is that that it's there at people's fingertips if they want if people want to find out more. And do you think young people want to find out more about about spirituality, about uh significance, purpose, meaning?

SPEAKER_00 8:03

I would say so. I I've definitely noticed um a kind of rise in like people looking for something, you know. Maybe not necessarily looking into Christianity, but you they'll definitely there's people who've been searching more recently and uh uh I I just hope that the them having access to all that information does lead them to to God, you know, because it's uh they'll find what they're looking for, you know.

SPEAKER_02 8:27

Yeah, seeking you shall find, for sure. Yeah, and uh we in the church uh need to be positioned and uh available, don't we? Accessible and uh able to get alongside young people and all people of all ages of course. And and that's one of the challenges for us, isn't it, uh in terms of growing intergenerational church, uh, you know, nurturing relationships between all the ages and stages. But I think w it's it's uh very easy for for younger people to grow up with this sense of them and us and and likewise older people to think of this them and us and and we don't work together, we don't meet together, don't spend time with each other, get to you know, get to know what what's itching in in each other and care for each other. Um you know, how how do how do we how do we break down the barriers? How do we, you know, nurture intergenerational church, family church? What do you think?

SPEAKER_01 9:34

Oh yeah, um I think it is very easy to for churches to become very clicky and for their own little small pockets uh here, there and everywhere. Um all it genuinely takes is just for that one little step of getting over the uncomfortableness of going and talking to a new person, doesn't it? It's going up and saying, Oh hey, how how you doing? Haven't seen you before. You know, getting to know them, get for them to know you. It's building that first relationship, taking that first step that I think a lot of people struggle with. So it's all genuinely about just building those relationships, making people feel safe and and welcomed. Hmm. Yeah, what do you think, Josh?

SPEAKER_00 10:17

Oh yeah, I would I would have to agree. It's it's really all about connection, you know, and there's uh there's something you you're gonna be able to relate to in everyone, you know, and you just have to to look for that. Um You're not gonna love everyone, but uh I think an important part of being a Christian is making an effort and making people feel welcomed, you know. Uh so I think it's just uh Yeah, you just have to go over the awkwardness, I think, because it will be awkward at first, but uh it's worth it.

SPEAKER_02 10:41

Hmm. Yeah, and it's interesting, older people can be great youth workers. You don't need to be young to to be a youth worker. Some you know it it's it's i if if you are if you care for people and you're interested in people and you know you're able to express that love and care and concern with younger people and listen to younger people, the younger people warm to that, don't they? You don't need to play cool, you don't need to be someone that you're not. You just need to be genuine. Genuine, that's right. Genuine is very much what people look for, isn't it? Authentic. Yeah. Um not pretend, not put on. Yeah, authentic and genuine. And you've got uh I mean you mentioned a few you mentioned jump there. What's jump? Is that youngsters got to jump higher or what?

SPEAKER_01 11:28

Well, if they can. Um jump is a youth group that happens just before TJF. Um it was to help Friday nights, yeah. It's to help the transition period from primary school to secondary school. Uh so it's from P6 to S2, and again it's to help that jump um transition period from primary to secondary school, and it's a chance of also them to go from SU to have a little space where they can be themselves and then go into the bit of mature of TGIF and then the church as well. Uh it's mainly focused around again building those relationships so they can see other people around that they know those people will be at that church for them, and it's a safe place to learn about God, and not only is it when you're in primary school going into secondary school, it's you're absolutely I was homeschooled, but I can imagine um from stories I've heard um that it's very daunting going from a primary school to secondary school. Uh was it did you find that yeah, it was quite a quite a transition.

SPEAKER_00 12:37

So I think it's important that we have something in place for the kids that because I think I was that was something we noticed before. Yeah, jump was a thing. It was uh a lot of the kids from SU, we got a couple coming to TJF, but a lot of them kind of fell away from youth groups and things because I suppose you when you're just going into secondary school, it's a bit scary to go to a youth group where there's like 15, 16 year olds, you know, you don't really know if you'd fit in. Yeah, yeah, I think jumps jump's been great for that.

SPEAKER_01 13:01

It's been a consistent and uh time of struggle for them trying to fit in, but then it's jump, you can be who you are, uh even if you're transitioning and trying to figure out who you want to be in secondary school.

SPEAKER_02 13:12

Hmm.

SPEAKER_01 13:13

That's cool.

SPEAKER_02 13:15

And what we've seen at uh connections on Friday nights is is uh you know an evolution, I suppose, you know. It's so you've got the you've got the the jump kids and then you've got the older kids in secondary, and then you've got you know you reach sixteen and and then there's the question well what what happens next, but you're you're managing to embrace them as well. How are you doing that?

SPEAKER_01 13:44

Uh well um when they reach sixteen um they they can still continue until they're eighteen, you know, finish high school or they can start developing their leadership skills if they want, so they can be a trainee leader, um and which we have seen that a lot of them take interest in it. So it's it's quite amazing to see the the next generations um taking a step up, um not of being asked to, but of willingness, which is amazing to see, and just a sure want to be a part of what's happening. It's been amazing to see. So that's been going on. And then throughout the summer we started um a TGF after hours for uh S4 to um S6, and it was just for those older youth to have that space to chill out and unwind from all the rampantness of uh the younger ones and just be themselves, chill, tell us a bit of drama if they want, and also to to really think about well what's next for them and how we can help and how Jesus fits into their lives.

SPEAKER_02 14:58

Excellent. And I'm thinking of uh the weekend away as one of the ways that we get a bit of intergenerational liveliness. We've got our weekend away, United Irvine weekend away, coming up first weekend in February. We're going to Millport to the same place we were last year. Um and you know, tell us a wee bit about the weekend away and and how the young people and the older people mix or you know, what are the challenges and the the joys of of that sort of community living?

unknown 15:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:34

Do you want to take this one, John? Yeah, sure. Yeah. Uh I've always really enjoyed the church weekends away, because it um I suppose because you're all in such close quarters, it means you're you're talking to people you maybe wouldn't talk to at a Sunday service and you're uh you're having uh you're you're building connections that maybe you wouldn't have the opportunity to otherwise. Um it's just good. It's it's to it's uh a blessing to be able to get away with a group of fellow believers and just relax, have a good weekend, you know. It's not uh a chance you get very often, so I always I've always really enjoyed it.

SPEAKER_01 16:04

Yeah, it's great fun. It breaks down barriers for sure. Um it's sometimes a Sunday morning can feel a bit of a production, you know, it's a service, and then they go and get their teas and coffees set at their little groups and then some skedaddle away to Asdor to get lunch. Um but at the church weekend away, you know, you're stuck there for over a weekend, so you're sort of forced to in a way to get to know people. Um and especially I think the games are quite um very good icebreaker, you know. You get to be your daft self amongst them all. See your true colours shine. Cool.

SPEAKER_02 16:43

And there are some dreams, you know. What are the aspirations for United Irvine? Uh, we're not just talking about Fullerton, we're talking about the rest of our worship centres, uh in Girdle Toll and Muir Relief and in uh Dreg on Springside and Crossing Together. Um what what are some of the hopes for for the near future, do you think?

SPEAKER_01 17:11

Well, um it's been a blessing to have Paul Buteman from Youth Work Journeys come help us with this year. Uh he's been coming down and especially tuning in with uh other worship centres. Um the hopes is to start a youth group in Draycorn and Springside and start from there. Um and again, we we are obviously really want to get involved with any of the worship centres. So I go how I do things sort of is I will do things if you want me to, so let me know. I can come up with ideas all day long, but that you're there, so come to me with your ideas and I can help make it happen and be there to support you. Um so ideas are very much appreciated. So if you're at one of the other worship centres and want a youth group there, or think how that may work and want to help lead, um get in contact with me. Uh my contact details on the church magazine, so uh please feel free to do that.

SPEAKER_02 18:13

Marvelous. And well, you're in your early twenties, we wouldn't we wouldn't uh we wouldn't nail the d you know how old you are, but uh you know it's it's great to have uh young people around. Uh you know, you help us to grow up and we help you to grow up in terms of older, younger people and um you know what what what is what has encouraged you and helped you uh in a church of you know multi-generational church and and what's been difficult, what what what could we have done better, what could we do better?

SPEAKER_01 18:52

Well, I think one of the the biggest things was when me and Josh when we were y a bit younger um in our youth and doing the youth services, um afterwards we would get um a lot of people coming up to us from all ages and telling us and giving us feedback. Um some some are good, some are like mate, you need to talk a bit slower and a bit louder. That was the mean. Um I could see you were getting a bit nervous up there, mate. Um and then mine's resolved in uh to stop throwing Josh under the bus. Uh that was my sort of fall to when I was um up there um for com comic purposes, comedian purposes. Just make fun of Josh while I was up there. Um but yeah, so it that was that was quite helpful um to just be encouraged, no matter even if it was a use service, to be encouraged on our walk to be able to show what we've learned as well, um is was a big thing as well, that to have that opportunity to show that this is where we're at, this is what we want, and to be able to get that feedback of all sorts, whether positive or negative, and I think it did help us to grow, and you know, we're here on a podcast, so um it does show. Um so I think that's been a big thing, at least for me. Um and I think one of the one of the things that could have probably helped um grow us a bit more is um again more of that relationship building, older people coming alongside younger folk and making sure that was there on the regular rather than oh they're youth, they they like their own space. Well, sometimes we need to pop a little bubble, um, because often or not we think it's around other people, but it's around ourselves. We put this barrier of protection around us so we don't look a bit stupid, and especially since you know youth are quite witty and quick thinking, so it's sometimes even me. I get I stand there, I'm like, I have no clue what you said, but um I'm just gonna laugh anyway.

SPEAKER_02 21:16

Yeah, what about yourself, Josh? What do you think?

SPEAKER_00 21:18

Uh yeah, I would definitely say that the the youth services were a big a big help. I still get people coming into my work and and uh asking if it was me and complimenting us on it, uh which is great because I think the last time we done it was like two years ago or something, so it's been a wee while uh and there was one coming up shortly, end of November, yeah. Uh and there's there's not many many churches that I think we give two young guys the opportunity to to give a message in front of the church. Uh so it was great, it was really, really good. Um I I'd say the uh maybe something that could have been different, uh but it it's always a difficult one, is that sort of like late teens, early adults period. It's uh it's a difficult uh age range to to do stuff for. But it's the uh I'd say it's the the age group that gets neglected most most in church settings uh like church wide worldwide I think it's the uh the age I would say more more people follow me uh because there's not quite as much for them.

SPEAKER_01 22:16

Hmm yeah and it is about following Jesus and centering in Jesus isn't it it's about coming alive in Jesus and um what what uh what's exciting you about following Jesus right now every little part of it um I love I know it's gonna sound strange but I love when I almost hit rock bottom sometimes with um my faith journey is because then it's I can finally look back and see all the wonders and what God has done with my life. So it's sort of like a a refresh start so I'll I'll climb up from there with God's help and then get so high and then maintain it but then when times get tough I know that you know God's there for me and he's always there for me but it's a real eye opener when I fall flat on my face and then I can just lay there and look and then soak it all in with God's grace is for me and everyone else.

SPEAKER_00 23:21

Hmm thank you what about yourself Josh uh it's just something that's exciting me right now about my faith is um I'm quite a like knowledge driven person especially now that I'm back in education it makes me really graphic design you're back into graphic design graphic design now so it's really it's kind of lit the fire in me again to know stuff um and I've been been doing a lot more digging into Christianity recently and like the history of it and the beliefs of it and things and uh studying the Bible a bit more deeply because we've been doing a Bible study for eight years now I think maybe nine years.

SPEAKER_02 23:55

Yeah nine years yeah and cause we're a bit older now we've been doing a little bit more in-depth studying and things which I've really enjoyed so yeah that's been exciting me recently just getting to know them a bit more and uh I don't know I think it it builds a stronger foundation when you when you really understand what you actually believe you know you don't find yourself uh kind of panicked as much yeah brilliant so you feel as if you're going deeper to go higher so to speak yeah to grow up yeah brilliant oh well thanks so much for joining us on United Irvine podcast and uh friends who are listening do subscribe do tune into the other podcasts from United Irvine and and if you've got someone that you know who you'd like to be involved in the podcast let us know and we'll we'll we'll get them in to to hear from them. So go well friends. All the very best