Connecting young people with the truth!

Hey I’m Nadine and I’m a youth worker with GBYFC, everyone calls me Nads so feel free to do likewise! I’ve been working for GBYFC since November 2010 and no two days have been the same, I love working in the centre and I love getting to visit local schools too. I belong to Downshire Presbyterian in Carrickfergus where I serve in the Worship team, Girls Brigade and “ten:24” our Saturday night youth programme, I’m also part of a Girl’s bible study home group there.

I completed my degree in 2008 and took a “year out” with PCI serving on the SWIM (servants working in mission) team. The team was an amazing experience, it offered time to grow, reflect, wrestle, read, pray, serve and love. During that year I learnt a lot about community and was filled with a deep desire to serve God wholeheartedly and guide young people and kids to find hope & love in Jesus Christ.

I spent the next year working in a local primary school and serving in Church as much as possible. I was involved in youthalpha, drop-in, Girls Brigade and co-leading our Youth Outreach team. I also got involved with YFC for the first time leading a team for their summer mission “Project 32” in Enniskillen during July 2010. I loved the ethos and vision of YFC “helping young people find Jesus, follow Jesus and join his family” and I felt called to get involved with a more local centre. I looked at the GBYFC website for volunteer information and discovered that they were looking for a youth worker.

I felt that I had to “push the door” by applying for the post which was scary and required some encouragement from supportive friends. I was totally amazed to be offered the job and I continue to be amazed by what God is doing in Ballyclare and the surrounding area.

I love getting to know the young people in schools, the estates and the centre. I love hearing their stories, working through lessons or activities alongside them and answering their big questions as they wrestle with and explore their own beliefs. I hope that opportunities increase, that the work grows, that our territory expands, that hope will shine in Ballyclare and that many young lives will be transformed by God’s Spirit. Ultimately I hope and pray that my will is in tune with Gods; that His will, will be done and that His Kingdom will come in Ballyclare (and the whole earth) as it is in Heaven.

 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21(ESV)