In a very delayed response to Lucyann's question I have decided to post my first assignment from my Youth Work NVQ (in blue) - which I have now completed and passed! It is a short and concise reflection on my life and how it affects my youth work. There is so much more I can write but this is what I got in the 500-800 words I was allowed. I am not ready for the autobiography yet and I don't imagine anyone else is either.
I was born while my parents were at Missionary Training College. When I was 5 we moved to an estate in Manchester where my dad was the minister of the local evangelical church. My experience growing up in Newton Heath and attending schools in the inner city really affected me and I now have chosen to live and do mission on the same estate where I grew up.
Growing up until secondary school age I was a very happy child. I was the child of a minister. At the age of 5 I made the decision to become a Christian.
I was fully involved in school sports activities and joined the local gym club at age 7 for a few years. I have always had a strong relationship with my dad. We are very similar in personality and have similar interests. I had a few different friends from the estate we lived on and at school.
We always had a family holiday. We spent many summer holidays at the Manchester City Mission caravan on Anglesey. Family time was very important. My dad worked from home and though he was busy he was around a lot.
I didn't really connect with the young people my from the church, they were friends, but not close, possibly because I was daughter of the church leader and I felt different because we didn't have much money.
I moved secondary schools in year 9, as I was unhappy at my first school. I don't remember being particularly unhappy but my parents do. I made some friends that I spent most of my time with in and outside of school. I remember an occasion when I had invited them to our church Christmas musical, they sneaked of after the interval to a party without telling me. I found this really upsetting, especially as I would have coped with them saying they could only come for the first half. I felt insulted and upset that they thought I couldn't cope with them going without me. Though I had a stable and supportive home life I remember being quite unhappy, particularly in my later teens as I never really found a mutual friendship.
My year out before university, at age 19 was a real challenge as the organisation was not very pastoral and gave us very little time off. In the end I was made to feel that I had failed because I had started a relationship with another team member, which was forbidden. I did I find mutual friendship for the first time in my life there and it was these friendships that gave us joy through a very tough year.
I made some strong friendships at university – people who were friends throughout. I dated a lot throughout my teens and at university. As a Christian I constantly struggled with my ideals that I should only date Christians and the reality of wanting to experience closeness of friendship that I lacked.
My time in London after university was a time of growth. The leaders of the church I was part of taught me, through the way they lived, about unconditional acceptance, hospitality, grace and patience – I behaved often like a spoiled teenager and though they challenged my behaviour I never felt rejected. It was during this time I met Sharon who has become my best friend and mentor. Whilst in London I took on my first paid youth work role. It was a brilliant environment where I was able to develop professionally with plenty of support and encouragement. I also grew in confidence after meeting and marrying Dave.
Living in Manchester I am now mother of two young children, leading a church planting team and developing youth work on the estate where I live. I struggle with believing in myself and that I should really be in the positions that I find myself in. Without the support of my husband, parents, my mother-in-law and good friends that I made in London I wouldn't be in the place I am today nor feel able to remain in the roles that I am in.
The key things that have helped me to be a good youth worker are the love and support I received during difficult times as a teenager and through stressful experiences in London. If I, coming from a stable home with love and support, can struggle with self esteem and confidence, how much more then do the young people I know need that example and consistent support and encouragement. Having spent so long looking for intimate and mutual friendship, often in the wrong places I can empathise with the young people I know. I have been in situations where I have been betrayed by so called friends and know the disappointment of being misunderstood. In experiencing how my church leaders loved me and other more vulnerable people I have learned about how to welcome young people, and learned that some behaviours can be tolerated and others need to be challenged.
Next post: my thoughts on sharing the gospel with the young people I'm working with.
I was born while my parents were at Missionary Training College. When I was 5 we moved to an estate in Manchester where my dad was the minister of the local evangelical church. My experience growing up in Newton Heath and attending schools in the inner city really affected me and I now have chosen to live and do mission on the same estate where I grew up.
Growing up until secondary school age I was a very happy child. I was the child of a minister. At the age of 5 I made the decision to become a Christian.
I was fully involved in school sports activities and joined the local gym club at age 7 for a few years. I have always had a strong relationship with my dad. We are very similar in personality and have similar interests. I had a few different friends from the estate we lived on and at school.
We always had a family holiday. We spent many summer holidays at the Manchester City Mission caravan on Anglesey. Family time was very important. My dad worked from home and though he was busy he was around a lot.
I didn't really connect with the young people my from the church, they were friends, but not close, possibly because I was daughter of the church leader and I felt different because we didn't have much money.
I moved secondary schools in year 9, as I was unhappy at my first school. I don't remember being particularly unhappy but my parents do. I made some friends that I spent most of my time with in and outside of school. I remember an occasion when I had invited them to our church Christmas musical, they sneaked of after the interval to a party without telling me. I found this really upsetting, especially as I would have coped with them saying they could only come for the first half. I felt insulted and upset that they thought I couldn't cope with them going without me. Though I had a stable and supportive home life I remember being quite unhappy, particularly in my later teens as I never really found a mutual friendship.
My year out before university, at age 19 was a real challenge as the organisation was not very pastoral and gave us very little time off. In the end I was made to feel that I had failed because I had started a relationship with another team member, which was forbidden. I did I find mutual friendship for the first time in my life there and it was these friendships that gave us joy through a very tough year.
I made some strong friendships at university – people who were friends throughout. I dated a lot throughout my teens and at university. As a Christian I constantly struggled with my ideals that I should only date Christians and the reality of wanting to experience closeness of friendship that I lacked.
My time in London after university was a time of growth. The leaders of the church I was part of taught me, through the way they lived, about unconditional acceptance, hospitality, grace and patience – I behaved often like a spoiled teenager and though they challenged my behaviour I never felt rejected. It was during this time I met Sharon who has become my best friend and mentor. Whilst in London I took on my first paid youth work role. It was a brilliant environment where I was able to develop professionally with plenty of support and encouragement. I also grew in confidence after meeting and marrying Dave.
Living in Manchester I am now mother of two young children, leading a church planting team and developing youth work on the estate where I live. I struggle with believing in myself and that I should really be in the positions that I find myself in. Without the support of my husband, parents, my mother-in-law and good friends that I made in London I wouldn't be in the place I am today nor feel able to remain in the roles that I am in.
The key things that have helped me to be a good youth worker are the love and support I received during difficult times as a teenager and through stressful experiences in London. If I, coming from a stable home with love and support, can struggle with self esteem and confidence, how much more then do the young people I know need that example and consistent support and encouragement. Having spent so long looking for intimate and mutual friendship, often in the wrong places I can empathise with the young people I know. I have been in situations where I have been betrayed by so called friends and know the disappointment of being misunderstood. In experiencing how my church leaders loved me and other more vulnerable people I have learned about how to welcome young people, and learned that some behaviours can be tolerated and others need to be challenged.
Next post: my thoughts on sharing the gospel with the young people I'm working with.
