Jonathan teaches our Youth Ministry module.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I am the team leader of YMD. I am married to Ashling and we have three adult children, all in university. I trained as a primary school teacher and taught for 11 years before taking up the role of youth pastor in Grosvenor Road Baptist Church, where I served for 16 years.

Prior to my role with Grosvenor Road Baptist Church, I served for 15 years in a voluntary capacity with the youth work of Dublin Christian Mission (DCM).

I am passionate about developing youth ministry across Ireland through training, supporting and mentoring leaders for local youth ministry. In addition to serving with DCM and Grosvenor Road Baptist Church, I have been teaching the youth ministry module in the IBI since 2007, having previously coordinated and taught on the Youthworks course.

I enjoy partnering with others in youth ministry to run camps and activities for teens, using every opportunity to encourage leaders towards developing discipling ministries founded on clear, gospel-focussed Bible teaching communicated creatively.

Why are you passionate about Youth Ministry?

I am passionate about helping students to see how the Bible, clearly understood and clearly and creatively taught, is foundational and central to any youth ministry strategy. I love guiding and encouraging students to take the time to carefully observe what the Bible actually says rather than simply passing on messages we’ve heard. I love challenging students to place the teaching of God’s word at the very core of the ministries they’re involved in and watching with them in faith for God to bring growth to the seed that they have carefully planted or watered.

Why does Youth Ministry matter?

Youth Ministry is about investing time and energy in young people, in partnership with parents and the church family, to serve young people with the word of God and a clear gospel message so that they have every opportunity to trust in Jesus and become mature believers as part of the wider church family so that they’ll not only survive in a dark world but be salt and light in it.

As youth ministries are nurtured as part of the ministry of the whole church and in partnership with parents, whole churches are strengthened and young people find they have a spiritual home where they can belong.

How does studying Youth Ministry shape people - head, hands, heart?

The Youth Ministry Module challenges students’ heads. It challenges perceptions of youth ministry and exposes models of youth ministry that are unhelpful and ineffective in developing faith and spiritual growth.

The Youth Ministry Module ignites students’ hearts. It gives students a greater love and appreciation for God’s Word. As we look together at various scriptures we find, like the two on the road to Emmaus, that our hearts are warmed as Jesus and his life-changing message are revealed to us through its pages.

The Youth Ministry Module empowers students’ hands. As students gain confidence in handling God’s word with teens they begin building their whole programme around the truths they’re exploring and communicating. This makes the teaching of God’s Word a holistic and interactive experience with messages communicated in memorable ways.