Introductions

Let's consider this the least embarrassing icebreaker possible: no silly games, lots of time to think, no-one on the spot, but everyone can get to know everyone else.

I'll go first, just to show you that it's safe.

It never ceases to amaze me that life can seem so random when we look at our present, but looking back at our past, so many things seem to happen for a reason.

I have always been involved in youth work, but very rarely has that been by intention. I went from being a member of our youth theatre, to helping out, to leading it because there was no-one else to do it.

I became a Christian in 2006, and the then-curate left St. Mary's Westfield in 2007, Having had experience in youthwork it seemed logical to our vicar that I would take over the organising of our young church with Charlie, my wife and a team of awesome individuals.

[At about the same time, the people who ran our carer and toddler group were struggling, and I was asked if I'd help out here and there. Five years later, I'm the only leader left].

We ran 127 Young Church (so named for Psalm 127) for four years when both our young people and leaders all seemed to be drifting away to other things. It was heartbreaking to see something that had grown in our care shrink away to nothing, so I took six months out.

Those six months might well have grown to six years or more but for one important event: another curate left St Mary's. Trevor asked me to step in to his roles with the South Workington Youth Partnership, and Westfield Primary School. In doing so I realised that I had missed working with young people.

Meanwhile, I was contacted by a family member involved in Workington Sea Cadets. Desperate for a treasurer they asked for my help (desperate is the operative word, I've never been a treasurer in my life, so why did they ask me?).

As I say, I'm amazed at the way even random events can seem planned with hindsight. When I stop being amazed, I think I'm going to hang up my cross.