Global Impact
How Youthworks is making a difference around the world
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
At the Gafcon Primates Council meeting in Plano, Texas, Youthworks’ CEO Craig Roberts delivered a compelling presentation on the critical need for churches to intentionally invest in youth ministry. His presentation highlighted key initiatives that are transforming how young people are discipled around the world.
Craig showcased Youthworks College, the world's only standalone Bible college dedicated exclusively to training youth and children's ministers. This specialised institution has expanded internationally, sharing its curriculum with colleges across Africa in both Arabic and English, making quality youth ministry training accessible to diverse cultures.
The presentation also featured Youthworks' "7 Principles of Effective Youth Discipleship," an interactive PDF workbook translated into eight languages. This resource is freely available to Primates, Archbishops, and Bishops for distribution to every leader involved in youth and children's ministry.
This presentation represents a significant milestone in Gafcon's history, marking the first time youth and children's ministry has been formally placed on their agenda. This development signals a growing recognition of the vital importance of investing in the next generation of Christian leaders.
SOUTH PACIFIC REGION
The Year 13 program maintains a strong annual partnership with Fijian churches, creating transformative cross-cultural mission experiences for students. Each year, selected Year 13 students undergo comprehensive training before their three-week immersion in Fijian communities.
This preparation equips students with cultural awareness and practical ministry skills essential for effective service. Once deployed, students engage in meaningful ministry across diverse settings, including local schools, orphanages, and churches.
In schools, students assist with teaching and mentoring while learning from local educators. Their work in orphanages involves caring for children and providing emotional support. Within church communities, students participate in worship, youth programs, and outreach initiatives, building lasting relationships with local congregations.
This cross-cultural mission experience proves transformative for participants, developing their global perspective, cultural sensitivity, and practical ministry skills. Students return with expanded worldviews and deeper faith. The sustained partnership has created deep, lasting relationships between Australian and Fijian communities.
AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST
Youthworks College is extending its specialized youth and children's ministry training far beyond Australia, establishing strategic partnerships with churches and theological institutions across the Middle East and Africa. This global expansion reflects the college's commitment to equipping ministry leaders worldwide with contextual, practical training for reaching young people.
In the Middle East, Youthworks College has forged partnerships with churches in Cairo to support the training of kids and youth ministry leaders. Principal Mike Dicker has personally visited Dubai and Cairo to deliver specialized training at churches and teach at various theological colleges on "Contextual Youth Ministry," ensuring that training methods are culturally relevant and effective in diverse contexts.
The college's African partnerships demonstrate a comprehensive approach to international ministry development. Mike Dicker, Canon Craig Roberts, and Andrew Spalding are actively visiting and resourcing theological colleges across the continent to support the training of future church leaders. These partnerships include supplying learning and teaching materials to Harare Theological College in Zimbabwe for the ongoing delivery of children's and youth ministry units, and providing training materials in Arabic to Alexandria School of Theology in Egypt, ensuring perpetual use throughout the Arabic-speaking world.
The college's innovative delivery methods extend their reach even further. They deliver theological units via Zoom to students in Kenya, teach intensive units at St Patrick's Theological College in Toliara to equip ministers and evangelists in Madagascar, and share the "7 Principles of Effective Child & Youth Discipleship" in French with students while engaging with various diocesan leaders on their ministry training plans.
Youthworks College also offers online enrolments to international students from around the world, including those from Zambia, Tanzania, and Seychelles, creating a truly global learning community. This multifaceted approach ensures that quality youth and children's ministry training is accessible across linguistic, cultural, and geographical boundaries, empowering local church leaders to effectively disciple the next generation in their own contexts.
USA
Youthworks' "7 Principles of Effective Youth Discipleship" has gained significant traction across American churches and schools, becoming a go-to resource for youth ministry leaders seeking practical guidance. This comprehensive resource, developed from Youthworks' proven "7 Principles of Effective Ministry," provides churches with a structured framework for building strong youth programs.
The resource guides ministry leaders through seven foundational principles of youth ministry, offering over 50 practical ideas and thoughtful questions designed to help leaders adapt these principles to their specific ministry contexts. American churches have embraced this resource because it bridges the gap between theory and practice, providing concrete tools for implementation while remaining flexible enough to work across diverse denominational and cultural settings.
What makes this resource particularly valuable is its interactive approach—rather than prescriptive solutions, it encourages leaders to think critically about their unique situations and communities. The questions prompt reflection on local needs, cultural considerations, and available resources, ensuring that each church can develop a youth ministry approach that resonates with their specific context while maintaining biblical foundations and proven ministry principles.
NEW ZEALAND
Youthworks Media has established a strong presence in New Zealand, producing comprehensive Bible-based resources specifically designed to equip Christians across all age groups—children, youth, and families. This specialized publishing arm focuses on creating high-quality, theologically sound materials that strengthen faith formation and discipleship throughout the family unit.
The organization's online webstore serves as a vital resource hub for New Zealand churches and families, providing convenient access to faithful books and training materials that support ministry leaders and parents in their discipleship efforts. These resources range from curriculum materials for children's programs to leadership training guides for youth workers, ensuring that churches have the tools they need to effectively minister to every generation.
What sets Youthworks Media apart is its commitment to producing resources that are both biblically faithful and practically applicable. New Zealand churches have embraced these materials because they address real ministry challenges while maintaining theological integrity. The online accessibility means that even remote churches and isolated families can access quality Christian education materials, making discipleship resources available to communities across New Zealand's diverse geographical landscape.
