He who began a good work in you...

I've been in my post for more than 10 years now, supported by wonderful colleagues and volunteers. 

At first, I genuinely thought I'd never see the three-year-olds into their adolescence. So, it's a privilege to be here with them today, through so many personal and family events, joys, tears, outings and ice creams.

Seed-sowers don't always reap the harvest. But enjoying the harvest with righteous pride is something I often feel when I look at several young adults I have worked with who are now ministering for God in various ways, volunteering or working with children and young people.

Take Dan. He was 16 when I started and I was warned by the previous youth worker that he was a 'character' and a little accident prone. But I will never forget him trying to teach me how to play golf on a rainy November morning at Hinksey Heights. I was a county standard hockey player, which unfortunately proved a handicap to my golf swing. As Dan gently kept showing me the correct way, I was struck by his patience, laughter, training, and knowledge - wonderful foundation qualities that alerted me to God's definite call on Dan to be a minister.

He became a junior leader at our Kids Club where he was so faithful, kind, helpful and creative. Then, after University he worked alongside me in his gap year. He's now Youth Minister for a London Baptist church.

I'm so grateful to God for the part He has allowed me to play in training Dan and others. I love it when 16 & 17-year-olds come to events and camps as junior leaders alongside me. It's so cool when a 14-year-old tells you they want to be a Youth Minister and 10 years later they are.

My own journey into Youth Ministry began when I was 14 and annoyed that the vicar had closed our Sunday evening group. I promised God that if I could do anything to save other young people from the same experience of church, then I'd do it. I promptly forgot about it and joined the hockey club! But God remembered and directed my path. At 22 someone was prepared to take a risk with me and I started at St Matz. So be careful what you promise God - he's got an amazing memory!

Yvonne Morris is Youth and Children’s Minister at St Matthew’s and St Luke’s Oxford.