Youth leaders are an essential part of church life across the diocese. In this mini-series we will be looking at the role they play within the Church, what led them to this point.

 

Rosie Blyth had a decision to make. She was 18, had finished school and a whole world of possibilities lay before her.

Should she follow her friends to university and study her desired degree in History and Politics at Southampton, or should she take a gap year?Rosie is stood on the beach with a cloudy sky and the sea in the background.

“I wasn’t sure what to do with the rest of my life,” says Rosie, now 22 years, “When I had finished my A Levels, I went to an event online run by South West Youth Ministry (SWYM) called Transforming a Generation.  The event was Christians sharing their experiences working in different sectors – including children and youth ministry – that’s where I heard about ‘Be transformed’ gap year.”

This choice began the path towards her current role in the diocese of Truro as St Austell Parish’s Youth Minister.

Rosie’s parents became Christians after moving to California, America, when she was just two years old. Being new to the country, her parents connected with a local church for support. This saw them give their lives to Jesus, and they were baptised.

Rosie says: “I have grown up in church and throughout my teenage years I’ve encountered God. When I was 13, I made the decision to get baptised too.

“I hadn’t really fully committed at that age though as I wouldn’t call myself a Christian at school. It wasn’t until lockdown, when I was 17, that I started to read my bible and pray for my world more.”

“It wasn’t until lockdown, when I was 17, that I started to read my bible and pray for my world more.” Rosie

It was in her gap year that she found herself becoming closer to God.

“I had never experienced being around so many young adults – who were my course mates – with a faith,” she explains. “During this year, I studied theology and was also encouraged to look deeper into my own faith.

“I also worked in the church and took part in youth and children’s work.”

After this gap year, in 2022, Rosie decided to continue with SWYM and her placement at St Austell Parish and join the degree programme studying at Moorlands College with lectures at Lee Abbey, North Devon, and at Moorlands campus in Christchurch.

She says: “I was working with the church for 24 hours a week and then studying for the rest of the week.”

When she finished her studies, she was invited to stay as the youth minister in St Austell and started her role at the beginning of September. She is certain this is right where God wants her.

She says: “Growing up, I never had a ‘I want to do this with my life idea’.  My mum was a Children’s and Families worker in my church starting when I was 10 years old – that was what my mum did.

“But I now believe God was calling me to youth ministry. Someone gave me the words ‘World Changer’, but that I had a choice between the political world or ‘spiritual’ world. Both were valid, and important but I had a decision to make.

“I think sometimes there is no right or wrong path to follow as God is going to bring you to the right thing and it works out amazing.”

“I think sometimes there is no right or wrong path to follow as God is going to bring you to the right thing and it works out amazing.” – Rosie

Rosie loves working in her new role.

“The best part is actually getting to spend time with young people and see the way they are growing, as well as laughing and having fun with them,” she says. “Being a teenager is an exciting time in your life. As a youth minister, you really see that in them. It is great because I get to see what they are like when they are out of school. Watching relationships growing between them, and being able to facilitate that, is a joy.”

Rosie is excited about the future as she sees more and more people wanting to learn about the Christian faith. She is encouraged seeing young people bringing friends along to Youth Alpha to find out more.

“There is an interest and hunger,” she says. “We’ve also had several young adults come along to church in recent months, really searching for meaning, also engaging in Alpha.

“In youth café, people are willing to engage in conversation about church, feel comfortable in a church space and are open to engaging in conversations.”

Rosie hopes to be able to enable and encourage churches to reach more young people.

Any advice to others thinking of working with children and young people in the diocese?

She says: “I would really recommend doing some sort of training.

“I had a fantastic time at SWYM, and you can do it no matter how old you are. It is a great opportunity to develop yourself and your faith.”