Youth Ministry Futures

Residential 2026 has come to an end.

We concluded our time together with a reflection on the life of St Brendan and his willingness to respond to God’s call to set out from the West of Ireland with 14 other monks on a currach. We reflected on what God might be calling us to from the 4 days together. We wrote these reflections down and folded them into little boats.

“Help me to journey beyond the familiar
and into the unknown. Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with You.”

Innovation always requires a departure from existing ways. There is risk, uncertainty and the possibility of failure. Planning helps, as does listening deeply to those we seek to serve. All this work we do with the help of the Holy Sprit and whatever comes from our efforts we entrust to the Lord.

A fitting end to 4 days together.

Night of Hope was last night and — wow — what a night!

We lifted up the children and young people of our country with the confidence that comes from knowing the gospel. We welcomed children's and youth ministry workers from every state and prayed for their ministry, and for the ministry of many others.

It's a rare thing to gather so many gospel workers in children's and youth ministry — not only for training, or content, or compliance — but for prayer and praise to the God who calls, equips and sustains us.

You are invited to a Night of Hope!

⛪︎ St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
📅 Wednesday 17 June 2026, 7:00–9:00 pm

This is a rare opportunity to gather with children's and youth ministry workers from around Australia for a night of prayer and praise.

Jesus is renewing his church through the ministry of children and young people. We long for Jesus to raise up many more leaders to work alongside children and young people as they live out God's call for them in Christ. We pray for people of all ages — that they would come to know the depths of God's love for them.

We're thankful for all those who have shared this event and those who have been praying with us as we prepare our hearts for a night full of hope.

Thank you to our partners; Ridley College, Churches of Christ Vic/Tas, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne - Children and Young People Team, Presbyterian Youth Victoria, Youth Dimension, and 24-7 Prayer Australia.

Come and join us in prayer and praise.

We're so thankful for the 50 people who have gathered at for the Residential 2026 to bear witness to all that Jesus is doing with, for and through young people around Australia (and around the world)

We welcome Chris Curtis from to walk us through his experience of innovation over 39 years of youth ministry. Dave Chiswell is into his second session of Youth in the Churches — a foundation unit that goes deep.

In 2022, 24-7 Prayer Australia launched in its current form, building on this legacy to serve the unique spiritual landscape of our cities, towns, and rural communities. Our vision is simple but powerful: to see spiritual renewal across Australia as the people of God unite in prayer, mission, and justice.

They have seen 220+ Prayer Rooms registered across Australia in 2025 — including 120+ for the Global Week of 24-7 Prayer — representing over 240,000 hours of prayer, a 165% increase from 2024. Prayer Spaces in Schools launched in 2025, already reaching 15,000+ students across 34 schools.
On Wednesday 17 June, we gather at St Paul's Cathedral to pray with 24-7 Prayer Australia

RSVP — https://nightofhope.ymfutures.com.au/

Ridley College has been training men and women for ministry since 1910 — over a century of forming people who will dedicate their lives to Christian service, whether in parish halls, school chaplaincy offices, or church youth rooms.

YMF is an activity of Ridley College — Ridley's hospitality makes this work possible.

On Wednesday 17 June, we gather at St Paul's Cathedral to pray with Ridley, for Ridley and the people they serve.

RSVP — nightofhope.ymfutures.com.au

Presbyterian Youth Victoria (PYV) works alongside local church youth leaders across Victoria, supporting youth ministry within Presbyterian Churches through training, resources, events, and camps. PYV also serves as a vital link between churches, helping leaders connect, collaborate, and encourage one another.

Their mission, in their own words, is "to make and nurture disciples of the Lord Jesus among youth." Through initiatives such as PYV Summer Camp, 1 Day Youth Events, Young Adults Camp, and Leadership Training Days across Victoria, they equip young people and leaders to gather, learn, grow, and serve.

PYV is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people, working closely with the Presbyterian Church of Victoria's Safe Church Unit to maintain high standards of child safety.

On Wednesday 17 June, we gather at St Paul's Cathedral to pray with them, for them, and for the children and young people they serve.

RSVP — nightofhope.ymfutures.com.au

Youth Dimension has been at this for over forty years.

From Eltham, they run programs in schools and churches across Victoria — Reboot in primary lunchrooms for years 5–6, Refocus inside churches for years 7–9, Gravitate as a VCE elective for years 11–12, and a year-long Internship for young adults that has been training disciples since 1987. Their wellbeing work in schools is grounded in their own student data — careful, evidence-based, slow.

Youth Dimension has been facilitating Summer Missions (now Blue Moose) since 1977, and currently engages 220 young adults across 12 teams in regional Victoria and Tasmania.

And in Nepal, they continue their work against human trafficking.

These are evidence of the fruit that long faithfulness can bring.

On Wednesday 17 June, we gather at St Paul's Cathedral to pray with them, for them, and for the children and young people they serve.

RSVP — nightofhope.ymfutures.com.au

Churches of Christ Vic/Tas is a movement of 120 churches and agencies of Communities of Hope and Compassion across Victoria and Tasmania.

In these communities, people are teaching children to pray. Leading a Friday night youth group. Sitting with a young person at the kitchen table after the service. State Youth Games gives many of them a shared weekend each year.

On Wednesday 17 June, we gather at St Paul's Cathedral to pray with them, for them, and for the children and young people they serve.

RSVP — nightofhope.ymfutures.com.au