News
Youthsurge & Garage Hymnal team up to change the world in 09
22 September, 2008
Youthsurge and Garage Hymnal are teaming up to shatter conceptions of what bible-based youth ministry looks and sounds like.
In 2009 the two groups are planning to raise the bar for evangelical youth events, with new programs, new sounds and a new vision.
"People seem to assume that you have to choose between great worship or great bible teaching. What we have in common with Youthsurge is that we don't like choosing, we want it all!" says Andy Judd, keyboardist in Garage Hymnal.
"We want to reach youth with the gospel using all that our culture has to offer. Make an impact in culture, and you can change the world", he continues.
Youthsurge is an inter-denominational group that runs "surges" - gatherings of young people - right across Australia. Their goal is to show that a youth group can be enjoyable while also being thoroughly Christian.
Youthsurge Director Steve Jeffrey is passionate about building up local youth groups. "The large proportion of people who commit to follow Jesus by the age of 25 means it is vital to focus ministry at this age group," he says.
"And when you look back at the ministries which are making a big impact on the world, close partnerships between musicians and preachers are a recurring theme," Steve observes, "Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio, Tim Hughes and Mike Pilavachi, and of course Brian Houston and Darlene Zschech."
The two groups are hoping to put on up to eight surges in Sydney together next year, and more inter-state. But with bigger technical production demands and more professional musicians to support, the two groups are now beginning to seek funding for the venture.
"[Evangelicals] have got the preachers, we've got the songs, and we've got the musicians to pull it off. We just need to decide that - yes - this is worth doing and worth putting money behind," Andy concludes.
