Meet the Youth Leaders!

This week we kick off our Friday night youth events, but this past weekend the adult leaders kicked off the school year with a day retreat! It was great to get together to spend time in the word, do some training, hang out together, eat meals, plan for the upcoming year, and pray for each student.

If you don't know our awesome youth leaders, here is a little bit about each of them!

ME! (Amanda) - I started volunteering in Fall 2007. A year later I started working part-time as the Intern. In June 2012 I was officially hired as the Director of Student Ministries. It's been so cool to watch the kids grow up into awesome young adults. Before youth I served in Children's Ministries, and my first group of preschoolers graduated this year! My original grade 1 Sunday School class is going into grade 9. I LOVE working with teens, and I also hold a teaching degree. I'm getting married in 2 weeks to Sheldon. I also love The Office, cats, and drawing and painting. And Harry Potter. And baking. I'll stop now...

Sue - Sue grew up at Bethany and has been a volunteer since 2009. She is great at taking new students under her wing and thrives in an environment of bubbly teenage girls. Everyone calls her Auntie Sue :) Sue teaches classes for preschoolers as well as piano lessons. She's very musical and is a great singer! Sue and Dave have two boys, the youngest is still in youth.

Heidi - she started volunteering again in 2010 after a hiatus for a few years. Heidi is quiet but connects well in small groups and conversations... our girls love her! She can most often be found serving in the kitchen and training students on concession. Heidi and Rick have four kids - their oldest is in youth and second oldest is in iConnect. Heidi works as a doula and LOVES babies!

Kathleen - she started volunteering when Bethany and New Beginnings merged youth ministries as she was already a leader at New Beginnings. Kathleen is a teacher in Surrey and is a fantastic leader! She is very outdoorsy and bikes everywhere! She connects well with our older girls who love having her as a small group leader. Katheen and Ian have three sons, their youngest is in youth.

Bob - everyone knows Bob! He has been a youth leader longer than some of us have been alive. Bob is quiet and would much rather work behind the scenes (he can most often be found running sound and helping out around the church... he has a knack for making useful contraptions!). He spends a lot of time hanging out with the youth guys and connects well with quiet students. When in doubt, we listen to Bob because he knows this church and youth ministry better than anyone.

Sheldon - I will be his wife in a few weeks! Wahoo! Sheldon started volunteering in 2009. He is social and gets along with pretty much everyone, especially the youth guys who also love making movies like he does. Sheldon is the main planner of the Clue Game - he likes to use his creativity for planning and making youth movies (he and Matt have made the majority of what we post on YouTube). Sheldon works as a plumber and loves Lord of the Rings.

Adam - Adam started volunteering last school year. He is energetic and connects well with other energetic students, frequently causing havoc in the youth room. Adam is outgoing and is good at leading games or helping with random things like setting up for an event, often asking kids to help him out. Adam works at Best Buy while he is in school. He also works for the church part time as a custodian. Adam and his girlfriend Farren have been together for 2 years. He is also my cousin!

Jake - he started volunteering again in 2011 after a hiatus. Jake is hilarious, super outgoing, and has the sort of personality that draws people in. He can most often be found in the centre of a crowd, which makes him a great games leader, public speaker, and mischief maker. Jake is a plumber and he and Angelika have three kids, none of whom are close to being in youth yet!

Cody - he is our youngest youth leader! Cody started volunteering last school year along with Adam. Cody is the oldest of four boys (the youngest two are still in youth). Cody loves talking to people and connects well with kids who are quieter. He loves video games! Cody spent two years in Bible school and is now studying at SFU Surrey.

Daniel - he went to Bethany as a kid but has been going to Sunshine Ridge for several years, until he was hired here in May as our new Intern. Daniel married Desireé in June and is currently in his final year at Trinity Western. Daniel is very musical and this year he is in charge of the youth worship team as well as College & Career. You can read his guest post here.


Carlon - he served as a youth leader from 2009 until this past May. Now, Carlon is taking a break from Friday leadership but is still leading a Bible study, something he has done very well for three years. Carlon has a thinking mind and loves to challenge the kids in his group. He is working in electric. He is the older brother to Adam, and his youngest brother is in youth. His mom also runs iConnect on Fridays and his dad works at the church too. Carlon and his girlfriend Taylor are very mischievous... if you find that your windshield wipers are standing on end after church, Carlon is probably to blame!