Solid Community
For Ash Kwok, Year 13 opened his eyes to his passion for teaching the gospel.
Before beginning the program in 2016, Ash had planned to train as an English teacher because he loved grammar and enjoyed teaching ESL at church. But through on-the-job experience serving in ministry at St Paul’s Chatswood as part of Year 13, Ash realised he was more passionate about teaching the gospel.
“Year 13 opened my eyes to see the need for not necessarily gospel workers but people in the church who are on fire for saints to be equipped and the lost to be saved, both in the parish local context and the global context.”
For Ash, the chaplaincy groups were the most “wondrous element” of the Year 13 program.
“In terms of my own individual reflection on my own theology and practice, Year 13 was incredibly helpful,” he says.
“I thought about how theology impacts my day-to-day life, my view of myself, and my view of community; how does my identity in Christ and God's word impact that? The reflective moments informed me and kept me steadfast.”
The community and friendships formed during the year were also “incredibly formative.”
“I loved being part of a solid group of guys who could journey life with and be vulnerable in the realities of the Christian life. Being mentored by Matt, my chaplaincy group leader, was incredibly formative and I felt deeply loved, known and discipled.”
“There is nothing like Year 13 in terms of forming a solid community that truly seeks to glorify God together in service and love of each other and the church that I just don't think you even get at uni.”
Ash, who is now Next Gen Pastor at St Paul’s Chatswood thanks to his Year 13 experience of serving in ministry at the church, believes Year 13 is “incredibly powerful when done well in the local church.”
“The two things that equipped me were the element of year 13, where we talked about ministry skills, and the on-the-job experience that year 13 encouraged me to head in that direction.”
Ash loves seeing volunteers equipped to serve and disciple kids and youth while growing in their passion for the importance of discipling young people. And it makes them on fire for the urgency of the gospel.
“Youthworks does an incredible job of not just equipping but thinking about the culture of our churches in terms of kids and youth. Year 13 is part of that ecosystem, and it plays a significant role in benefiting the local churches in Australia and God's kingdom. God is using it for his glory and his propagation of the gospel. “