The Abbey National Youth Leader Conference returned in force this weekend past with a programme of renewal, learning and connection held over 18-20 August 2023.

Wellington AYM youth worker Brenna Wood reports the Abbey's 2023 main sessions centred on the theme “Fill Your Cup,” which she says made for a wonderful time for youth workers to gain refreshment and absorb new ideas to take back into the spaces they lead.

"It was so good to catch up with friends, meet new people and to network. The workshops were on-point and stimulated great conversation among us.”

'The Abbey' is the annual national Tikanga Pākehā-led Anglican conference for youth leaders and young adults from across the motu. Each year the Abbey brings youth leaders together to pray, worship, learn and reimagine and this year it drew 220 people in-person once more at the El Rancho campsite in Waikanae north of Wellington.

The Abbey’s main sessions looked at how God refills our energy in a variety of ways: through remembering our past and our identity, through rest and through the Holy Spirit making up for our weaknesses. These sessions were also a chance for participants to focus on God’s word and worship together, to be challenged and inspired.

The secondary theme engaged Abbey participants in questions of what it means to be a young person of faith in this whenua.

Sessions included discussion on what making a bicultural journey looks like, learning the back story to the Lord’s Prayer in Te Reo Māori, exploring Tikanga Māori (including how and when to karakia in Māori) and a contribution from Ngatiawa River Monastery on their own journey in te ao Māori.

Brenna reports that all the sessions were “wrapped with powerful worship, prayer and having the opportunity to be prayed for by others.”

Further workshop topics included rest and sabbath, the power of confession and forgiveness, knowing how and when to do evangelism, mission with NZCMS, reading the Bible and social media.

Over the weekend there were also chances to hold 'connection conversations' based on areas of interest such as: ministry as paid youth leaders, women in leadership, new ministry start-ups and social justice.

Other highlights from the weekend were the annual quiz and North vs South football match, plus the bonus of Common Good coffee.

For more on The Abbey 2023, or to keep an eye out for The Abbey 2024 go to The Abbey.