The call is out for The Abbey 2024, which this year focuses on ‘Loving God and loving others’ at the annual festival for Tikanga Pākehā Anglican youth leaders and young adults. Begun back in 2013, The Abbey brings together the country’s biggest gathering of young Anglican leaders for three days of learning, bonding and outright fun.

Workshops set for The Abbey 2024 lock in the essentials for youth ministry with sessions on: Bible study, Mission, Creating Sacred Space, Music and ministry, Creativity and God,. Next they highlight flashpoints for Generation Z such as: mental health and preventing self-harm, living with neurodiversity, navigating relationships, being Pākehā in light of the Treaty and making a good living.

Lorna Gray, who is National Youth Facilitator for the New Zealand Anglican Dioceses, is excited that this year The Abbey will welcome deaf-sign interpretator Rachel Tate to sign its three keynote sessions (by Dallas Harema, Lorna Gray and Lillian Murray) and she’s proud that’s part of a long term plan to support more people with disabilities at The Abbey. 

Lorna says that this year The Abbey worship team is from Christchurch, with a few extras from Auckland joining them, and she’s looking forward to their ministry of music leading The Abbey’s worshippers into God's presence.

This year The Abbey team are setting out to also nurture young adults in their own faith journeys through the event, as well as offering the usual range of skills and insights for work with younger people. 

“We are aware that often churches call on young adults to lead their youth ministry, so we’ve made The Abbey a space for them too, not only to come along for new ideas and catching up with peers, but as a space to refresh and recharge for themselves, especially in our awesome worship.”

“And of course the Abbey is a space where we hope everyone that comes along will encounter Jesus, like we’ve seen so many times, we want young people at The Abbey to experience the Holy Spirit and connect with God in prayer.” 

The Abbey youth ministry festival, networking and training experience takes place from 30 August – 1 September at El Rancho in Waikanae. For more information go to: theabbey.co.nz