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Our Youth Pastors

Paul Cross

I became a Christian through Radio Cracker in 1991, where I was one of the DJ’s. I have had a long a varied career from working in a fish factory to DJing in Cyprus. I met Katie and we were married in 1996. I have been involved in 18-25 ministry since becoming a Christian and embarked on youth ministry having been married a year. I pretend to play golf, love music, and am an avid watcher of the West Wing

Katie Cross

I became a Christian at the tender age of eight and have grown in my faith journey from that time on. I started helping in the children’s ministry at 15 and by 18 was pioneering my first youth group. I spent a year with YWAM which included a church planting expedition to Venezuela. Now mum to two boys and young daughter, and I have just completed degree studies as well as spending time doing a job I love, working with young people. I enjoy music, photography and the odd bit of gardening.

Youth and Children’s Vision

 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, 
in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”  (1 Timothy 4:12)

This is expanded on to give:

• Bless – the stepping stones for young people to join our community, and for us to join theirs – youth club, social events, open groups, social action.
• Belong – the drawing of young people by relationships rather than just circumstances; they choose to come - small groups, social events.
• Believe – opportunities for the Christian faith to be explored and the challenge presented – Youth Alpha, small groups, services.
• Become – the process by which young people are discipled and encouraged to grow in their faith – small groups, mentoring.
• Bring – the short hand for a lifestyle of worship and encouragement towards personal holiness – including services, social action, leadership training. 

 These are brought out of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37 -40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

This emphasizes the need for correct discipleship, combined with the need for space and time to be an example. This is both in the formal structures of the church and in the normal day to day world of the young person.

  There are also a number of specific attributes which we will nurture and develop:

• Communication - Colossians 4:6, Proverbs 26:6. We aim to communicate clearly, regularly and appropriately with youth, parents, the church, the community and the wider Christian body. We aim to do this through appropriate and expedient means, whilst adhering to all current legislation, e.g. Data Protection Act.
• Community – Mark 3:13-14, Acts 2:44-47, Matthew 18:20.  In a culture that promotes the individual and self we will aim to be counter cultural by actively trying to become and live community. How this will look and outwork is not prescribed, though it will be inclusive rather than exclusive.
• Creativity – Genesis 1, Genesis 4:21-22, Psalms, 1 Kings 7:13-50. God is the ultimate in creativity and we are created in his image. The Bible is full of descriptions of great art, buildings, prose, dance, music, etc. We will endeavour to create a culture where appropriate creativity is encouraged in all areas of our Christianity.
• Consistent – Hebrews 13:8, John 17:25-27. We aim to be consistent in our approach and execution of youth work so people can build confidence in what we say and do. We intend this work to be here for the long haul, rather than hit and run.
• Co-operation  – 2 Cor. 6:1, John 17:21, 1 Cor. 1:10, Phil. 2:1-3. Biblical co-operation is based upon truth. It involves the united effort of God's people. We will learn to co-operate better with those within our Church, local community and the wider Christian constituency.