Rod's Bit

G’day Youth Vision WA,

My hope is that you have had a good break and you're primed for a great 2010.

I'm currently reading Matthew and have again been reminded of Jesus' committment to retreat. Twice in Matt 14 he withdraws to a solitary place to pray! Very interesting! My hunch is that this is an extremely important spiritual discipline, especially if Jesus did it! Can I encourage you to right now stop reading this and schedule in one Retreat or Advance by the end of term two. Two would be better but at least go for one. Now all that you need to do is stick to it! Ha easy! Mike and I have been discussing the possibility of doing a couple this year and inviting you along! Stay tuned for more details. Also I have a great resource that leads you through a retreat. Let me know if you would like a copy - it's great.

I'd love to make you aware that currently the youth ministries from Mukka and Merriden are down south on camp. I had a txt from Chris last night asking us to pray because he sensed God really moving. Please remember them over these next few days.

Just a few reminders;

• ACTIVATE 2010 enrolments & Scholarship Applications close very soon. Please continue to promote and if you have people who are definitely "in" can you get them to get their forms to me ASAP.

• YVWA's New Year Gathering Breakfast will be on Saturday the 6th of February, 9a-11a @ South Perth Church of Christ corner of Murray St and McNabb Loop Como. We will be sharing a great breakfast as well as hearing a bit about the happenings in youth ministry for 2010. If you could email Sue Vawser to let us know whether you are coming or not, that would help heaps with the catering. I'm looking forward to catching up with you, so I hope you can come? Please feel free to bring your key people!

• Please put the YVWA dates into your calender

Well that's it for now! I hope to see you soon?

God Bless
Rod Thom

YVWA's ACTIVATE 2010

What is ACTIVATE?

ACTIVATE is a year long course predominately aimed at 18-25 year olds, especially those who are still unsure about future directions but are keen to develop as a leader, do some Youth & Childrens’ work as well as get a foundational handle on Christian Ministry and Theology. We hope that this course will activate in them their God given purpose as well as a real heart for ministry/mission. It is also a great start for people who want to begin a life long learning pathway.

Students doing ACTIVATE will be working in a ministry setting and will study nine units over the year. Three of them will be electives. Upon completion, they will receive a Certificate 4 in Christian Ministry and Theology through ACOM which will go towards any future study.  It can be done for audit and it can be done part time.

The learning model is on the job training, competency based and most of the study is done online through ACOM's e-learning framework called Janison. Students will be able to do their readings, listen to podcasts and watch videos via the internet. There will also be online forums where students can interact around the subjects they are studying.

Here is a list of great things about ACTIVATE

• Accessibility to regional WA. It can be done completely remotely.

• It’s one year towards a 2 year Diploma

• Flexible on the job training centred around the practical mission and program of your church

• Multiple delivery methods but mostly based online

• Government Traineeships will be available if a student is a new employee of a church (within 3 months) and is being remunerated at a minimum of $11 000 there is a government grant of up to $4 500 that can go towards their salary and also $2 500 for the Trainee’s studies.

• YVWA will offer 4x$1000.00 scholarships for 2010

• Kids Vision will be offering 6x$1500.00 scholarships for 2010

• Youth, Childrens’ & Leadership stream

• ACTIVATE will cost $2 250 which makes it probably the most accessible Cert 4 of it kind in the country

The prospectus is available online at www.yvwa.com.au just follow the ACTIVATE logo links.

It's also worth letting you know that this is just one of many training pathways now available to us here in WA. If you would like to talk about other options such as degree level training, please don't hesitate to email Peter Barney who is the WA ACOM Regional Coordinator.

Please pray about this and if you have some potential students, feel free to present this opportunity to them for 2010. I would also love you to ask God to bless ACTIVATE and that He would raise up the next generation of Youth & Childrens’ Leaders.

We already have potentially 8 students for next year! If you want to have a chat about this give me a call on 0403 128 135 or email me

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