Joseph reflects on his experience of visiting churches over the summer.

In two weeks' time, I’ll already have come to the end of my first year in the role here with IMYC! In these first twelve months I’ve spent a lot of my time visiting a lot of the circuits around the Republic, and it felt fitting to reflect on what these visits have been like and what I’ve learnt from seeing our Methodist communities firsthand. 

The reason for my visits can vary. Sometimes it’s simply to get to know a community or leaders in a church. I value relationships very highly, and our work has so much more depth when there’s empathy and trust at the foundation of it! Other times, my visit is to join in and cheer on a particular service or program that the circuit is running for their young people. 

Over this Summer, the visits were rather diverse! They went from joining Ballingrane for a family fun day, to Sligo for a volunteer thank you service, to a Summer BBQ in Waterford. These visits are short little pop ins for the most part, and every time, I know that I could spend hours with these communities meeting all these people and watching how they interact. Despite that, my visits have still found me running in a potato-and-spoon race with some 5-year-olds and setting up tables and chairs for a BBQ with people I met thirty minutes prior! Again and again, from all over this island, I’ve been met with friendliness and hospitality. Whether I’ve been popping in for an hour, or staying all day, I’ve immediately felt welcomed into these communities. It has filled me with so much gratitude and provided such life into my work. 

The main takeaway I’m bringing with me from this past year of visits is this: strategies, plans and visions will always come to life when we are face-to-face with people. In college I remember learning about how Jesus was both fully God and fully human. We were brought through the numerous and complex theological implications of this idea, but what stood out was that in the end our lecturer insisted that the most important thing to remember was that this meant that Christianity only makes sense when it’s in the flesh. These visits have reminded me that what truly matters are the people who walk through our doors. I can get so lost in all our strategy documents and planning meetings, and I’ve sometimes cared more about my ideas than the people they are for. The ministers, lay leaders and congregation members that I’ve met don’t struggle with this the same way. They are face to face with people and building that true connection and relationship. This is where God works best; in the love, kindness and welcome we show our children and young people when we’re right in front of them. 

I come to the end of my first year as a part of IMYC with humble gratitude. There is a lot of work to be done, but I’ve been inspired greatly so far, and I look forward to seeing what God has planned for year two. 

Joseph Ambrose - Youth and Children’s Ministry Development Worker (Republic of Ireland excluding Co. Donegal) joseph.ambrose@irishmethodist.org