About PYNSW

Our vision statement: Through God’s strength PYNSW aims to equip the Church to disciple all youth for Christ.

PYNSW works with youth leaders at local churches around NSW to help those churches disciple their young people.

Originally constituted in 1872 as the Presbyterian Fellowship Union, Presbyterian Youth (PY) was also formerly known as The Presbyterian Fellowship of Australia in NSW; and remains the youth organisation of the Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW.

Its aims are to present to youth the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation and call them to an obedient acceptance of Christ as Saviour and Lord; help youth to mature in their understanding of the life, death, resurrection and teaching of Christ through study of the Bible, prayer and fellowship; and encourage youth to commit themselves to Him as Lord, to join the membership of the Church and devote their lives to the service of God.

PY works to:

Assist churches and presbyteries to fulfil their responsibility to reach, disciple and place into Christian service youth within the context of the Church
Promote outreach, mission, discipleship, learning and fellowship among young people and foster an ongoing concern for these things within the context of the Church
Unite the youth of the Church in a fellowship of worship, study, recreation and service
Facilitate the integration of youth into the life of the Church
Facilitate training for youth leaders
Provide a statewide Christian camping ministry
Assist the Church to develop effective strategies for youth work

Committee

Danny Ford Committee Member

Andrew Garvan Committee Member

Brian Stuckings Committee Member

Dave Woolcott Committee Member

David Balzer Convener

James Turnbull Committee Member

Kenneth Barnes Treasurer

Sarah Bell Committee Member

Jarrod McNaughton Committee Member

Trish Lewis Committee Member

Staff

David Phillips General Manager

Roslyn Deal SRE Director

Sam Smith Timothy Partnership Certificate Unit Coordinator

Sophie Hu Admin Assistant

Presbytery Youth Representatives (PYR)

(vacant - know someone?) Canberra, Central Coast, Hunter, Mid North Coast, Northern Rivers, Sydney East

Stephen Fong Central Tablelands

Allan Blanch Central West

Dal Proudfoot Illawarra

Jarrod McNaughton Northern Inland

Dave Hayes Southern Rivers

Danny Ford Sydney Inner West

Dave Woolcott Sydney North

Jim Mobbs Sydney South

Hugh Prattis Western Sydney

What does a Presbytery Youth Representative do?

The Presbytery Youth Representative role encompasses the following:

• Report back to GM of PYNSW on which churches in a Presbytery have
– youth groups
– Sunday School
– other children’s ministry
– creche
– SRE teaching
– other family ministries

• Communicate with churches in the Presbytery about PY (and other) initiatives that are relevant to the Presbytery

• Meet (on zoom) twice per year with other Presbytery youth reps for fellowship, encouragement, and to communicate the needs of the Presbytery

• Be interviewed (via email or phone) by the PY comms officer to help spread awareness on the good news and need stories around children and family ministry in the Presbytery.