Gorleston Youth Worker starts after year wait

Gorleston Youth Worker starts after year wait 

Gabi Groenewald-Simmons has started work as Youth Worker for Identity Youth Project, having been appointed over a year ago

The year-long wait came about as a result of difficulties getting a visa for Gabi Groenewald-Simmons to come over from South Africa to work in the UK for the Christian charity Identity Youth Project, based in Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth

Having completed a theological course in Bristol, Gabi felt called to stay in England. Gabi began exploring job options in the UK, but it was only when the job with Identity Youth Project came up that she really felt convinced that she had found the right one. She reports that her now-husband James had recognised a fresh excitement in her when she came out of the interview for the role. Gabi says: “one of the things that really stood out was that it wasn't just one church. When I was back working with youth in South Africa, I always wanted the churches to do something together and we could only ever do one thing with one other church every year and that was it. No one else was really interested and so I really loved the idea of being in an environment where the churches have partnered together in the past and so it's not a new thing for them to partner together”

Getting a visa for Gabi wasn’t straightforward for Identity, and a 13 month wait ensued. “It's a weird way to live” explains Gabi, “because any day you can get news that changes your life in a month from now. But at the same time, I think it teaches you to live in the present: you can't plan months ahead, because you just don't know.” She describes having to trust God for the future as becoming a necessity for her. She says she came to a place of  “trusting God in all the situations and trusting that even if it fell apart, it would be OK because He's got me"

Gabi finally arrived in the UK in September and started work for Identity in October as their full time Youth Minister supporting and uniting churches across Gorleston and beyond in reaching young people for Christ

Gabi is eager to begin relationships in the area: “I’m looking forward to engaging with the youth that are around and getting a feel for where they're at. I guess also just their general sense about God His involvement in their lives.” She is particularly excited about getting involved with some small group work in the area: “just being able to hold that space for people to open up, I think, is just really, really nice”

Anna Price, Chair of Trustees for Identity Youth Project says: “We are so thankful to the Lord for his timing in this long awaited appointment.  Gabi brings a great deal of experience, alongside her theological training, to the role and we pray she will be a source of encouragement to our local churches as we endeavour to reach young people for Christ.  We trust she will be warmly welcomed by the fantastic Christian community in Norfolk"

Gabi and Anna encourage anyone who is interested in getting involved with Identity, either as a young person wanting to grow in faith, or an adult wanting to partner with the project, to get in touch via info@identityyouth.co.uk


Photo taken by Anna Heydon, Network Norfolk
 

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