Multiplying Mission: Genetik 2012
As story after story in our Message 20 book shows, countless new schools and youth ministries have been birthed through Genetik, as young people spend time training with our team in Manchester and then take our vision, our best ideas and our commitment to excellence away with them to start something new.
But there’s a new dimension beginning to open up for Genetik, as Mission Director Ian Henderson explains:
‘So far, Genetik has been about investing in individual young people who share our passion for mission, and that will definitely carry on. But we’re also keen to see whole schools teams joining us to be trained on Genetik and then sent back to their own cities or countries with a continued relationship with us as Associates.’
It’s already happening: two former students from the 2010–11 intake Georgia Houghton and Heather Turkington (pictured) trained with us last year and while here, heard God talking to them about setting up a new theatre-based schools team based in Belfast.
Within weeks of graduating from Genetik, the new On The Edge Theatre Company were performing at the Summer Madness festival and spreading the word about their vision to share the good news in schools in Northern Ireland. On The Edge are now Message Associates – supported by The Message, sharing our values, but independent.
Also last year, The Message was approached by a youth network in Norway called Impuls to help train and release a new schools team for Norway. This year and next, youth workers from Norway are training alongside our teams with a view to launching a groundbreaking new team there soon. Similar projects are being explored by groups from the UK and the US.
‘The dream is quite simply loads more schools teams all over the place,’ continues Ian. ‘We have the best people to help put together high-impact schools bands, and invaluable experience of recruiting the right people, helping develop the music and getting teams ready to hit the ground running.’
We’re eager to talk with anyone who shares that vision – individuals and groups alike. Get in touch to start a conversation: email genetik@message.org.uk
Genetik is an outstanding springboard into a career in youth evangelism or schools work.
Many other graduates from the 2010–11 intake have gone on to accept a wide range of paid and voluntary youth work and ministry opportunities in Manchester and beyond.
APPLY NOW for the 2012–13 Genetik course