Team On Mission 21 - What a difference a year makes!

Team on Mission 21 on their year just finished.

Newtownabbey Team

GEMMA BARCLAY:

      

I did not expect my year on team to be so incredible! I was so blessed the whole year...the church i was working in was fantastic! The whole church was so on fire for God and it was great to work with the young people and get to know them and their stories! God gave us so many opportunities to witness to the young people, the congregation and the community. I didn't think I would become so attached to a church, but I really did, I just love the place :) Everything that I got to experience this year has helped me to grow as a person and really see God in a new way! I am so thankful that I had the chance to be part of Team on Mission 21...it was such a blessing to see the church and the young people grow with God...I would highly highly recommend it to anyone! :)

DEREK WALKER:

TOM for me: Team On Mission was a fantastic experience for me. The year flew in and was honestly the best year of my life, met so many new people and made friends for life and have seen God in so many new and different ways. God really has blessed me this past year in giving me so many opportunities to spread his love and has totally blown me away this year with his grace and love. Newtownabbey Methodist Mission where we were placed has been an awesome church and the young people have been amazing and there’s a real community built up within the youth now. Brilliant year and would recommend it to anyone :)

TRAVELLING TEAM:

IAN BOAL:

What can I say about TOM 21 for me? It has been one of the most amazing, interesting years of my life. God has taught me so much this year about myself, about Him and about life in general. I couldn't have asked for better team mates. They were EPIC!!!! (See what I did there lol!) I just want to thank God for everything He has done for me this year, and thank you to all the amazing people I got to meet, work with and live with. Would I recommend it to anyone? Without a shadow of a doubt I would. People have noticed the difference in me, in a good way, since before I went on team. It's amazing what a year can do!

ERIN FERRIS:

I gained a lot from my year on the Travelling Team. I got to meet a lot of people, got to know and form great friendships with my team members and most of all I got to see part of what God is doing in the church around Ireland. It really excited me to be such a small part in all this and to see the passion young people have for God and for the church!

CIARA KNOWLES:

I never know where to begin when asked how the year was on TOM, or how I enjoyed it, or a question so general. I will try, but my words really can’t describe fully how exciting, challenging and how influential this year has been to me. It has been a blessing to get a glimpse into what God is doing in Ireland, and a privilege to get to share in a small part of God’s work. I cannot begin to describe all the head-scratchingly surreal scenarios - from mass games of Pictionary and Bible Trivia to getting lost in Donegal, from afternoon tea parties to bizarre jokes on team –and if someone had told me I would end up in such situations, I probably wouldn’t have believed them. Team life isn’t always easy, but I have truly been blessed with my fellow team members – we know God has been with us every step we have taken, and we’ve spent a year together that no-one else other than ourselves will truly understand. And what a year it has been! God has set so many things on my heart, I have grown in my relationship with and understanding of Him and I can only desire to continue to give and grow...

PHILIP PATTERSON:

TOM was a time of adventure and discovery for me, venturing into a journey with God around Ireland to see what he was doing and the passion that young people and children alike have for their relationship with him. The year also helped me discover more about myself and what God is doing in me. Team on Mission while hard at times has been a great influence in my life and has reinforced my passion to serve God in a youth ministry context. The year was full of blessings, fun, friends (that I will always have) and God's work! I will never forget Team on Mission.