The Real Nicole.

There is a lot going on in the world at the moment.  It seems messy, confusing, chaotic and hurtful.  Asylum seekers without a home, starving and dying in waiting. The outcome of a survey being fought over. Climate change affecting people's homes.  Terrorism and gun violence a daily occurrence.  Young people seeking someone to notice them, young people seeking someone to care, young people crying out. Mental health issues increasing, sexual assault and violence, domestic violence.  War. Poverty. Pain. Hurting. Where is the Love?  We hear the cries but are we actually listening? Do we actually hear the cries of the people around us? Do we hear the cries of the world? Do we hear the cries of the voiceless? Do we hear creations cries? Are we listening to the prophetic voices in our world? As I was driving to youth drop in this afternoon from school, the song 'Where is the Love?' by Black Eyed Peas came on the radio.  As I listened to the ...

Dear White Middle Class Christians, I hate you and I hate everything about you. I've spent the last 3 months really frustrated by you.  Maybe even angry at you.  I am annoyed by the God you supposedly believe in - its not the God I know, the God who cares for all people. The God who sent His Son to walk among the broken and the sinners. I feel like you just don't understand the privilege you actually sitting in. You talk about going out into the world and serving others, but you really just mean the people that are like you and people who would be willing and have the resources to contribute in your circles.  You talk about brokenness and hardship and reference war and poverty in Africa, you don't understand that in the streets around you there are people faced with the same everyday.  You talk about your own hardships as if something really awful has happened, but the reality of the situation is that you just had a bad day and need a nap because you are grumpy. ...

Last school holidays I had the pleasure and privilege of telling and facilitating space for some of God's Story to be experienced at NCOH Youth's camp in Walkers Flat on the Murray.  NCOH is the Northern Community of Hope - a church in Daveron Park with a real heart for the community around them, a church for some of the real broken people just coming as they are and experiencing God.  I was there as part of the Access the Story team - speaking out the meta-narrative of God, and to be honest I was pretty excited to have been asked to go because I felt validated by the Access the Story crew as a capable communicator, leader or maybe even just as a leader.  It was an amazing week, of ministry opportunities, of trying things a little out of my comfort zone, of watching and responding to the community and culture and of new friendships and perceptions. My friend and colleague Trav whom I accompanied on camp shared his reflections here . There was a few things I learnt abo...

So with the trantition of many new young people into my youth group, i decided to write up the values and in that the vision of what kind of community my youth group will aim to be as we get new people in.  this is what ive come up with... Being a part of youth group is an exciting thing and can be lots of fun, but in order to make it fun for everyone (adults included, because if the adults aren’t having fun, they will stop coming and there won’t be any youth group) there are a few rules we need to try and remember.  ·          All belong and are welcome to attend youth group.   This means that you can bring your friends who are youth aged (Yr7-Yr12) and it also means that we don’t discriminate against or bully those who are attending. ·          We use language which is inclusive and will not offend others. This means we consider what we say and how we say it and don’t use swear ...

The last few weeks at youth group I've started to transition year 6's from the local primary school I work at into youth group. These last few weeks I've noticed something. I seem to be thinking differently to most people in the room at youth group.  I love 10-14year olds. And I love having them at youth group. They are probably some of my favourite people.  It's fascinating really,  year 6s tend to think they are the most important person in the room, they aren't aware that things have been operating before them and will in the future. Other youth hate them, they label them twelvies and are annoyed by their bouncy, loud and energetic attitudes. Other adults get tired by them, they seem to want to have a conversation with them and this of course doesn't happen in a mature way.    Me? Why do I love them so much?  I love them because their energy can be turned into evangelism, their loudness can be turned into leadership and their bouncing can be ...

Social media and limited characters for bios has forced us to create an identity in as little characters or words as possible. I often do this with I am statements and statements or words about things I love.  Facebook says:  I am... 22 I am... christian I am.. Known as Muggles, Nicolee-ole, The Mugginator, Miamle and Muggers I am... a Leader, a Youth Pastor, PCW and a Dreamer i am... a friend and a Daugther I am... learning from my mistakes I am... studying a Bachelor of Ministry I am... a child of God Loves God Loves People Loves grapes Loves stationary Loves boardgames Loves teaching and leading young people Loves reading Loves friends Loves good food Loves my church Loves studying Loves worshipping a great God Instagram says: Daughter, youth pastor, Chaplain (PCW), student, friend, dreamer, follower of Christ, born to make a difference Twitter says: Jesus. Community. Laughing. Boardgames. Youth Pastor. Bachelor of Ministry Student. But is this who I really am? Or is t...

So I'm a  youth pastor right, it's something that sometimes I say out loud and it still blows my mind. It's something I always wanted to be and I am that now.  I don't know if I'm doing a good job, i thonk I'm doing alright, I might not be as cool or successful as some of my other youth pastor friends but I feel like I'm doing alright.  Last week I went to NYMC Encore which was a day conference for those in youth ministry.  It was a great day and totally worth  coming back the 400kms  to adelaide for the day, I got to see my friends, my family, my support network. But I heard from God too. Both on a personal level and also for my ministry.  One question I am left with after the conference is about young leaders.   Now I would consider myself a young leader. At 21 , I am young, I have been blessed with many leadership opportunities well beyond my years, but in still a young leader . I'm still leading about who I am and my style of lead...

In the last 6 months 3 people i knew well for a period of my life have passed away.  Each and everyone of these lives were precious and its such a tragedy. On reflection of these lives which were lost so young i think about what our culture is saying and why this is happening. People being told who they are isn't good enough, people investing so much into individuals/success and losing it all when something falls apart and not knowing how to cope or people living life with the idea of #yolo (you only live once) .  Of course this is just a generalisation but i dont know what to do about this.  Its bothering me that people are losing their lives, and their loved ones for things that shouldnt happen. How can we change culture so that we don't lose our young people?  how can we raise a generation of young people to learn to value the realities of life and help them better face the challenges that come?  I dont think culture is just killing our young people ph...