Reflections - England 2007

“E’ sempre um privilégio estar num econtro como este. E’ como ter:
            muitas máos para ajudar
            muitos ombros par suportar
            muitas visós para partilhar e
            um único caminho a trilhar.”

(the Revd Dessordi Leite, Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil)

“To be at this meeting is a privilege.  It was like:
            many hands to help
            many shoulders for support
            many visions to share and
            only one path to walk together.”

(the Revd Dessordi Leite, Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil)

“The IAYN meeting is a time to be able to fellowship, share and engage with people who are passionate about seeing the voice of the young people in our Communion heard."

(the Revd Steven Schwarzrock, Anglican Church of Australia)

“Coming to this gathering has really improved my understanding of what the International Anglican Youth Network is doing and what it hopes to do.  I’ve also realized that it needs financial support from Provinces.  I’ve realized also that many things have happened by way of networking in the recent past which I have missed out on.  But, coming here myself has helped me to do something about it on my part as Provincial Youth Officer.  It has been a blessing coming to this gathering.”  
(Mr Newton Akoda, Anglican Province of Papua New Guinea)

“Primero quiero dar gracias a Dios por esta oportunidad de estar en esta reunión “Red Internacional de Jovenes Anglicans.”  Esta reunion me hizo mas coniente sobre la importancia de estar en contacto con ostras provincias en la communion y en nuestra region.    Fue muy interesante e importante conocer el trabajo con jovenes en otras provincias.  Me llevo a casa las experencias que compartieron cada uno de los participantes conmigo.  Los jovenes son un grupo importante en la diocesis de Mexico y queremos ser parte de la iglesia y enriquecernos mutuamente.

(the Revd Sally Sue Hernández, Province of Mexico)

“First of all I thank God for this opportunity to be a part of this meeting “International Anglican Youth Network.”  The meeting made me aware of how important it is to be in contact with other provinces across the Communion and in our own region.  It was really interesting and important to know about the youth work in other provinces.  I take back home the experiences that people from IAYN shared with me.  Young people are an important group in the dioceses of Mexico and we want to be a part of the church and enrich each other.”

(the Revd Sally Sue Hernández, Province of Mexico)

“The voice of youth is often ignored n the Church.  Meeting together as a youth network has shown me how by working together internationally we can make opportunities for our voices to be heard in the Anglican Communion.  The IAYN is our tool to make that happen.”

(Mr Andrew Russell, Anglican Church of Tanzania)

“I come to know Christ more and more in the faces of my neighbours from near and far—from different lands across different seas, from different peoples, different voices.  There’s a part of Christ we need to know which we will only find in the presence of young people.”

(Mr Michael Tamihere, Anglican Church of Aotearoa/New Zealand/Polynesia and ACC Youth Rep)

“I think it was a good opportunity to meet people who are doing activities and facing issues with youth.  Networking starts from personal relationship.  I hope next time more young people from different countries and contexts will come together and encourage each other.  Thanks a lot everyone.”

(Ms Maki Nakamura, Nippon Sei Ko Kai/Anglican Church of Japan)

“This is a very big opportunity for me to be in this meeting/conference of IAYN which has given me the chance of meeting and sharing experiences with my colleagues from other Provinces of the Anglican Communion. It has been also a learning time for me since it is my first time to attend this meeting.  I was also very much encouraged with the spirit of the Steering Group which reflect the unity of the young people in the Anglican world.  It is my prayer that God gives them strength and wisdom to serve His people.”

(Mr Evans Gogonya Israel, Episcopal Church of Sudan)

“A fine example of Anglican Fellowship.  Seeing the work of youth ministers in different provinces gave me great hope for mission work with the church.”

(Mr Richard Whitmill, Church of England)

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity to be with the participants for four days.  I would like to say “thank you” to people who made this IAYN meeting successful.  We have discussed and decided many important matters for the Network in the meeting.  The meeting is over today, but the new step is forward today for the IAYN.”

(Ms Kei Ikezumi, Nippon Sei Ko Kai/Anglican Church of Japan)

“Thank God for this great opportunity to meet youth leaders from around the Anglican Communion.  As an ‘old’ youth leader, I’ve been learning a lot from ‘younger’ leaders.
Well done, brothers and sisters.  The Anglican Communion is in a time of difficulty.  Yet, with our youth leaders’ effort, we might confidently look forward to seeing something new, something innovative and something that could bring us forward.  God bless our AY (Anglican Youth.)

(Mr Kwok Keung Chan, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui)

“I am reminded of how God is at work in so many ways in so many places.  I have been enriched by our worship in many languages, in many creative ways, and yet still in the Anglican tradition.  And I have been encouraged by our common calling and passion to serve young people, and to help our church enrich their lives, and to be enriched by them.”

(the Revd John Hebenton, Anglican Church of Aotearoa/New Zealand/Polynesia)

“Meeting with the IAYN represents my faith, stiffens my resolve, fuels my passion and guides my mission.  I left High Leigh fired up with ideas for creative mission and prophetic witness across the Communion.  We spent time celebrating our unity in diversity and learning from one another through honest discussion.  I t has been an invaluable experience and a source of great joy and encouragement for me!

(Ms Sarah Tomlinson, Scottish Episcopal Church and ACC Youth Rep)

“Wonderful to see the world coming together united in faith in Jesus and the Anglican Tradition.  I learned that despite our differences we can unite in a desire to bring young people to a  knowledge of Jesus through the work of the church.  A great forum to discuss, learn and share with others.  I hope and pray that is group will provide a voice for young people that can impact across the church. 

(Mr Peter Hamill, Church of Ireland)