The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

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• Youth
  • What’s been happening
  • What’s coming up
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    • Seasonal
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  • All Aboard Year 3
  • Resources for Advent and Christmas
  • Graphics for events and activities
  • Creative Prayer & Memory Verses
  • Resources for Easter
  • Other Seasonal resources

What’s been happening

There is always plenty going on for young people across the Diocese of Connor, both at parish and diocesan level. This is a snapshot of what at young people have been up to! 

Training – ‘God’s Heartbeat for the Rising Generation’

Johnny Beare, Growing Young Disciples, speaking at the Equip training session in Lisburn Cathedral.

Johnny Beare from Growing Young Disciples led two Equip evenings in April – in Lisburn Cathedral on April 21 and in the new Gathered Centre in Coleraine on April 23.  

These sessions, entitled ‘God’s Heartbeat for the Rising Generation,’ were organised as part of Connor Youth’s Equip training series.

Volunteers, church leaders, and parents from across Connor gathered to discuss and hear about God’s heartbeat and the church’s urgent calling for children and young people.  

Diocesan Youth Officer David Armstrong said: “During the evenings, we were challenged by statistics that suggest anywhere from 60-80 per cent of young people will leave the Church when they become adults, but we were also encouraged that ministries shaped around teaching and telling the gospel of grace will help the rising generation to know and love the Lord and will be more likely to continue to follow him throughout their lives.”  

The next Equip event will take place in Ballynure on the morning of Saturday May 23, when Jen Christie will speak about the challenges young people face regarding mental health and how to lovingly disciple them in these challenges.

Johnny Beare led two sessions, one in Lisburn and one in the Gathered Centre in Coleraine.

Growing Young Disciples Conference

Diocesan Youth Officer Dave Armstrong, left, and Connor delegates at the Growing Young Disciples Conference 2026.

Six representatives from Connor joined some 400 children, youth and families workers and volunteers at Yarnfield Conference Centre in January 2026 for the annual four-day Growing Young Disciples conference.

Delegates came from from all over the world, writes Diocesan Youth Officer Dave Armstrong.  “During the morning sessions, Adam Thrift, Associate Minister at All Saints’, Crowborough, helped us to explore the role the local church plays in youth and children’s ministry. We saw how the church itself, and the message that the church has to proclaim, is the very answer to many of the challenges that young people face today. 

“We were reminded that every church member has a role in helping young people to know and grow in the stable truth the church has to offer, and that our responsibility is to see ourselves more as ‘inheritors rather than investors’ when it comes to sharing the gospel through word and sacrament with young people.

“Following the morning sessions, we divided into several teaching ‘streams,’ led by key voices in children’s and youth ministries and by church leaders. The five streams focused on areas such as ‘disciplining young people to stand firm for Jesus,’ ‘discipling young people to be set apart in an unholy world,’ ‘foundations of building children and youth ministries that will last’ and ‘learning to lead in children’s and youth ministry.’  As the representatives from Connor joined across the various streams, each felt we had come away with significant learning that would greatly help us in our own contexts. 

“More than 20 one-off seminars in the afternoons were a great opportunity to hear teaching on specific areas of ministry and to share thoughts and ideas with others.  Topics included dating, evangelism, equipping parents, mental health, identity, schools’ ministries, social media and more.

“There were opportunities to relax and have fun with friends old and new, and during our evening sessions, it was a joy to join together in worship, prayer and being built up in God’s Word. 

“The theme of the conference was ‘Living as Exiles,’ and as we studied 1 Peter, Andy Prime, Pastor of Gracemount Community Church, Edinburgh, reminded of what it means to be brought from exile and into the family of God. These sessions not only gave us wonderful encouragement to be passed on to our young people but also refreshed us in our ministries to ‘stand fast’ even amid trials and disappointments.

“While the Growing Young Disciples conference gave me some of the best teaching and encouragement I have experienced at any conference, one of the highlights for me was the joy of meeting people from all around the world who share a passion for youth and children’s ministries. We were able to spend time with a large delegation from Ireland, spanning multiple different denominations.

“I also had amazing conversations with brothers and sisters in Christ, who had travelled a great distance to be part of the conference.  As we worshipped together and shared our passions for young people, I found myself leaving the conference with great hope and a sustaining joy for the work that God has called us to in Connor.”

Connor delegate Jonny Diamond writes: “My hope for the conference was to be refreshed by the teaching and have practical tips and new ideas about how to engage with children and young people about faith.

“What stood out to me about the conference was seeing such a large number of people who love young people and children and want to share the Good News of Jesus effectively with them. A lot of people would say young ministry is for the 20/30-year-old but to see such a wide range of ages was so encouraging!

“My highlights were spending time discussing youth and children’s ministry with people from right across the UK and Ireland but more specifically with our Irish friends and being able to spend time in fellowship with them over the four days. 

“My experience at the conference has given me a fresh reminder of how Christ and His Word need to be central in all that we do with our children and young people. It is easy to just entertain children and young people but if we have the greatest news in the world, why would we hide behind games and not share it with those in our care.”

Richard Lyttle, another Connor delegate, writes: “The GYD Conference is a great time to get away from the busyness of ministry and to focus and reflect on why we do what we do.

“A constant takeaway I have from the conference is the need to be patient in the work of making disciples, but also the need to be equipping and praying for parents. From the first conference I went to in 2022, I was shocked at how early a child’s worldview begins to shape, and it changed how I view the importance of deep and relevant discipleship for children as young as three years old.

“The conference is a must for those in youth and kids work for three simple reasons. It’s a chance to chat with people facing the same work as you, it’s a chance to be refreshed in the ministry you are doing, and a chance for you to sit underneath the bible and hear the voice of Jesus.”

If you would be interested in finding out more about the conference, or would like to attend in future years, please get in touch with David Armstrong at davidarmstrong@connordiocese.org.

A Very Connor Christmas!

Young people from across Connor Diocese came to Portglenone on Friday December 12 2025 for the annual A Very Connor Christmas youth night.

Throughout the evening, there was lots of festive fun as we rode the Rudolph rodeo, sumo wrestled and took part in Christmas quizzes and gift-wrapping challenges.  

The event was organised by Diocesan Youth Officer Dave Armstroung and Connor Youth Council.

Dave said: “As the night ended, we took some time to remind ourselves of the greatest gift that we can receive at Christmas time, the perfect, heavenly king, Jesus!”

Connor Takes the Castle 2025

All set for some archery at Connor Takes the Castle.

Connor Takes the Castle returned to Castlewellan from September 12-14, with upwards of 90 young people and leaders descending on the Castle to share faith, fellowship and fun.

The weekend kicked off on the Friday evening with worship, a talk and discussion time following arrival and registration.

Guest speaker for the weekend is the Rev Peter Blair, assistant minister at the United Parish of St Nicholas and All Saints’, Belfast.

Activities continued after supper with a ‘silent disco,’ and the next morning there were further talks with worship and discussion, followed by outdoor activities including sports, a climbing wall and archery that afternoon.

Another worship/ talk/ discussion session on Saturday evening was followed by activities including ‘Taskmaster Challenges,’ karaoke and games, and there was a final talk and worship session followed by a Maze activity on the Sunday before the weekend concluded after lunch.

The weekend was organised by Connor Youth Council and Diocesan Youth Officer Dave Armstrong.

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Summer Madness 2025

The group from All Saints’, Antrim, enjoying some music at Connor Sub-camp at Summer Madness 2025.

Around 180 young people and youth leaders from 12 different parishes across Connor Diocese attended the Summer Madness Festival which got underway in Portglenone on Friday June 26.

The annual festival closed on Tuesday July 1, and featured worship in the big top, music, workshops, games activities, food, fellowship and much more…

One of the highlights at Connor sub-camp was the Sunday night Bishops’ Barbecue, which saw the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev George Davison, and other clergy flip the burgers, chargrill the chicken and sizzle the sausages for the young folk and their dedicated leaders.

This year’s festival enjoyed high temperatures throughout (although there was a bit of rain on the Friday) and Sunday evening’s weather was perfect for a barbecue with salad on the side and ice cream to follow.

Well done to the chefs and of course to our Diocesan Youth Officer and the other leaders who have spent time under canvas over the weekend.

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Gather – April 2025

On Sunday April 6, around 80 young people and leaders were in St Patrick’s, Ballymena, for the very first Connor Youth Gather event.

Diocesan Youth Officer Dave Armstrong said: “This was a great opportunity for young people to meet with others from across the diocese and to worship God together.

“During the night, we looked at the Luke 15 and the parable of the lost sons, we worshipped God together, led by the worship team from St Colmanell’s Parish Church in Ahoghill, and we had the chance to meet with friends old and new as we played games and enjoyed some hot chocolate.

“We also heard from Niamh from Gathered Youth Ministry and about the impact her youth ministry and diocesan events has had on her walk with Jesus.”

Dave expressed thanks to all who came and those who helped to make Gather happen. “It truly was such a blessing to come together and grow in the Lord,” he said.

The next Gather event will take place on June 22 in Christ Church, Lisburn.

“We pray that these nights can continue to grow and serve Christ’s church throughout Connor,” added Dave.