An Interview with Harry on Leadership Conference Tamworth

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Leadership Conference (LC) Tamworth has been shaping young Christian leaders for years — building faith, fellowship, and a servant heart in delegates long after they leave the site. We sat down with Harry, Co-Director of LC Tamworth, to hear about his own journey with LC, the people who’ve encouraged him along the way, and what he hopes for its future.

About Your LC Experience

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you first got involved with Leadership Conference? What year did you attend and what drew you to it?

2021 was my first year at LC Tamworth. I was drawn to it after meeting other SU leaders at Hunter Boys Ag Camp. At the time I was working part time as a ministry assistant for Stockton Anglican Church. The drawcard for LC Tamworth was taking part in a similar ministry to the training I’d received myself as a youth.

What did you expect LC to be before you arrived — and how did that compare to what it actually was?

I expected LC Tamworth would be like KCC’s NextGen Conference, but with a smaller group. It was similar to NextGen, but with a big focus on leading within a school context — NextGen was simply about youth or children’s ministry, rather than the ISCF ministry environment LC focuses on. The smaller environment was a great way to allow fellowship to build amongst those in attendance.

Was there a specific moment, conversation, or session at LC that stands out as significant for you? Something that shaped the way you think about leadership or faith?

Seeing people come and go as delegates and team members has really helped me reflect on God’s calling in our lives. We need to recognise that there will be times when we need to step up ourselves, encourage others to step up, or move on. Beyond that, LC Tamworth has simply been a place where I’ve been able to put into practice the training I received during my teens and university years.

How would you describe what LC does in the life of a young person — in your own words?

LC Tamworth is a community where the Triune God is known and served through fellowship in the word, prayer, song, and activities. The activities provide a mix of excitement, edification, and education for young people during their holiday break. It equips driven youth to be servant-hearted leaders wherever God may call them, proclaims the good news of Jesus to struggling or unsure youth in what can be a very difficult season of life, and warns graduating youth about the dangers of the world while helping them develop stronger patterns of prayer and Bible reading.

About What LC Produces

LC clearly produces more than just skilled leaders — it seems to produce people who go on to give back in significant ways. Why do you think that is? What is it about LC that creates that kind of ongoing commitment?

LC Tamworth is at the mercy of God — we simply continue on in faith and prayer that he will bless its fruit. I suspect that ongoing commitment comes from a desire to give back in such a way that others can receive what we’ve received. It’s a place where youth can deeply think about, live out, and grow in their faith — and that tends to stay with people.

You’ve seen a number of former LC delegates go on to serve in camps, missions, and other ministry roles. Is there a story or example that particularly encouraged you — someone whose journey from LC participant to active servant leader has stood out?

One delegate who has now graduated had a great story — he was very shy and wouldn’t even stay on site in his first year. The following year he grew more confident, willing to be on his own and even do some things in front of others. Eventually we found out he’d been leading a Bible study with non-Christians from his quite hostile public school. John* was a great encouragement — seeing a shy young person step into evangelism and the service of others despite the risk. I’m also excited by delegates stepping into Junior Leader roles at camps and SUFM. Mark* has come a long way over the past year and has now applied to be a Junior Leader with Cricket Camp. I’ve yet to hear how that will go, but I’m excited to see the growth already seen at LC Tamworth put into action elsewhere.

Are there others from the LC community whose ministry journeys you’ve witnessed firsthand that you’d want to highlight — even briefly?

I’ve been particularly encouraged by my Co-Director Nick McNamee, as well as Aiden Faulks and Hannah Faulks, who were past delegates. They stick it out year after year, even with many other busy parts of life competing for their attention. I’ve also been encouraged by some younger ones who’ve kept coming back, particularly Oscar Baldock and Bethany Eickhoff. They’ve stepped into more responsibility this year and are showing the sort of fruit we hope God will grow from LC Tamworth.

What do you think young people are carrying away from LC that they might not even be able to name yet — things that only become clear later when they find themselves leading?

Hopefully those who have attended LC Tamworth will be continually drawn back to the grace of God through regular moments in the word and prayer. I think many who come away from LC see a strong community of Christian faith, and end up wanting that same kind of community in their day-to-day life — even if they couldn’t have named it at the time.

About the Future of LC

If you could speak directly to a young person who is on the fence about attending LC, what would you say to them?

Give it a go. Get a friend to come with you. Come meet other like-minded Christians. Come see what Christian community is all about.

Is there anything about LC — its culture, its impact, its future — that you think people in the broader SU NSW community should be praying for right now?

Succession planning — the systems and people needed for LC Tamworth to continue on strong well into the future. Pray for strong connections with families who have evangelistic hearts in our neighbouring regions, so that we get core groups of youth attending. We’re thankful to God for our strong Armidale contingent, and for growing contingents from Dubbo and the Mid North Coast. Please also ask the Lord for a renewal of our numbers from the Hunter — it’s a big mission field with many SU friends, past delegates, and past team members.

*pseudonyms

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