Isaac Lee joined Thrive in May to help us develop our outreach support for churches using the fabulous resource, the Thrive bus! It’s not the first time that Isaac has been involved with Thrive, as he tells us more about himself…
Tell us a bit about yourself and what made you want to join the Thrive team?
I have been volunteering as a youth leader at Christ Church Leamington where I am also involved in the worship team. Then I started volunteering when I heard about the Thrive Youth Bus. It was then that I discovered that they were looking for somebody to work with them on the bus. Having volunteered for some months, I felt the calling to apply for the position.
Working with Thrive has been a great experience.
Have you been involved with Thrive before?
I had joined Youth Growing Leaders shortly after becoming a Christian when I was 15. This was where I met Andy Castle for the first time. I went to Youth Growing Leaders with a group of friends from church that became a youth group and ran a Youth Alpha. I loved being able to help run that Youth Alpha and help facilitate faith discussions.
Thrive had also helped our church start up a secondary school age youth group called Refresh. When we were starting up Ryan, from Thrive, came and gave us advice on how to set up and run a youth group and I am pleased to say that the youth group is still running!
What is your role at Thrive and what is involved?
I work on the Thrive Youth Bus providing a safe environment for young people to hang out, play games and have faith discussions. I am responsible for the bus maintenance and cleanliness. I am also responsible for keeping volunteers trained, informed and motivated as well as maintaining the bus social media and publicity. So, busy!
What are you most looking forward to?
I look forward to getting the bus in the best condition for the young people. It can be a real disappointment to let down the young people when the bus is not in working condition. I am excited to be able to show hospitality to young people and create connections with them through the bus ministry.
I am also looking forward to getting to know the Thrive team better whist working with them in their many programmes they provide such as Basecamp.
What makes you happy?
I really enjoy being able to minister to the young people but also playing and getting to know them. I have had a lot of fun getting to know some young people that regularly attend the bus sessions whilst playing games or talking about faith ideas.
It means so much when a young person feels able to share in a discussion with their genuine thoughts or feelings and to see young people interested in questions of genuine faith.
What is a favourite Bible verse of yours?
I have always enjoyed Paul’s letters but this passage on focusing on the positive has never been stated more eloquently than this: Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
What can we pray for you as you start in this new role?
You could pray into my onboarding training with navigating social media to effectively and strategically communicate with the public and our audiences. Please also pray for me for wisdom to make the right decisions, for courage to make a difference and for peace through faith so that I might be rooted in Jesus and His plans for me in this role.