GENR8
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GenR8 is a new program developed by YFC Melbourne with the aim of reaching unchurched young people within their community. GenR8 is about caring for young people, reaching them within their community and creating an environment that they are comfortable with. It is about meeting young people on their terms and listening to their needs.

• GenR8 is designed to equip local communities and young leaders to build relationships with youth in their local area through training and running regular underage events.


• The design of events is driven by the local youth needs. In the Knox area of Melbourne the current program is an underage nightclub, however the events may be Cafes, Battle of the Bands comps, or Skate events etc.


• Forming youth forums and undertaking research in each community is essential to ensuring that young people are part of the program and have a stake hold in their own community and events.


• The events are designed to be a vehicle - a safe, neutral environment where young people want to "hang out", a place where trained volunteers and local church leaders can build relationships with young people, valuing them and their needs.


• GenR8 is all about illuminating Jesus to young people through our care for them, the way we listen to them and our acceptance of them. The key is relationships, building relationships that are significant, real and based on trust. Relationships that make a difference.

Nicola's Story

Two years ago I had never been to a church service or even really prayed to God. I had never read a Bible and I knew absolutely nothing about God. God was the last thing on my mind. At that time my dad left my mum for another woman. One of my sisters had turned to prostitution at the age of 14 and the other ran away from home, overdosed on heroin and ended up in prison. My father told me I was just like them which was not much encouragement to make anything of my life. I began suffering anxiety attacks almost every day.

One night two years ago I went to an underage nightclub called Pulse run by a local church in our area. There were hundreds of teenagers there. During the night one of the supervisors spent some time talking to me and invited me to go to the church on the following Sunday night. I don't really know why I went because I had no idea what people did at church and I really didn't know many people there. I didn't understand much at first but kept going because the people there seemed so happy, as if they'd just had the best day of their life - and it was the same every week. I found out their lives weren't "peaches and cream" either but they didn't dwell on their past and they seemed to accept things.

Eventually I came to understand God more and fell in love with Him. He was the father that wanted me and loved me for who I was and didn't judge me. I prayed that Jesus would come into my life and change me and He has. My home life is now a little better and Jesus is there to help me with the bad stuff. All I want to do now is to bring happiness to people that are hurting and that don't know God. Now God is the most important person in my life and I love learning more about Him.

(Nicola is now attending church regularly and is part of a small discipleship group with other young Christians. She is looking to do youth leadership in her local church next year. Nicola was reached through a local church working in partnership with YFC under its new GenR8 program. For information on how your church can run a similar program in your local community, contact us at YFC Melbourne. Ask for Sarah Deutscher or Ian Purse)