A Vision-Changing Week in Italy

“This training gave me a new vision for our national Youngstars movement.” This is one of many statements, made at the end of the Team Leader Training that took place in July in the mountains above Bergamo in Italy. With 13 participants, coming mostly from the host country with a few joining from Bulgaria, we as training team not only taught but also learned a lot in this week. The differences regarding the average age of participants served us so that we gained a lot through an awesome exchange of knowledge and experiences.

This training opened doors to deepen the relationship with ASEI – the older of the two Youngstars movements in Italy, the other being Youngstars Italy. It was a special experience for me because the ages of the group were quite different in comparison to other Team Leader Trainings I attended. I, as a trainer, was one of the youngest people in this training, but have been received with open arms and honour as hearts were open to learn from my knowledge and experience. On the other hand, I could gain so much from participants with years of experience in leading a Youngstars club. This was what made this training quite interactive and rich in discussions.

For me personally, to be leading in this course, was an indescribable rich experience. It showed me how different Youngstars clubs are working around the world and gave me a deeper perspective of this wonderful network. It surely was also a challenge! We faced so many different problems, with different cultures and with their roots in very different contexts. But exactly through all those conversations I realized how God is using this training to strengthen the ministry. I am convinced that participant’s comment at the start of this article, came from the bottom of their heart and that this sentiment was shared by most in this training. It was a “mind-changing” training that gave a new vision, a new perspective and new methods for the local Youngstars ministry that also strengthened the international network.