Youth leader Appointment

We are looking forward to welcoming the new youth worker for St Nicholas parish and High Street Methodist Church. His name is Ian Yeneralski but for many years he has been known as Yena. His wife is Philippa, known as Pip. We wish them great blessing as they settle down in Harpenden.

Yena comes to us from the Andover Vineyard church where he has been youth pastor. He tells me he has two passions, one is an insatiable desire to share his faith in Christ with young people, and the other is music. Yena and Pip have lived in the Eastleigh area for many years. After school, he attended Eastleigh College, then the University of Southampton where he obtained a Cert HE in youth work. He also has a diploma in theology and Bible study.

His experience over the last 8 years has included youth work with the local borough council and with local charities, working for short periods in industry and helping students with learning disabilities at Eastleigh college. Most of his experience, however, has been as a youth pastor, initially at an Anglican church and more recently at the Vineyard church. He has an impressive range of experience organising and running youth projects for various teenage groups, working with local agencies, liaising with youth workers in different denominations and organizing a variety of expeditions and outdoor activities, as well as a youth cafe.

Yena says his work hasn't always been easy, but he has gained strength from this verse written by St Paul to the young church in Philippi: 'I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do; forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heaven ward in Christ Jesus.'

It is clear the Yena's love for the Lord permeates everything he does. He says he has felt God's presence with him ever since he asked Jesus to take control of his life 20 years ago. Pip shares his desire to introduce Jesus to young people.

However, Yena tells me there is one area where their desires are very different. Yena has a very sweet tooth and Pip is a savoury person! But they both like chocolate and ice cream. Pip likes searching for new recipes and Yena admits he is always keen to do the sampling.

Yena's passion for music runs to playing, recording and listening. He loves playing any type of guitar and he seems to be on the look-out for someone to teach him how to play the drums. He also has a keen interest in outdoor activities and this has been useful in his work with young people. He likes spear fishing, rock climbing, off-road 4x4, skating, hiking, surfing and swimming. He sounds like a fit young man. No doubt Pip shares some of these interests.

I feel I could go on to say so much more but no doubt this is enough to give Yena and Pip an introduction. One thing is quite clear; they are motivated by God, through the Holy Spirit, to do all they can to introduce Jesus as the one who gives real purpose to life. And this means demonstrating that having a vibrant faith is the only way to find real satisfaction in life. I am sure God will both bless and use them as they share His love with us all.

John Farrow

This article appeared in Link magazine Aug/Sept 2010, and will be published in High Street News.