Limitless Ireland is seeing a rising passion for God among its young people. The team is nurturing it, says Ryan Holmes, through events, training leaders and by establishing a strong prayer culture.
“Our youth team feel these young people are the hungry generation. They’re incredibly hungry for God,” explains Ryan Holmes.
As pastor of River of Life church in Ballyclare and Limitless Ireland team leader, Ryan is seeing first-hand how God is moving in young people’s lives in Ireland.
He has seen a rising passion for God during a packed programme of Limitless Ireland events, including weekends, camps, leadership training sessions and more.
From one evening during Limitless Ireland’s week-long Relentless summer youth camp (pictured above), for example, Ryan shares the story of an awesome altar call that became a spontaneous worship night.
“After the response time we had young people going after God, determining the trajectory of worship. There was a real awe in the room,” he says.
“The meeting started at 7.30pm and didn’t finish till 12.30am. We just said, ‘OK Lord, this is what you’re doing – we’ll jump on the back of that.’”
To build on this and help disciple young people, the Limitless Ireland team is currently touring Ireland, drumming up enthusiasm for this summer’s camp.
At a recent evening in Belfast it was standing room only after 370 young people packed the room out.
Last month, the team hosted Limitless Weekend with the theme ‘All-Consuming Fire’.
Then a Bible week in July, part of Ireland’s wider ‘Wondrous’ week, will help ground them in Scripture and give young leaders the chance to cut their teeth preaching on a larger scale.
Twinned with this calendar of national gatherings, youth discipleship at local level is bearing fruit too.
PIONEERING
Ryan cites his own church as an example of those which have pioneered youth ministries.
Their group, Limitless Ballyclare, relaunched in September 2023 and now attracts around 20 young people every Friday and at least 12 every Sunday morning, with some non-Christian teens from Limitless Ballyclare now coming on Sundays.
“Bear in mind that in May 2022 this was an Elim Church of only 12 people!” says Ryan.
“As a small church we feel such a benefit from our youth ministry. The group is growing week by week and you feel the vibrancy and excitement from it. That bleeds into the church – when young people are really going after God it blesses and stirs faith in other generations.”
While the impact of big national events can’t be underestimated, local groups like these have a crucial role to play for young people for whom life can be tough.
“There’s a real need for relational youth ministry,” Ryan says.
“One question I’m considering post-Covid is how to respond to the rising feeling of social anxiety.
“It’s so important to have youth leaders and small groups or other support structures that help young people through moments of crisis.”
Limitless Ireland has also been supporting a number of young people who are sensing a call to ministry.
“Last year we held an event for 16 to 22-year-olds to discuss pathways to ministry. Lots were saying they feel a call to youth ministry, the local church or to the nations, or to serve God with their lives.
“This is super-significant for us. It feeds back into our overall values and what Limitless is all about – to develop leaders, grow churches, reach nations and make disciples.”
