Provincial Youth Conference meets in Amman

In a region affected by conflict and instability, young people from across the Episcopal Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East come together each year to develop leadership skills, strengthen connections and learn how to be agents of peace and hope.

Funded by USPG, the conference took place this year in Amman, Jordan, from 21-25 September, and brought together young people from the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. Participants from Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates reflected the remarkable geographical and cultural diversity of the Diocese.

The conference theme, Called to Serve: Empowering the Church, offered an opportunity to explore what it means to serve and participate in the life of the Church, with participants joining in worship, Scripture readings and sharing experiences.

For Karam, from Al-Fadi Redeemer Church in Amman, one of the key lessons was the importance of listening. “Active listening is a very important part of being a Christian because it allows us to listen to other people’s experiences,” he says.

The reason I came to this conference was because I wanted to become a better youth leader and a better overall Christian.

This year’s conference was based on the Difference Course, created and facilitated by the Reconciling Leaders Network. Using short videos, personal stories, discussion and Bible study, the course invites participants to develop three habits: being present, being curious and reimagining.

At the heart of the course lies the question of peace and reconciliation, a matter of particular significance in the Middle East,

says The Revd George Vidiakin, Priest of Christ Church Ayia Napa and one of the conference leaders. “Participants are encouraged to look beyond reconciliation as simply the absence of conflict, with Bible studies and group discussions providing approaches through Scripture while learning from one another’s experiences.”

For Tala, from Irbid, Jordan, the conference also offered an opportunity to reflect on how she can bring peace to those around her.

The thing I’m taking with me from this conference is to focus more on my inner peace so I can offer peace to the people around me.

On the banks of the River Jordan: Revd Saba Kerry (far left), an alumnus of the leadership course, has recently been ordained.

The group also visited some of Jordan’s most important Christian sites: the Baptismal Site on the River Jordan, traditionally associated with the baptism of Jesus, and Mount Nebo, where Moses is remembered to have viewed the Promised Land.