Who We Are

Canterbury Youth Services is a Christian based, Strengths focused organisation that has been set up to train and resource leaders in youth work and youth ministry in and around the Canterbury region.

The way we do this is through training leaders involved in five categories of youth work…

• Paid youth leaders and youth pastors

• Unpaid youth leaders and youth workers

• Volunteers that help those leading the above 2 groups

• Emerging leaders

• Paid youth workers in schools or organisations
  

Throughout the year we run two events which are designed to grow local youth communities through a lot of fun, relational time together - Eastercamp and Amped. We also hold focused leadership development events (such as SYLT & XTEND) and have assembled a network of youth workers around Canterbury in both Youth and Intermediate ministry.

Some of the services we offer include running training events for other organisations, running performance reviews, consulting on Human Resource decisions and leadership training.

CYS has been a key proponent bringing the Gallup CliftonStrengths tool to New Zealand shores, and the Strengths assessment and coaching has become a key tool in developing youth ministries, leaders, staff teams and how they work all together.

We also have a growing amount of resources for hire which you can view here.

History

The origin of CYS rests with Baptist Youth Ministries, an organisation that was set up in 1980 to resource and develop youth ministries of Baptist churches throughout New Zealand. BYM expanded as the need and demand for youth work related training and support grew, and in 1995 it became apparent that there was huge demand for similar services across denominations. Under the leadership of Mike Dodge the concept of an organisation serving all local youth ministries was given legs to stand on. So in 1999 Canterbury Youth Services was birthed to serve all youth ministries in the Canterbury Region and has been constantly expanding ever since. Those in the know fondly describe CYS as being like “Baptist Youth Ministries on steroids, for everyone”.

Since its inception, CYS has grown to include running many different types of events, from major events to leadership training throughout the year. Combining that with the constant resourcing of local youth leaders, and involvement in youth ministry nationwide this has meant we never have time to watch daytime television. (Which we are so thankful about).

In 1996 Eastercamp was launched with 360 campers, this event has now grown to become the flagship event of CYS. In 2006 Eastercamp numbers surpassed 3000 for the first time and in 2009 registrations exceeded 4000, compiled from the 110 youth ministries from around the South Island. As this has grown and continues to grow so does the impact that CYS has on youth ministry within New Zealand.

CYS pioneered the Strengths based revolution in 2007, as the first batch of CYS Strengths Coaches were trained by Gallup. Since then demand for the CliftonStrengths assessment and coaching has really grown and currently we have over 200 coaches trained and working around New Zealand!

2009 saw the inception of the younger sibling to Eastercamp – an intermediate focused weekend named Amped that we are excited to see grow and develop.

So where to from here? Well the growth of the camps is a snapshot of the health of the groups we are serving and the strength of their relational connections, so our aim is always to be pioneering new ways to foster that growth and health within youth communities. With that in mind there are some exciting things on the horizon… but for the moment you will just have to wait and see.

Meet the Team

Name: Mike Dodge

Top Five Strengths: Achiever, Arranger, Adaptability, Assurance and Woo

What do you do at CYS? I have the privilege of leading the CYS team; I spend lots of my time coaching and cheerleading leaders at many levels of leadership to do their roles really well.

What is on your Santa’s wish list? That my voice would break and that I would have enough facial hair to grow a Mo for Movember!

What exotic places would you most like to visit? Definitely Prague because all the books I have read makes it sound so beautiful and romantic (well ok not the war books and movies... but the rest do!) And also any Pacific white beached Islands

Name: Matt Wait

Top Five Strengths: Belief, Connectedness, Responsibility, Developer, Futuristic

What do you do at CYS?  I’m leading the team to deliver Eastercamp. This is an iconic event across the South Island as the “place to be” at Easter for anyone high school aged. EC has been running for over 25 years!

What did you want to be growing up? I always wanted to help people. I love being a servant leader who’s not afraid to get in there and do the hard work with the team. Something I really like to do is release others into their calling - helping them achieve the desires of their heart and use their strengths to make a difference.

What is your favourite thing to do after a manic week at work? Watching cricket on TV and I mean watching cricket - every-single-ball. It’s an awesome game!

Name: Sam Sterritt

Name: Tessa Dodge

Top Five Strengths: Individualisation, Maximizer, Connectedness, Strategic, Adaptability

Name: Kim Hunter

Top Five Strengths: Context, Responsibility, Maximiser, Consistency, Conectedness

What do you do at CYS? Operations Coordinator for StrengthsNetwork South Pacific. I help Tessa to arrange coach training around NZ and look after our network of Strengths Coaches.

 What do you love about working at CYS? Being able to spend my working day doing what I love alongside a team of creative, enthusiastic and highly motivated people!

What is your favourite thing to do after a manic week at work? I love nothing better than to curl up on the couch with a good book or a movie.  Bliss!

What is your specialty meal that you cook to impress? Not so flash on meals, but am able to whip up a pretty respectable chocolate brownie.