WHY would anyone spend a whole year away from home, getting paid almost nothing?
It’s a question asked by many young people about the National Evangelisation Teams (NET) that are sent around the country.
According to Larissa Lagas, a recruiting officer for NET, there are many answers to the question.
Every single person is called by God in a different way,” she said.
When God calls, all we can say is ‘yes’ and trust that everything will be okay.”
NET is always looking for new recruits to join their teams for a year of service.
Larissa is interested in hearing from anyone who feels called by God to reach out to young people everywhere to promote their unique and personal dignity.
“The love of Christ urges us on” (2 Corinthians 5:14) is the powerful statement being taken up by this year’s NET contingents.
It carries a radical challenge to those working with young people in a world where the media portrays money, power and success as ideals we should all follow.
As Christians, according to Larissa, we are all offered a challenge that goes beyond materialism, a challenge we are all encouraged to embrace.
Anthony Willemsen is a member of the Stanthorpe NET contingent this year.
He is from Corinda Graceville parish in Brisbane and is serving his second year of NET ministry. He spent his first year in Newcastle.
Anthony, in response to why any young person would want to spend an entire year in a strange place, away from their friends and family and getting paid very little, says: “Well it’s got to do with this friend of mine.
“You may have heard of him. You see, he has a habit of getting people out of their normal day-to-day lives and bringing them on life-changing adventures.
“His name is Jesus and he wants me to know him and love him more, while in the process telling everyone else about him.”
Anthony said he came to NET because he grew in his faith and it changed the way he saw himself.
He said at the end of 1998 he had two travelling NET members stay at his house for a couple of days.
“When talking to them, I saw how excited and on fire for God they were and how much they loved him.
“I wanted to have that same excitement and love for God as they had.”
Anthony said during his time in NET, his confidence has increased and he is now easily able to talk in front of large crowds of people.
“I now speak with a new confidence and see it as God speaking through me,” he said.
“God also showed me through events that happened and people on my team, how precious I was and how much he loved me.”
Larissa said in today’s society we need people like Anthony to be witnesses to Christ and as a “NET” needs fish, so do young people need to hear about Jesus.
For more information contact Larissa Lagas at PO Box 516, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006, www.powerup.com.au/~netaust or via e-mail at Netaust@powerup.com.au
