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A proud tradition of investing in the future of the children and young adults of Dalby and the Darling Downs region in Queensland continues thanks to the vision and hard work of the leadership at St Mark's Lutheran Church.
Pastor Joel Pukallus was called to serve the Dalby congregation in 2020 and quickly recognised the importance of reinforcing the strong relationship between the Church and the area's young people.
He successfully applied for a $25,000 LLL Mission Outreach Grant and began the search for a Youth Ministry Coordinator.
"It was no use getting a grant and not be able to find the right person, so the first thing we needed to do was pray," Pastor Joel said.
"Then a lot of things came together."
Recently married, Aimee Johnson had moved to Dalby to be with her husband around the same time and it just so happened she was uniquely qualified for the job.
In the final year of a Bachelor of Ministry and with several years' experience volunteering at youth camps, Aimee went through the interview process and was hired on the spot.
She had a long-term vision of how best to support local youth in their faith journey and spent the first six months laying a solid foundation.
"I never would've imagined myself in Dalby, but the Lord works in mysterious ways," Aimee said.
"First, I met with all the young adults who wanted to be leaders, I wanted to equip them with the tools and resources they needed rather than throwing them in the deep end.
"It's just amazing to take the journey with these kids, whether it's a page or a couple of chapters in their book, and to give them a space where they feel comfortable, loved and accepted.
"Doing this work and providing a space for children to grow … it's my passion."
St Mark's is part of a vast parish that is approximately the size of Victoria, with its thriving youth ministry a beacon on the local landscape.
"I think what we have now is very much in line with the vision of the LLL Grant," Pastor Joel said.
"It wasn't about paying for something and that's it, it needed to be seed funding for something that can keep growing.
"It makes a big difference to young people to know that we invest in their spiritual life and their future."
Photos: A proud tradition of youth ministry in Dalby continues thanks to an LLL Mission Outreach Grant.
