Jono Green told Jeremy Dover that he grew up in rural and regional NSW and Queensland in a Pastor's home, he was a PK (Pastor's Kid), one of eight children. Dad was a Presbyterian Minister, mum was busy. He learnt from a young age that ministry was part of one's life and being one of eight, that relationships need to be worked through.
By the time he was 16 he was thinking that the Christian teaching he grew up with was not enough, it was family but not something he had developed for himself. He recalls being involved in a beach mission and then became part of a mission trip to a third world country, and it was these two experiences which changed his life.
Jono Green said these became the foundation of his own personal faith and returned acknowledging in his heart, that he could mission overseas, but what really mattered to him, was how he might mission in his own back yard, in Australia.
He found himself asking the really tough questions on, how do I minister effectively to his fellow teenagers and the early twenties? This is what drew him to Youth Alpha.
The Alpha program Jono Green explained is well known in Christian circles. Initiated by Nicki Gumble at Holy Trinity Church in Bromton England, it is a DVD presentation of 15 sessions over 10 weeks on questions such as: Who Jesus is?, Why Jesus came to earth?, His Purpose?, Communication with God, The Holy Spirit, Living out the Christian faith…and so on.
In the Youth Alpha version, it's young people doing the talks live, and young people lead the series, it is they who share with other young people. Yes, there are older people there to help and support, but it is Christian young people running Youth Alpha. It's about young people engaging with other young people.
The future says Jono Green is effectively instructing Christian young people to do the most difficult thing ever, sharing with their friends, Jesus' and His Salvation. Young people are the most receptive when speaking quietly with a friend.
Jono Green said it might be on a park bench, at school or university, at the sports oval, over a coffee, when shopping, anywhere really.
His role is that of encouraging young people to engage other young people with Jesus, and equipping young people to speak with their friends about Jesus. The Youth Alpha web site is - http://www.youthalpha.org.au/
Jono Green's passion is to encourage young people to do what the Bible characters did, that is to engage where you feel your heart is tugging in ministry and go for it. If it is getting involved with the marginalised, those on the fringes of society, go for it, it might be some other area, wherever the Lord calls, listen and go!
This Australian Missionary News IPTV interview with Jono Green can be viewed at either
tv.bushorchestra.com/Mission/videopages/jono_green.html or www.safeworlds.net