Trainees will be mentored in evangelism, Christian doctrine, one-to-one discipleship, short talk preparation, leading a Bible study and sharing their faith - being given practical opportunities to experience and exercise what they are learning. Trainees will take up a regular supervised leadership role in their church, usually leading at youth group or teaching Kids church.
Each trainee will meet with their trainer weekly for ~60-90 minutes (excluding school holidays), spending time on the three strands:
- Being Like Jesus — Developing of personal godliness through the strengthening of faith by the encouragement of daily Bible reading and prayer.
- Thinking Like Jesus — Promoting Biblical thinking through reading the Bible and other helpful books.
- Serving Like Jesus — Introducing and developing thinking and skills in certain core areas of gospel ministry.
Pathways & Funding
The METRO Committee has undertaken to assist churches in their investment in training their young people for Gospel ministry through YouthMETRO. METRO asks that churches contribute a nominal amount of $400 towards the training of each YouthMETRO trainee serving in their church.
Funds will be used to provide training materials, books and trainees’ attendance at PYV’s Summer Camp and Engage Youth Leader’s Conference. METRO requires an extract from a Session meeting confirming the funding and approval of a YouthMETRO trainee and appointment of their trainer before a trainee can commence the traineeship.
Application Process
Save the date! METRO Orientation will be held on Saturday November 15th, 2025.
For trainees under the age of 18, at the time of application:
- Trainee Application Form (under 18).
- Trainee Parental Consent Form.
- Trainer Application Form.
- Church Application Form. This is to be completed by the senior pastor or session clerk.
- Ensure your session clerk receives the Session Information document attached at the top of this page and sends METRO the minutes extract.
For trainees over the age of 18:
- Trainee Application Form (over 18).
- Trainer Application Form.
- Church Application Form. This is to be completed by the senior pastor or session clerk.
- Ensure your session clerk receives the Session Information document attached at the top of this page and sends METRO the minutes extract.
My name is Ethan and I decided to do YouthMETRO because I wanted training in my faith and YouthMETRO is where God led me to do that.
A lot has happened during my traineeship. At the start of the year we did evangelism and theology training at summer camp which was a lot of fun because our group got along well. We would work together on passages or walk-up evangelism and we could encourage each other on how we went. There was a real togetherness with the group and we had a lot of fun.
After summer camp I started meeting one-on-one with my trainer, which if I’m being honest has been the best thing about doing YouthMETRO.
My trainer helped me prepare talks. I did Jonah at our kid’s club and the Good Samaritan at our youth group. He also helped me with my testimony and bible studies at youth group. He also gave me some good books which have strengthened me in my faith.
One big thing about meeting up with my trainer, though, was just reading and studying the bible together. I learned so much just by studying God’s Word. In continued study my understanding of the Gospel has been strengthened. For all of us today, it is good to remember the importance of God’s Word when we are studying it.
YouthMETRO has just been one instrument in my growth for the Lord. I don’t know exactly where God wants me next but doing YouthMETRO has given me a deeper desire to know and serve Him. I know however, I can trust in His control and be willing to serve Him wherever He has me because what He has done for me is enough.
If you’re thinking about doing YouthMETRO, you should do it. It is a great way to serve in your church and you will learn a lot and be reminded to always to trust in God.
I’m Jemimah and I am studying Commerce and Arts and I completed my YouthMETRO traineeship at Surrey Hills Presbyterian. My traineeship involved a lot of learning, thinking and it was a great opportunity to serve. I really enjoyed the foundational theological training we received at Summer Camp, it really helped me reason and articulate things I knew from the Bible but couldn’t always explain. The evangelism training was comprehensive and having a go sharing it with others was a bit daunting but definitely worth sharing.
Meeting up with my trainer each week was a great way to escape the business of life and check how we were doing. But it was great to look at passages I was struggling with or have my trainer to help me prepare a Bible study or give me some Godly wisdom. We also read through God’s Big Picture, which is a book that outlines God’s clear storyline of the Bible.
Serving at youth group was also a highlight. It was strange being back as a leader instead of a youth but it was nice to serve how others had previously served me. It has been encouraging to co-lead the year 10 girls and see their understanding and relationship with God grow. Learning to lead and facilitate a Bible study required persistence and trusting in God but is a valuable skill to help others look at the truth of the Bible and think about how it impacts their lives.
This traineeship has taught me a lot about God, his word and how I should live in light of these things.
The traineeship has humbled me and reminded me that when I serve I need to rely on God and serve out of gratitude. It has also been encouraging to see how God has been using me and others even when things don’t go to our plan to remind us that he is in control and is behind everything.