Who We Are

No two churches (or youth organizations) across Canada are the same—each is able to provide their youth workers with different levels of support. Youth workers need a broader community to lean into that can provide the missing pieces and be the family around them as we all work to help youth know Jesus. 

Youth Worker Community is here for you, providing the equipping, empowerment, and relational support you need as you help the next generation know Jesus.

EPHESIANS 4:11-13

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.

OUR PURPOSE

Equipping, empowering, and relationally supporting youth workers to help the next generation know Jesus.

OUR VALUES

We do all of this in a culture of low ego, high trust. This means we are…

Devoted Disciples // We place ourselves under the authority of Christ and Scripture. We take the Bible seriously, and invite accountability into our lives to help us become more like Jesus. 

Faithful Friends // We show up for people, celebrating their wins and supporting their struggles. We see each person for who they are, not what they do.

Constantly Curious // We are committed to staying curious, always looking for new ways to serve our community better. We approach problems with an open mind, staying calm and asking “what if”, so that road blocks can be transformed into bridges.

Humble Helpers // We leave our personal agendas at the door, and seek to serve others first. We make it a priority to model this posture to those we lead.

OUR STAFF

Youth Worker Community is run by a group of veteran youth workers.

Sid Koop

Sid Koop

Executive Director

Jeremy MacDonald

Jeremy MacDonald

Director of Operations

Steve Zacharias

Steve Zacharias

Director of Coaching

Lisette Fraser

Lisette Fraser

Director of The Coalition

OUR TEAM

We leverage our experience and broad network of relationships to equip each youth worker with the exact combination of resources, training and relational support that they need. 

Ben Woodman

Ben Woodman

Youth Worker Talks + Coaching

Chandra Styles

Chandra Styles

Young Leaders

Coalition Faculty

See the complete list of world class professors and instructors here.

Coaching Experts

See the complete list of Coaching Cohort experts here.

OUR STORY

Truth Matters Ministries came into existence in 2001. It was built on a passion to have youth see and experience the truth of Jesus Christ, through His Word. Inspiring youth through teaching, creating resources for youth workers, and presenting seminars for parents on various youth culture issues were the main avenues for accomplishing this purpose.

In 2002, Truth Matters Ministries partnered with the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge, AB, and for the next 11 years, Sid Koop was the Executive Director of Truth Matters Ministries, as well as the Director of Student Ministries for the E-Free Church of Lethbridge. In 2013 Sid Koop went full time with Truth Matters and moved the base of operations to Kelowna, BC, where he formed an informal partnership with Marv Penner and All About Youth.

Truth Matters took over the Canadian Youth Workers Conference in 2014, and changed what was a once a year national conference into 6 regional conferences for training youth workers that reached right across Canada.

In 2020, Truth Matters created Youth Worker Community to meet the specific needs of youth workers in helping youth know Jesus. That same year The Coalition for Youth Ministry Excellence launched to meet the need for deeply equipped vocational youth workers. There are cohorts in Kelowna, BC and Moncton, NB, and more are on the way.

Today, Youth Worker Community meets the unique and growing needs of youth workers across Canada and beyond. 

BRANCHES

Youth Worker Coaching

Intentional, individual investment to expand capacity, increase skill, engage the heart, and develop healthier, better leaders.

Youth Worker Education

An immersive learning approach combining academic excellence, spiritual formation, experiential learning, and intentional community.

Youth Ministry Design

Helping local churches better reach a generation in their context

Youth Worker Events

Gathering leaders to inspire, encourage, connect, and equip them for their health, growth, and impact.

Youth Worker Resources

Equipping leaders practically to better impact a generation for Jesus.

Youth Worker Research

Gaining invaluable information to help us all understand how to better impact a generation for Jesus.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Truth Matters is the registered Canadian charity that runs Youth Worker Community through the faithful and generous support of people who believe in what we’re doing.

Two key markers of success for us are accessibility and affordability. We could not live out either of these if it were not for our partners and friends who financially make this a reality.

Partner financially with us to help the next generation see and experience the truth of Jesus Christ.

All donations are tax receiptable.

 

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Cheque

Payable to Truth Matters Ministries.

Mail to:
PO Box 29007
Moncton, NB E1G 4R3

Online

Give Now
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Automatic Withdrawal

Email Jeremy and he’ll help you get set up.

 

 

ASK A QUESTION.
SAY HELLO! 

CONTACT INFO

PO Box 29007 Moncton, NB E1G 4R3

Email us with your questions at info(at)youthworker.community.

Ben co-led the creation of the Youth Alpha Series that has been used by millions of teenagers around the world and translated into dozens of different languages. Not only that, but the Youth Alpha Series has been the tool that has brought thousands of teenagers to faith in Jesus. Ben has spoken to teenagers and youth workers in dozens of countries and continues to shape ministry to the next generation through his work with Alpha.

 

Lisette has overseen ministry in an executive role with Fellowship Church. Licensed with the International Coach Federation, Lisette is an exceptional combination of world class leadership and strategic thinking. She also has created resources and delivered content for some of the most well known youth ministry organizations around such as Fuller Youth Institute and Orange.

 

Marv is our most experienced team member. As a registered clinical counselor with an earned doctorate in counseling, Marv’s wisdom around some of the most serious of adolescent challenges is unparalleled. Not only that, but he’s taught at colleges and universities around the world as well as familiar ones in North America such as Wycliffe College (University of Toronto), Simpson College, Wheaton College, Huntington College, Acadia Divinity School, and Fuller Seminary. He is the author/contributor to eleven books including Help, My Kids are Hurting, Youth Workers Guide to Parent Ministry, and Starting Right: Thinking Theologically about Youth Ministry.

Sid is the Executive Director of the Youth Worker Community which has shaped ministry to adolescents in Canada through various research project partnerships (Renegotiating Faith and Hemorrhaging Faith), youth worker training conferences (equipping thousands of youth workers each year), and now consulting and coaching. He continues to speak regularly to teenagers and is passionate about helping the next generation see and experience the truth of Jesus Christ.
Rachel is the administrative backbone and chief designer for all things Youth Worker Community. Good food, good art, good books, and helping people communicate better are a few of the things that bring her joy.

Chandra is the Youth and Young Adults Pastor at Forest Grove Community Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and the Leadership and Discipleship Director at Camp Kadesh. She's passionate about creating entrance points for those who are curious and questioning to engage in faith communities, systems and structures that support that, and training and empowering young leaders to lead that.

Steve’s passion is to be an encourager and catalyst for emerging leaders. His ministry adventure has spanned over a couple decades and has taken him around the globe, supporting leaders in camp and youth ministry on four continents. The teams he’s served with have pioneered dynamic ministries that reach hundreds of thousands every week. He deeply loves connecting with Jesus, people and good pizza.

Jeremy directs the operations at the Youth Worker Community and is the primary point of contact to design how our team can best serve you. He’s served on the church staff of Moncton Wesleyan, The Point Church, and most recently Connexus Church.