Larissa Strawn
Birmingham, England, UK | 42595
My Story
I first started feeling God calling me to missions overseas when I was in Jr. High, but wasn’t sure where, or what I was supposed to do. In high school that God confirmed that calling on my heart.
The summer I turned 16, I did my first short-term mission trip to Russia. After that I returned back to Russia on multiple short-term mission trips, and also went to Jamaica, Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Ireland. My second mission trip to Ireland was supposed to be a 3 month internship. However, Covid cut it short and I returned home after 13 days. Once I was home, I got connected with Greater Europe Mission(GEM) and went to serve a year in England. While I was there I had every intention of returning to do full-time mission work in the UK with GEM.
I went to Southwestern College/Arizona Christian University and got my degree in Christian Ministry with a minor in Youth, knowing I had a passion for youth and being called to serve overseas. For a period of time I was the Jr. High Intern at my church, where I helped run and lead the Jr. High ministry. I’m really excited to get back over to England and work with youth again!
Where I Work
I will be a part of the Youth Ministry team in Birmingham. I'll be coming alongside local churches who are wanting to get a youth/teen ministry started and partner with them and their volunteers to help get it going and growing. The goal is to get them to the point where they are fully running it all on their own by the end of the two years.
This is done through partnership, evangelism, training, and discipleship.
There is a detached part of the ministry that a lot of times takes place at a local park. This is where we will be engaging and building relationships with the teens, local schools, and youth centers to share about the youth ministry we're doing.
Along with the detached ministry, we'll be having a weekly youth program at the local church to reach out to church and unchurched teenagers.