Blueprint Youth Leader Stephen and his wife Anoushca have been leading the young people together since 2003 and have had the privilege of seeing many young people encounter God, accept Jesus into their hearts, develop into people with a passion and a desire to see God move in their community and among their generation, only for them to pass the fire on as they themselves go on to lead others. A solid foundation has been laid from which many young people will be able to stand and look back and see all God has achieved through the Blueprint Youth Ministry at City Gates Christian Centre.

 STEPHEN MCEWEN

Stephen grew up in East London and says he was greatly impacted by the faith of his father who was born again when Stephen was twelve. But despite a lot of Church attendance he didn’t make a serious commitment to Jesus. By the age of 24 Stephen felt his life lacked any sense of fulfilment and the call of God upon my life became stronger and stronger.

And so after straying away from his Christian roots during his teens and early twenties, Stephen re-committed his life to Christ. Consequently Stephen has a real desire not to see young people make the same mistakes he made.

Stephen joined the youth team voluntarily in 2001, then in September 2003, became the full –time Director of Youth Ministry at City Gates for young people aged 11-21 year olds. He has since gone on to serve as Elim’s Regional Youth Director and with Elim’s national ‘Serious4God’ team on a national level.

From humble beginnings, the Youth Ministry of City Gates has grown and developed a hundred-fold. Stephen says: “Blueprint Youth has seen hundreds of first time commitments and have established a significant profile within the local community. Many of our young people have gone on to take up significant roles within the wider Church both locally and nationally. The youth ministry has a real sense of community and family in which discipleship can thrive. “

And in between all the Youth Work and training he does, Stephen loves nothing more than to play bass guitar, football and find an empty beach where he and Anoushca can relax!

 ANOUSHCA MCEWEN

Anoushca attended City Gates as a teenager, accepting Christ into her life at that time, but by her own admission didn’t really understand what that meant so she eventually left the Church.

Anoushca’s life slowly spiralled out of control, with partying, raving, boys and drugs leading to one of the darkest nights of her life. Facing the fear of being raped and dying after taking a mixture of alcohol drugs after a night of partying, Anoushca found herself at the bottom of a stairwell looking at the bleak fact of her life at that time… the despair, the hopelessness, the fear, the emptiness. And then Jesus shone a light into her dark world, and revealed to her His love for her, his plans for her life and the future she would have with Him.

Anoushca, in that moment repented and accepted Jesus gift of life, love and hope… and has never looked back! She knows the mistakes she made as she was growing up and her hearts’ desire is that none should follow in her footsteps and make the same mistakes she did, so she working closely with her husband Stephen Anoushca reaching out to the youth, sharing her testimony, leading them away from the road leading to death and destruction and walking with them on the road to life.

Anoushca feels one of her greatest achievements was at Girl Talk held annually in the October half-term. In 2006, Anoushca shared her testimony whilst giving a girl a hair cut live on stage “As a result 40 girls responded to the Gospel, it was amazing!”

Anoushca is also passionate about reaching out to the local community, and when given the opportunity to step out in faith, leaving behind all she knew and had trained for as a top hairdresser for Tony & Guy to start up and consequently manage The City Gates Training Centre, a community-based project reaching out to people of other faiths who wouldn’t necessarily come into a Church environment demonstrating Christ in their actions.

In her spare time, Anoushca loves to shop! And when at home, Anoushca can be found “pottering” in the garden.