Addressing more than 150 young people between ages 15-22 at a young leaders conference held at St Andrews Church in Chorleywood, Russell (32) shared something of the experience of well-known figures in following their visions.

Russell said, "Most people who accomplish significant achievements are visionaries. Alexander the Great had a vision to conquer the world. Thomas Edison had a vision for the light bulb. Walt Disney had a vision for a massive entertainment park. Martin Luther King had a vision for a land where all people could be free.

"Richard Branson had a vision to start an airline; Wilson Carlile had a vision to found a society to reach the least the last and the lost with the transforming good news of Jesus Christ. That society is the Church Army, which 125 years later I have now the privilege of leading. All these visions have been realized. Visionaries succeed because they see a vision which drives them forward."

Russell added, "You see, life can either be a random journey without real direction, or it can be an adventure, reaching for a goal, and with a purpose. It is vision that makes the difference."

Russell had been a youth leader at the IMPACT Youth Ministry at Christ Church Chorleywood for six years and was invited back to be a speaker at the annual young leaders conference.

At the conference, he highlighted the work of Church Army, in particular, the new global gap year initiative, which will give young people the opportunity to serve God and their community both at home and abroad for a year.

Russell is asking Britain's youth to join the new global gap year scheme that makes mission top priority and gives them the chance to learn and serve in the UK or internationally. Youth will be pushed to prove themselves and their commitment and be wholehearted for Jesus Christ.

A dedicated website says: "We need young people to get experience of making disciples in places where traditional church has failed -- with the lost, the last and the least."

The gap year experience is designed for young people aged 18-25 who want to be motivated, trained and equipped for modern mission and are prepared to set aside personal ambition, career success and financial security for the sake of the gospel, the website says.

It states: "For 14 weeks you will be trained and work at our project in Liverpool, and will then live out what you’ve learned by spending up to 6 months with a frontline placement in either the UK, Kenya, USA, Australia, Canada, Barbados, Jamaica or New Zealand. The final few weeks are spent back at the training base, de-briefing and planning for the future."

The scheme starts in September 2007. Contact Phil Clark on +44 (0)8445 853575 or email: gapyear@churcharmy.org.uk  

Church Army is a society of evangelists within the Anglican Communion, which exists to enable people to come to a living faith in Jesus Christ. For more information on the work of Church Army see www.churcharmy.org.uk  or phone +44 (0)20 8309 3519.

For more information on the Global Gap Year, see www.churcharmy.org.uk/gapyear  

For more information on this story, to book an interview or for images, call Kofo Baptist on +44 (0)20 8309 3517 or email: k.baptist@churcharmy.org.uk

Kofo Baptist
Communications Officer
Church Army
Marlowe House
109 Station Road
Sidcup Kent DA15 7AD

Direct line: 020 8309 3517
fax: 020 8309 3500
email: k.baptist@churcharmy.org.uk
web: www.churcharmy.org.uk  

** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Lake Forest, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.