Welcome to our first sponsorship, take some time to read it and let me know how you can help.

Redemptiongifts.com approached Josh because we have heard about his position and what he does in his aim to serve Christ and the Community.  As you can see below, Josh has given himself full time to youth ministry in the local high school and his church. He currently spends around $60 a week on petrol, and not to go to a job or get a hand-out, but most of this petrol is used for youth work, giving lifts, getting to the schools which he volunteers in, serving the youth group etc. We want to sponsor him $1200 to cover his fuel costs for the rest of this year. 

Ponder this verse as you read about Josh below:

1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Quote from Josh

Hey, I'm Josh Sharkey and this is my life...

I work for Jesus, and He's a great boss!

I come from a non-Christian family, and became a Christian in 2004 through the WSAP youth

small group ministry.

I am a member of Western Sydney Alliance Church, and am actively involved in our Youth

Leadership Team.

On Wednesdays I teach scripture at Doonside Technology High School to a group of 20-30

students and share the gospel with them.  We work with a different year level each term, so

year 7-10 all have scripture each year.  I'm also running a small group on Wednesday nights

with the purpose of preaching the gospel to a group of teenage boys and eating pizza.

On Thursdays I spend the day at Doonside again, working with the Chaplain and serving the

school and the students.  Some of the projects I have been involved in are:

- Painting classrooms to remove grafiti and vandalism

- Restoring a 22 seat coaster bus, including panel beating, painting and interior for use in

the school and community

- Installing a video surveillance system for the school

- Setting up a welfare room in the school

- Fundraising to raise money to fund our projects

- Working on any other needs or projects which arise

When we do these projects we work alongside kids who need special attention, and we take the

opportunity to build relationships with them and teach them skills.  These are often kids who

are in trouble in school or who are struggling with school.  I also see these projects as

bringing credibility to what we're preaching on Wednesdays.

On Fridays I'm a part of a team that organises our Friday night youth group activities for

WSAP Youth.  During the day we plan and organise the activities for our Junior and Senior

youth groups, including buying and making everything that we need for the activities to run

smoothly.  In the evening we run the events, again with the goal of building relationships

with the youth who attend and telling them about Jesus.

On Monday and Tuesday I aim to work to support my ministry.  This year my money making jobs

haven't been very stable, so I am looking into new options which I hope will provide more

reliable work opportunities so that I am able to continue to financially support my ministry.

Contact Phil direct to help with this project. Email phil