JC Action Sports brought plenty of entertainment to Citicoast Church for their combined youth night, showing off their BMX half pipe skills on Friday 25 October.
The action sport group is a charity organisation and ministry based in Sunshine Coast that travels across Australia, visiting schools, youth events and partnering with churches and other organisations to give a message of hope to young people.
Citicoast youth leaders Shauna and Jacob Peddie said they were thrilled to host the event with the help of senior pastors Adam and Joey Ryan and open their doors to the youth of Bundaberg.
“I think it’s an honour to host something that is so relatable for teenagers that can get them off the street with something that’s so engaging for them,” Shauna said.
“I’d hope that the youth take away positive energy, excitement, love, a connection with Jesus and that they experience something new and find what they’re looking for.”
Jacob said he was grateful for the opportunity to work with the JC Crew.
“They reach and engage with the young people in a different way,” Jacob said.
“I know from experience talking to a lot of young people, they come to youth for the first time like, oh, that’s nothing like what I was expecting it was gonna be, it’s so different.
“For them to experience something like that [JC], and be so engaged and so on fire for Christ is a powerful thing.”
Director of JC Action Sports Josh Fountain said the crew were excited to meet the youth of Bundaberg and share their mission with them.
“Our mission is to impact as many young people in this current generation with a message of hope that changes their lives, that gives them the tools we wish we had when we were young, in a way that’s engaging, inspiring and challenging,” Josh said.
“Without them there is no future, so we have to invest in them.
“We have to teach them from what we’ve learned and give them opportunities to grow and expand their world view and do incredible things.”
The group was able to reach 110,000 young people across Australia in 2023 and Josh said this year they have reached even more.
Josh said he and his crew had been busy all week, visiting schools throughout the region with their one of a kind portable half pipe.
“Our theme this week in the local schools has been safer communities, which is looking at how to have healthy relationships with each other, prioritising the values that we carry as individuals to show respect, to overcome challenges together, to look out for each other, to listen to each other, to help young people really grow in that area,” Josh said.
“We’ve used our BMX show as a tool to share that and then connect with the kids after the shows, which has been really special.”
JC brought along their freestyle rapper Jack, otherwise known as ‘T Cozy’ to share a positive message while also inviting some local riders to join them on their half pipe.
Citicoast youth member Nate was excited to see what JC could do within his youth group.
“These guys have a great influence on the young community, not just within extreme sports, but within the youth in general,” Nate said.
“I believe Christianity is more than just sitting in church.
“The ministry is literally riding bikes and entertaining people and through that they [JC] get to share the message and the gospel and that’s beautiful.”
C-High youth group meets at Citicoast Church each Friday of the school term at 6pm and is open to all high school students.
