About Us

In its earliest existence, the EBF youth committee of the European Baptist Federation existed merely as a sub-committee. Evidence of this can be found in the first statutes of the EBF.  In those early days there were not many significant activities, except that members of the youth committee in the executive of the EBF were represented. One of the tasks at the beginning was to have representation of the EBF Youth work on the youth committee of BWA.  By the 1950's fifties the EBF Youth Committee was represented with 3-7 members on the youth committee of the BWA. One of these "pioneer" representatives was  Günter Wagner who apparently still lives somewhere in New Mexico/USA.

The first European conference of the children and youth secretaries and/or national youth leaders took place in 1972, when Karl-Heinz Walter assumed the role of the chairmen of the EBF Youth Committee. Since the beginning of the 1980's this conference has taken place each year. To date our current annual conference draws some 30-50 children and youth secretaries from 15-30 EBF member unions.

PAST CHAIRS:

John Passmore (UK) (1990 - 1991)
Michael Borkowski (DE) (1991 - 1995)
Iain Hoskins (UK) (1995 - 1999)
Sören Ostergard (DK) (1999 - 2000)
Christoph Haus  (DE) (2000 - 2005)
Nick Lear (UK) (2005 - 2009)
Volkmar Hamp - current chair

Current Youth and Children Executive Committee Members

Volkmar Hamp (Germany; Chairman)
Tasks: BWA-representation (Vice-President of BWA-Youth; 2 times/year committee meetings); chairperson of EBF-YC, calling meetings twice a year, preparing the agenda.
Svjetlana Mraz (Croatia; Vice Chair) 

Tasks: Representative liaison with the EBF Executive which meets twice a year.


 Rostyslav Semikov (Ukraine; Member at Large)

Tasks: Representative liaison with the EBF management committee which meets once a year.

Pille Havakats (Estonia; Treasurer)

Tasks: Responsible for the EBF-YC finances, proposing yearly budget, book-keeping, keeping the bank account, giving report to the conference, corresponding with members regarding the contributions.  
Vasil Vasilev (Bulgaria; Secretary)

Tasks: Internet/Web-Administration; Representative Liason for the International Youth Leadership Training Course. Minutes of Ex.Co. and January Conference, sending out invitations, receiving registrations, correspondence.  

Jeff Carter (Czech Republic, EBF Youth Leadership Coordinator)

Tasks: Coordinator for Youth Ministry training for the European Baptist Federation.  Responsible for training development programs and courses for youth leaders and resource for European Baptist Youth secretaries and leaders.