Richard Cassady

Richard has been involved with The Gap Uniting Church since July of 2007 and has been employed as the Families, Youth and Community Worker since December 2007. Richard has previously been involved with youth ministry for over 16 years in a variety of contexts.

Besides congregational youth programs, Rich made links with Juvenile and Correctional Services, ministry in remote indigenous communities in Cape York, and ministry with youth at risk in a suburban context where he spent 10 years in Ipswich region developing schools and education support beyond chaplaincy.

Richard is passionate about a number of things

1) Helping young people engage in their faith.

Creating opportunities for young people to engage the faith in practical ways both within Church life and in service to their community. James 2:20 teaches that “...that faith without works is dead." and its when a young person can see the fruits of their faith i.e. bringing joy to another person, that God becomes a physical reality and not just a vague concept that seems two steps removed.

2) Creating opportunities for parents to nurture their teenager’s faith.

When children reach their teens the tendency for parents is to allow their children to “find their own way” or to leave it to the “professionals” when it comes to faith or education development. Rich has found that the teenage years is the time where parents need to very active in our children’s faith development without smothering their need for independence. 

3) Helping churches to engage their community

Here at the Gap U.C. there is focus on Supporting the Local High school with male students and a Bicycle recycling program where young people strip and rebuild pushbikes for the benefit of needy children. Local businesses and other community organizations and as well the local community have lent a hand to the Local Church to establish a work shed for this activity.

On a more personal note, Richard is married to Tammy and together they have 5 children – Tiara Theo, Caleb, Isaiah and Rahni. Richard enjoys fishing, biking, and any just about any out door activity that avoids the use of heights.

At The Gap Uniting Church Richard is involved with helping to implement a long term strategic vision as well as running and organizing various programs, activities and training events that help to build towards the Church's goals in the areas of Families, Youth and Community involvement.

For information about any of these activities or to contact Richard directly, use the information below or use the Contact Us page in the main menu.

Mobile:  0431 349 567