Jake Highfield (they/them)

Raised in the United Church, Jake has been involved with youth and children's leadership in the church since 2008 in some form or another and has worked with some of our Abbey youth at Camp Spirit in 2023 and in 2021 when we hosted at the St. Matthias site.

Jake has been an enthusiastic attendee and staff member at several United Church summer camps, organized regional youth events, been regional 'First Third' staff, sat on various committees and boards at the local, United Church presbytery, and regional level, and is excited to bring their passion for the wider church to this very important work.

Jake is coming alongside our collective desire for AbbeyChurch youth to be part of a wider multigenerational community where we can tell and listen to our sacred story (in scripture and the lives of 'saints', broadly defined), engage in spiritual practices (prayer, meditiation, action) and to be a mentor for those youth seeking a place in the beloved community, that is, the Church.

Jake is also a professional electrician and fabric artist, and is currently serving on the Board of Directors at Camp Pringle, a United Church camp on Shawnigan Lake.