Summer Madness and Church Army have appointed Jasper Rutherford to drive forward mission among in Ireland.

Rutherford is coming on board as Outreach and Development Officer among young people and will work to inspire thousands to engage with mission.

He brings to the role his experience as a youth worker in east Belfast, where he spent seven years pioneering initiatives that successfully engaged young people who had never set foot in a church before.

He has also trained as a pioneer evangelist with Church Army.

“I am so excited about this post – I have had to rein myself in a bit and not get too carried away," he said.

A priority for Rutherford is helping young Christians share their faith with friends and resourcing the church to support young people more intentionally.

“I am convinced God is longing for us to share him more openly with each other, and more openly with people who don’t yet know him," he said.

"I hope and pray that this post will have a key role in working alongside lots of other youth organisations who are passionate to reach young people and young adults for Jesus all over Ireland.”

Mark Russell, Church Army Chief Executive, said: “Jasper is a gifted leader and evangelist and I'm thrilled his considerable gifts will be used in this strategic new role.

"He is passionate about raising up a new generation of young people committed to reaching their generation for Christ, and I'm delighted Church Army is working in partnership with Summer Madness."

Summer Madness is taking place from 29 June to 3 July at the Glenarm Castle Estate on the Antrim Coast for the first time, after years in Belfast.

Rutherford will be joined on stage by Shane Claiborne, Duffy Robbins, Mike Pilavachi and Rend Collective.

John Kee, Summer Madness Chief Executive, said: “I am very excited to have Jasper working alongside us and am looking forward to what God will be doing in this new chapter of the story of Summer Madness."