Meet Tyler Wilds - Youth Intern at PVC
- Protea Valley Church
- Aug 31
- 3 min read
Meet Tyler Wilds, who has stepped into the role of intern overseeing the youth ministry here at Protea Valley Church. Many of you may already have seen him at Basecamp on a Friday night or Summit on a Sunday night, but we wanted to give you a chance to get to know him a little better.
Getting to know Tyler
Tyler is 25 years old and was born and raised right here in Cape Town. After school, he studied graphic design and worked in the field for five years before God called him into ministry. He has a heart for missions and for youth, and he loves nothing more than walking alongside young people as they grow in faith.
Something you might not know about him? He’s a qualified personal trainer! In fact, his original plan was to work abroad in fitness — but God had other plans.
When asked what drew him to youth ministry, Tyler explains:
“I struggled with many of the problems today’s youth face, and I felt a calling to help shepherd this next generation away from those decisions.”
Tyler’s journey at PVC started in a simple way: one Sunday, he asked his parents if he could join them at church. He quickly found a community of friends and started serving in small ways - making coffee, joining a mission trip to Malawi - and God kept opening doors. Those experiences confirmed his desire to dedicate his life to ministry.
Tyler’s heart for youth
For Tyler, the best part of working with teens is watching them grow spiritually.
“I have a deep understanding of their struggles, and seeing them overcome these struggles within the church family is always the highlight of my week.”
Over the past few months, his focus has been on bringing back the excitement of what it means to be a teenager at youth. And it’s working. One of his favourite moments so far has been hearing teens reflect on their highlights:
“This is a place I can invite my friend to.”
“This is the highlight of my week.”
Those words, Tyler says, confirm the work God is doing in the youth ministry.
Youth Ministry update
It’s an exciting time for youth at PVC. Recently, we rebranded our youth gatherings:
Basecamp – Fridays for Grades 6–9
Summit – Sundays for Grades 10–12
Both spaces are designed to be places where teens can gather, have fun, build friendships, and most importantly, encounter God in real and personal ways.
Earlier this year, Summit hosted a youth camp that was an incredible success. Teens and leaders are still talking about it, and everyone is already looking forward to the next one. Tyler shares that what excites him most right now is seeing teens open up more vulnerably about their lives and allowing God to shape their thoughts and actions.
How you can support
Tyler’s request to the wider church family is simple:
“Keep sending your kids!”
He believes that sometimes it just takes one visit for a teen to realise they want to keep coming back. Youth at PVC is a space where teens are loved, welcomed, and catered for in meaningful ways.
There also seems to be a wave of revival happening among young people globally. Tyler encourages us to lean into what God is doing and support this next generation wholeheartedly.
Fun facts about Tyler
Here are a few fun tidbits to help you get to know Tyler better:
Acting Vice President of the Western Province Ten Pin Bowling Association 🎳
Drinks rooibos tea with honey (no milk!)
If he could put anything on a billboard, it would read: “John 1”
Hidden talent: martial arts – his party trick
Most-used emoji: 🙌
Dream dinner guest: C.S. Lewis
Favourite song: High Tide or Low Tide by Bob Marley
Tyler’s vision for Youth Ministry
If he could sum up his heart for youth in one sentence, it would be this:
“To see a community of youth who are being discipled and are discipling others, while being served and serving others.”
We are so grateful for Tyler’s passion, his story, and the way God is using him to bless our teens and our wider church family. Please keep him and the youth ministry in your prayers as we continue to grow together.
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