BACKSTORY
Youth Encounter was first established as a teen camp under the events company Encounter FMX Ltd by Mary and Joel Wanhill in 2009. With the camps gaining more traction, the couple saw an opportunity to expand, and they registered as a charitable trust in 2012, which we now know as Youth Encounter Ministries Trust. Mary worked full-time, in a voluntary capacity, nourishing their vision to make an impact on the young people in Aotearoa New Zealand. To this day, Youth Encounter continues to expand in its capacity, with Mary and Joel still fully committed to leading the organisation forward in its mission.
Once known as ‘Scary Mary’ for her internationally renowned world record-breaking achievements in freestyle motocross, Mary has used Youth Encounter as a platform to create activity-based programmes that give young people a sense of belonging. These activities bring young people together to have fun and explore the joys of life. As the CEO of Youth Encounter, Mary exercises her counselling qualifications to understand and support young people, deliver high-quality programmes, and assist her staff in facilitating these programmes. With the organisation expanding, Mary has taken the opportunity to step into overseeing the operations at Youth Encounter, providing training for staff, and creating foundations for the organisation that will ensure a powerful legacy is left for the next generation.
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Mary's story
Growing up, I often felt “lesser than” those around me because I didn’t fit the norms of society. My brothers and others would say, “You’ll never be that… you’ll never be this… don't be such a girl.” Even when I dreamed of being a vet, I was told I wasn’t smart enough. At school and at home, it felt like no one believed in me or in the potential I carried.
That left me searching for worth and significance. I was drawn to risk-taking, to things that pushed the limits, because deep down I wanted to prove that I could. Instead of being crushed by that drive, I learned to channel it. Freestyle motocross became my arena. I still remember watching a video where the guys mocked a girl who had crashed, saying the sport wasn’t for women. Something in me rose up—I knew I had to show them we could. Becoming the first female in FMX wasn’t just about riding a dirt bike—it was about proving that impossibilities could be overcome.
But when I got to the top—breaking world records, touring, being treated like a rockstar—I realised something. I was still the same insecure girl inside, striving to prove I was enough. That’s when God met me. I’ll never forget His words: “Mary, you’ve done enough. I want to use you.” It was a turning point. I discovered that my true worth wasn’t in proving myself, but in being loved and chosen by Him.
That moment reshaped my story. God took the fire in me to push through the impossible and turned it outward—for others. I began to see young people just like me: not fitting the “norms,” struggling in school or socially, their potential squashed by circumstance. So many of them look for purpose and significance in risk-taking behaviours that often end up destructive. Society labels them “at risk,” but I believe that label itself damages their potential. It says they are “lesser than” or “not good enough,” and demands they change to belong.
My desire through Youth Encounter and Encounter FMX is to change that narrative. We use thrill-seeking activities like dirt bike riding, surfing, and wakeboarding—not to fix young people, but to connect with them in their world. These healthy risk-taking experiences give them freedom of choice, a sense of belonging, and permission to step into the adventure of discovering who they really are.
I believe every young person carries a God-given spark of life—mauri ora—and my calling is to ignite it. For me, it’s not just about managing behaviour or helping youth “fit in.” It’s about unleashing their potential, helping them see themselves as created to thrive, and giving them space to step into what once seemed impossible.
Because when we are given permission to take risks and live life wide open, we encounter endless possibilities—and that is the potential within every single one of us.
“Youth Encounter exists because we believe every person will encounter their God-given potential to live life wide open when they know they belong and believe in their true value.” - Mary
Joel's Story
Joel’s story is very similar to Mary’s. By virtue of circumstances, Joel’s family relocated, and he had to shift to a different high school. At this pivotal adolescent age of finding independence and identity, Joel dropped out of school without receiving the education that he was capable of. He ventured into extreme sports to get his fix, Joel developed strong relationships with his peers, which enabled him to stay on track towards a positive future. He later met Mary, and the two resonated with each other’s stories.
Having experienced feelings of rejection and a lack of belonging in their teenage years, Mary and Joel used this to fuel their passion for having an impact on young people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Understanding that years of adolescence are crucial in determining the trajectory for adulthood, they endeavoured to help others create their own sense of belonging and encounter their God-given potential.
"We create an environment that accepts young people where they are at with no agenda to change them, but rather unleash and release the incredible potential that they have been created with" - Mary
