From our youth, many of us can recall inspiring Christians who walked with us, cheered us on, and inspired us to find faith ourselves. SU Mission Enabler Lucy Pearson shares why it’s essential to take on that same role of faithful journeying with the next generation.
We started our SU Rooted group in 2016 in our home. It’s nothing fancy – we use Rooted cards as a basis for discussion over a cuppa, or just a chat. But the young people in the group call it their ‘family’. They say, ‘Your home is our safe space where we feel welcome and calm.’ They feel they belong.
Like all long-term youth ministry, it ebbs and flows. Sometimes, young people stop coming, and you don’t hear from them for ages. One girl had a complex home situation. She stopped coming for several years but now she’s returned and comes every week. And one lad joined at the start, then left, then came back for a while and has now gone again! But he knows we’re still here for him and I hope he’ll return again in due course.
"The young people call the group ‘their family’."
By contrast, Stuart joined the group at the outset and never left. His family were new to church and so he had a steep learning curve, but he decided to follow Jesus. Now he’s 20 and a young leader, helping with sports ministry in the community. Of the Rooted group, he told me, ‘I felt welcomed. I built friendships I couldn’t before and it helped massively when I had problems. It helped me overcome fears, be myself, and brought me closer to God.’
It’s so important that we make our youth ministry a safe, consistent space where young people can be who they are and have someone listen, pray and just be there for them. They may come and go, but in a world where there is so little that can be relied upon, let’s commit to being there for them in the day-to-day, year in, year out. We need to journey with them through all the seasons of their lives
What is Rooted?
Discover more about creating safe spaces for children and young people to explore who they are, why they matter and the difference Jesus makes.