Posted by: Pippa Winterburn
on Feb 22, 2012
A youth worker recently asked me about re-engaging students who are back for holidays. Now as an aside we have a resource (Studentscape) you can use for that, but, I told him, the key may be less what you do then and more what you do now before they leave. This is not only important for helping young people reconnect when home but lays foundations for healthy church community at uni.
The key: let them belong beyond the youth work. For those whose whole identity in church is within the youth work, it can be hard to feel at home once they have outgrown that. This ability to belong beyond their peer group is also helpful for learning to be a part of church at uni.
So what can we do to help our young people connect wider? Here are some ideas:
- Help them find mentors. I know I'm always banging on about it but a mentor creates connections beyond the peer group. it also provided someone to keep in touch and encourage the young person when they arrive home for holidays.
- If your youth are out during the service, encourage school leavers to stay in church once a month and serve. That might mean involvement with kids work, welcome, pa...help them function independently in the wider church community. Offer opportunities to serve in these areas and to share for the benefit of the community (testimony/speaking) when they're back home too!
- Talk about it. Talk about what it will be like to come back and not be in youth. Enable them to communicate their concerns and communicate to them that they're still wanted, still a part of the church community and still precious. Then drop them a line a few weeks before they come home so they know they're not forgotten.
I hope that these simple things may enable your school leavers to reconnect better once they return home. I hope that they will also see you send off young people who are ready to hit the ground running with church at uni.
How do you find connecting your young people with the wider church community?
________________
Posted by: Dot Tyler
on Feb 21, 2012
Posted by: Luke Smith
on Feb 20, 2012
How big is yours? Mine is huge! You may be relieved to discover that I’m talking about vision. I say this without boasting.
Posted by: Miriam Swaffield
on Feb 18, 2012
This week's Guest Blogger, student worker Lydia Corbett, offers practical hope and help for soon-to-be-graduates, that we think is WAY too good to just keep to London students! Read this and be there...
Posted by: Dot Tyler
on Feb 17, 2012
Posted by: Miriam Swaffield
on Feb 16, 2012
“Do as I say, not as I do”. We’ve all heard that statement before, but its familiarity doesn’t make it ok. In fact, in our generation it actually won’t be accepted at all. It shouts of something bigger than just a mixed message. It shouts hypocrisy, a lack of authenticity. So therefore, us twenty-somethings have no respect for it, not time for it.
Posted by: Pippa Winterburn
on Feb 15, 2012
Tagged in: Untagged
I've still got two more challenges to share after last weeks blog, but I want to go with this instead this week. We'll go back to those next week...
As I sat at the back of the One Life Leaders SE Conference yesterday, a prayer came to my lips (or more accurately to my fingers as I poured out my heart into my iphone). I wanted to share it with you...
Looking at the young leaders of this generation, I don't think the question is whether people will listen to them, it's what they'll choose to say.
God give them your words, your heart. May the words they say be life and health not words of death and fallacy. We claim ground for this generation Lord, we declare that you are their God and you will speak through them. Please keep them faithful and hope full Lord. Give them faith to follow to the end and may they find there hope and truth beyond their expectations.
They are worth so much. They are so important. Every single one. Their lives make a mark.
Lord it feels so fragile, so many lives, each one precious; please protect them and keep them safe. Please let them not choose safe lives but lives that make a difference Lord; lives that declare your power and majesty and light Lord God; lives that make a difference.
They are yours.
Amen
Posted by: Luke Smith
on Feb 14, 2012
On the most famous street in York, The Shambles, there is a Bread Shop. The bloke who owns it opens at 9am, sells his bread and closes when he runs out, which is usually 11am. He makes enough, to earn enough then he goes home.
Posted by: Key Partners
on Feb 11, 2012
Tagged in: Untagged
Posted by: Thomas Dean
on Feb 10, 2012
The other day I went for a paddle in my kayak, come rain or shine its one of my favourite things to do. As I was strapping it to the top of my car ready to head down to the river, it was raining. It was that annoying sort of light rain that doesn’t look bad but is pretty proficient at getting you thoroughly drenched. As I fiddled with the straps and ropes I was hunched up in my coat as the rain was pretty noticeable- as you might expect!
