Kerith Youth: The Kids Are Alright
Train up a child in the way they should go; even when they are old they will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6
Why do we do youth work? The answer is right there! We believe it’s important to offer young people a wonderful alternative to the doom and gloom we constantly hear about in the media. Youth work isn’t just about telling teenagers about Jesus; it’s about training them to fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2), so that even when they are old, they will hold on to that faith, remembering – and the remaining part of – the church family that makes God’s presence and love so real to them.
I often think back to when I started coming to church and getting involved with Friday night youth group, and how God blessed me with so many spiritual role models and mentors, and I’m sure we can all think of people we’ve met along the way who took us under their wings to offer their advice, guidance, and love. It’s amazing – and incredibly humbling – to think that we’re now in positions to show that same love to a new generation of young people who are trying to figure out what it means for the Lord Jesus to be Lord of their lives in the 2020s.
But I think the most amazing thing about serving in Kerith Youth and spending time with the thirty, forty, and fifty young people we get on Fridays and Sundays is that so many of these teenagers are already far along that journey! For those of us on the youth team who didn’t grow up in church, it’s such an encouragement to see that these young people are so passionate and so mature in the way they embrace faith in Jesus. They’re a lot further on than we were at that age – what an encouragement and what a challenge to us old folks, as our teenagers set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Tim. 4:12)!
If you’ve been around at one of our Kerith sites for a church service in Bracknell, Farnborough, Windsor, or West Wight, you might have heard someone talk about our mission statement for Kerith Youth: to create spaces where young people enjoy church, hear the Gospel preached, and see their lives irreversibly transformed by the love of Christ. Of course, for all that we’re determined to proclaim the saving power of the risen Lord Jesus and see our teenagers grow in their love for Christ and the charismatic, youth work wouldn’t be youth work without the fun and games!
Our Friday nights will be following our established R-O-C-K pattern, with Regional Nights, Out Nights, Culture Nights, and K-Crews: over the next few weeks and months, our mainland youth group can look forward to Fridays as diverse as trips to the bowling alley, laser tag, small groups, and movie nights, as well as Regional Nights where we can join together for games, music, competitions, and worship and preaches.
As for Sundays, we’re continuing with our Sunday School Series, where we’re looking at some of the most famous passages in the Old Testament and the Gospels to see what relevance they have to contemporary culture. Along with our amazing team volunteers who selflessly offer up their time, energy and wisdom to bless our young people, it’s been amazing to see some of those same young people leading some of these sessions and bringing their own perspectives to the table. It's been fantastic to see them taking these opportunities and visibly growing in confidence as leaders, and we’re all so excited to see how God is going to work in and through them and this youth ministry!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.- Ephesians 3:20-21