Youth View

I consider myself to be quite privileged. I have a passion for the rural church and to see quality youth work happening there. The privilege comes from being able to do youth work full-time in a rural situation.

One of the big frustrations for me over the last 10-15 years has been the church's tendency to focus on Urban Priority Areas! Not that there is anything wrong with this focus but it has been quite exclusive. I am very aware that there are also huge areas of deprivation both financially and in terms of available facilities throughout rural Britain.

My work takes me around many villages in the deanery of the Vale of the White Horse and regularly into five of them. Many of these villages have no youth work/venue/available leaders, so part of my job is the Cyber Bus, a converted double decker that is now a mobile drop-in youth centre. The bus visits five villages on a fortnightly basis plus the local secondary school each week. During our busiest time of year I can be seeing around 300 young people every fortnight and, for many of them, the two hours that I spend in their village is their only regular activity.

Although not an overtly evangelistic project we do make it clear that we are Christians and often find that we're asked questions about what we believe and why we do what we do. We take time to listen to problems and have had opportunities to pray both for and with some of the young people (brave step in front of your mates!).

On the downside is the struggle to keep it going, constantly fighting to keep the bus running mechanically; driving this huge, heavy thing around narrow winding lanes with no power steering (it's done wonders for my upper body strength); volunteers - I have a great team working with me, but always need more helpers. It's very disheartening having to tell young people you can't come this week because you haven't got enough people or the bus is broken down again (as currently!).

Please pray for us in this work as you pray for the youth work where you are and ask how you can support those working with the young people in your area. Youth work is a privilege wherever we are and especially in this rural deanery.

Simon Faulks is Youth Worker for All Saint's Church Faringdon and Vale Christian Youth Work. Click here for Simon's blog.