People are excited... and some hefty mountains are trembling. That's the view from where I am standing, but this time, unlike a few years ago, the vision is shared.
In the parish of Woughton, you can come along to Freedom, and see young and old, working together, with a passion. Freedom is a new 'event', run by young people, and essentially for young people, with times of worship, drama, and special guests, that aims to open eyes and hearts to a God centred life. There is something about it though, something so God inspired that has opened it up and not only made it accessible to all ages, eight to 80, but filled it with the Holy Spirit.
It's not easy, this youth ministry thing, and it has been a case of trial and most definitely error all the way. Some seven years ago a small youth group started, led by people who really wanted to make things different, by focusing on the discipleship of young people.
Like all bright sparks, when I got the role of youth leader, I went for it big style. I was mentored though to check that this was ok, and what I learnt I can now carry forward into the youth ministry of our church. God sets out a path for you, He will test you, and challenge you, and pick you up when you fall down; he gives you the space, so eventually you will get it right. It is so important to be prepared to allow that time, so that leaders and young people don't feel that they have to give up on something if it doesn't get the right results. The vision is still right when it is God given, just the technique and approach needs tweaking.
We have waited and waited on God to teach and strengthen us in Woughton, so that we can minister in a cool and effective way to both young and old. After a lot of hard work, God is blessing us with the people and the spirit to make a go of it. We have a growing youth group with structured sessions, chill out times, and special events where we engage with the older generations, a great youth band and now young people turn out on a Friday night to just be together, and have fun. This has created time when we can discuss what God is doing in our lives, and how we can react. I feel we got there though with this last rule, pray in steps. Pray and listen, pray and work, and pray to thank and ask for more.
It's vital to keep drawing close to God and letting him in on every little bit of it, because through him and through conversation with him it starts to work, but in his way, and in his time; and He says, go in faith and believe in what you are doing, because 'If God is for us, who can be against us'? (Romans 8: 31).
by Jay Norris, youth worker Woughton parish, Bucks
