Our experience of follow-on projects to schools work has shown that:
- if follow-on work is not integrated into an overall strategy for working with unchurched and churched young people, and
- when only one church is running follow-on with no support from other local churches, without changing existing programmes
there is a strong likelihood that numbers attending will decline during the initial six weeks programme, and follow-on will probably not continue in any form or feed into other programmes afterwards.
During 2007 we took an in-depth work around the UK at what's happening in Christian faith-based youth work, and from this we adopted a framework for strategy. It is based on the initiation, nurture and development of youth work in a single community.
The three modes of operation will be:
- Discover and develop potential
- Explore faith
- Mature and grow
To make it happen, we will set up Local Partnerships with churches, agreeing on a specific plan which incorporates each of these modes as the basis for working together.
Here’s a description of the three modes in more detail.
Discover and Develop aims to engage young people through activities which will interest and benefit them, and through which relationships with youth workers can be built. An after-school club could, for example, incorporate performing arts sessions, film showing, informal discussion and other activities which encourage young people to explore and identify the person they want to become.
Explaining faith will not be an aim in this mode; workers will engage with young people through activities which enhance and develop young peoples' social awareness, talents and skills. Information relating to other events happening within the emerge community (Exploring Faith & Maturing and Growing) will be on display and advertised to encourage young people to access other parts of the community if they wish.
Explore - explicitly explores 'faith questions’ with young people which engage them in formative spirituality, such as : 'Why am I here?; 'What is the purpose of life?'; 'Does God exist?' Engagement will be through group work and experiential activities. An important part of this mode will be to challenge young people to explore faith issues practically, not just cerebrally, for example through peer leadership of small groups and activities.
An existing project, such as 'Café Base', 'Rock Solid' etc., which is open to new young people and ideas can form the basis of this part of the community.
Mature & Grow - in this mode young people are given support to work out the personal implications of the Christian faith. Emphasis will be given to prayer, Bible-study, mutual support, and sharing testimony within and outside the group. An essential part of this mode will be to challenge participants to engage in ministry and mission through service in areas such as the emerge community, leading worship, local social action projects and mission programmes at home and abroad.
Again an existing project, eg Youth Cells and groups which can accommodate more young people and is open to new ideas can form the basis of this part of the community.
It’s essential to research what the local need is amongst young people. For example, if the overriding need of the community is an After- School Club then this will become the focus for discover & develop.
Success criteria will include:
- All three modes of activity are present within one community.
- Young people are able to move freely between the three modes.
For more information or to discuss an emerge project in your area, contact us.
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