Your Church
A resource to help congregations take simple, practical steps which help integrate young people into the heart of active church life.
What is Your Church?
Your Church is less of a step-by-step “colour by numbers” and more a colour pallet with ideas to help you paint your own pictures. It is always important that the minister and elders do more than just approve ideas like the ones in this resource, but are actively supportive and involved.
Do not try to do too much at once. An appointed small group or key leader can choose to start with a couple of “easy wins” that have a good chance of success and are not too challenging.
How does it do this?
Your Church equips congregations to encourage young people’s active participation in church life.
- Your Church suggests ideas that are:
- small (no need for lots of time, energy or resources)
- achievable (they work and feel possible for most churches)
- and flexible (do them your way). - Your Church is inspired by real, effective examples from PCI congregations in a variety of contexts.
- Your Church helps inspire confidence that these can make a difference.
- The ideas in Your Church are conveniently categorised by effort levels and areas of church life.
Why does this matter?
Your Church promotes the importance of keeping young people active at the heart of congregational life, not just by sharing a list of good ideas, but because it is based on some important principles:
- TRUE The Bible says young people are part of the church now, not just in the future. They are part of God’s all-age family and members of Christ’s body, with gifts to bless everyone (1 Corinthians 12).
- UNIVERSAL This is for all young people, not just a few; for all adults, not just official leaders. Integration relates to the essential nature of the church and involves everyone as it is ‘who we are.’
- RELATIONAL Deliberately creating space enables people of all ages to develop relationships and grow together in faith in Jesus. Integration means young people being involved in church life with others (“our church”) and the church being involved in young people’s lives.
- NECESSARY Congregations need young people – they form a vital part. The benefit of having young people in the church goes both ways, as learning and blessing flow between generations.
- EFFECTIVE Young people need to actively experience church community, not just be present. When they feel a greater sense of belonging and purpose in church, (“your church”), they are simply more likely to stay around long term. Sadly, if they do not feel they belong, they are unlikely to stay.
Structure
Each idea will answer the following questions:
- What: action or step to consider
- Where: area(s) of church life in which this would happen *
- Who: young people and adults involved
- When: ideal timing and frequency
- How: brief outline of what to do
- Why: desired outcome
Many ideas will also have a “top tip” – something to bear in mind if considering this suggestion.
Areas of church life
The ideas are categorised according to the areas of church life where they appear:
- Worship – any part of church services including music, prayer, reading etc
- Youth – starting in youth programmes, but engaging the wider congregation
- Church – any other aspect of church life together, especially with all ages
- Family – encouraging families with young people to integrate more into church
- Service – any form of serving others, using gifts to bless the church or community
- Discipleship – growing and trusting Jesus together
- Mission – reaching others in the name of Jesus, both local and further afield
- Pastoral – caring for one another in the church family