A Celebration of Youth Ministry

LUKE LOWRIE, youth worker at St Mary's Church, Loughton, reflects on the Celebration of Youth
Ministry at Chelmsford

RECOGNITION is a good thing. Even though seeking approval from people is never the reason we should be involved in ministry, when approval does come, it can be an amazing encouragement.

Just as Paul experienced when he heard through Titus about how thankful the Corinthian church were
for him (2 Corinthians 7:2-7), I think that many of us involved in ministry to young people felt that our 'joy was greater than ever' when we had the privilege to attend the Celebration of Youth Ministry hosted by the diocese at the Shire Hall in Chelmsford.

After being blessed by experiencing some excellent worship through song led by the London Community Gospel Choir; being uplifted by the words of those who spoke and being encouraged by all the supporting initiatives coming from our Diocesan Youth Officers, I got the train home
feeling that I, that we all, had been a part of an important event.

Particularly interesting were the comments made by Bishop David as he drew the distinction between those of us present who were 'paid to be spiritual' (that is, the young people's workers on the payroll of churches) and those who give freely their time and energy to this key work in the mission of the church.

I fall into the former category and it was a real encouragement, as well as humbling experience, to see just how many volunteers were present at the celebration.

I spend six days a week working at my ministry, and yet here were many people who manage to fit their other working and family commitments in with their young people's work and produce equally effective and growing ministries.

The fact that this has now been 'officially' recognised by our diocese with the inauguration of the
'Equipping' series of training sessions (that are specifically aimed at supporting those volunteers and
helping them develop their work) was a great moment of affirmation. We could all hear those at the front echoing Paul's words: 'I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you.'

Of course, there was also a great 'equipping' that was going on during the evening as we were told about the opportunity to send the young people we work with to the 'Essential Calling' conference, to get involved with Viz-a-Viz's work, especially their excellent annual Summer festival 'Solid', and the new partnership with Urban Saints that gives us all access to many resources we may not have have considered before . . .

We stood at the end of the evening reassured of both our Scriptural mandate to work with young people and our earthly mandate from the C of E leadership to go out and be like Christ to those we meet in that work. The challenge now facing all of us is to ensure that level of support and encouragement on one special night will be echoed at Deanery and Parish level throughout the coming year.

Without affirmation from leadership, young people's workers can so easily feel 'downcast' and disconnected and all, whether full time and on the payroll or once a month volunteers, need to know that our church is fully behind us in what we do: 'therefore encourage one another and build each other up...respect those who work hard among you . . . hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.' (1 Thessalonians 5:11-13).

● Details of youth workers' courses and youth events can be found at www.chelmsford.anglican.org/youth

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