Dear Church Family,
Each month I’ll be sharing some updates from our youth ministry—stories of what God is doing, what’s coming up, and ways you can get involved. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
1. Celebrating Growth and Wins
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen some really encouraging signs of growth among our young people. One of the most powerful moments came during a recent prayer activity; each person wrote their name and a prayer request on a whiteboard, then passed it around the group. Everyone took time to pray for someone else. For a group still learning how to pray, it was a brave and thoughtful step—and a reminder that God often works through small, sincere acts of faith.
We’re beginning to see more questions being asked, more care being shown to each other, and a growing sense of spiritual curiosity and ownership.
2. Behind-the-Scenes Insights
Alongside our regular sessions, we’re continuing to shape a long-term discipleship strategy for our youth. One part of that strategy is a future set of sessions focused on Christian Formation, Personal Development, and Leadership Development. These sessions will likely run on a weeknight—possibly Mondays—but we’re still finalising the details. The goal is to help our young people build strong foundations in faith, grow in emotional resilience, and step into leadership with confidence.
We’ve also started using Brave journals with our regular Sunday group. Every young person has taken their’s home, and they’re using them to explore themes of identity, emotion, and faith at their own pace. The reflections coming out of this have already begun to deepen conversations and help individuals process their journeys more intentionally.
Meanwhile, our Monday drop-in, now in its third year, continues to flourish—with up to 30 young people attending each week. It’s become a vibrant, welcoming space for connection, laughter, and belonging. One unexpected highlight was when a group of young people spontaneously started dancing together to Shakira’s Waka Waka—a moment full of joy, energy, and togetherness. These glimpses of community forming are so encouraging to see.
We’re also keen to explore the idea of developing a mentoring programme in the future—something that could run alongside the discipleship sessions and offer one-to-one support around things like exam stress, relationships, and navigating life with faith. It’s still very much in the early stages, but it’s a seed we’re praying into.
3. Shoutouts & Involvement
A huge thank you to Hannah, Immy, and Zara, who are playing a vital role as volunteers on our Satellites team this summer. Without their help—and the support of the rest of the team—this kind of trip simply wouldn’t be possible. Their leadership, encouragement, and heart for serving younger youth are a real gift to this ministry.
Thanks also to every adult who has prayed, helped behind the scenes, or simply shown kindness to a young person on a Sunday. You are a key part of this journey.
As our vision continues to grow, we’ll need more people to bring it to life. Whether it’s helping at a session, offering mentoring support, or supporting events like Satellites, there are lots of ways to get involved. If any of this sparks something in you—even if you’re not sure where you’d fit—please come and have a conversation with me. I’d love to explore the possibilities with you.
4. Satellites fundraising
Preparations are already well underway for Satellites, our summer youth camp. This is a powerful space where faith becomes real, friendships deepen, and young people discover more of who they are in Christ.
To support this, we’re fundraising for a new tent—a practical but essential need as our group grows. If you’d like to contribute, we’ll be sharing more details on how to give very soon. Some of the attendees will be making cakes to order. Details of this will be made available soon. In the meantime, if you’d like to make a one-off donation, speak to Paul Hampshire.
5. Prayer Points
Please continue to pray for:
- The young people—to grow in faith, confidence, and resilience
- The team—as we plan, lead, and support the ministry week by week
- Financial provision for Satellites and the new tent
- Wisdom and energy as we shape the long-term vision for youth discipleship
Thank you so much for walking with us, praying for us, and encouraging the next generation of the church.
With gratitude,
Joe
