All Issues articles – Page 32
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IssuesLearner Turner: A Sunday in the grass
“Can I ask you a question?” Her 11-year-old body curled towards me in earnest. I looked around the group of seven of us, relaxed on the grass outside church. The wind ruffled our hair as we crunched biscuits.
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IssuesRelationship-rooted discipleship
In youth and children’s ministry we’re constantly on the lookout for a silver bullet - one programme or approach that will solve our discipleship crisis. But Bath and Wiltshire YFC’s James Vaughton thinks it might be simpler than that…
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IssuesQ&A: Dave Csinos
Dave Csinos is assistant professor of practical theology at Atlantic School of Theology and the founder of Faith Forward, an ecumenical organisation for innovation in children’s and youth ministry. He spoke to Jamie Cutteridge about teaching methods, experiential moments and his recent research
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IssuesReal life: “The vicar comes with a free youth worker”
For the past eight years I have been involved in youth work as a volunteer, a youth theatre practitioner, a full-time church worker and now as a sessional youth worker. I have a diploma in youth mission and ministry (just to try and prove I vaguely know what I’m doing!) but all of that seems to pale in comparison to a decision I made in May 2015 - I got married to a trainee vicar.
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IssuesHow do you deal with the aftermath of a big romantic breakup within the group?
Deep down, we all love a youth group romance. Maybe it plays to our egos as leaders that we’ve created a context where love has blossomed; perhaps even it’s because we know that if they stay together, it might be our one chance to preach at a wedding. Generally speaking, we share in the group excitement when two of our young people get together.
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IssuesAfter the festival
After the highs of summer festivals, how do we continue to disciple our children once they get home? HTB’s Tory Tomlinson has some ideas…
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IssuesNetflix's 13 reasons why
Imagine being able to tell everyone in your life exactly what you think of them, exactly how they’ve hurt you, without any consequences. The only catch is that you’re dead. This is the premise of 13 reasons why, Netflix’s latest binge-worthy show: a 13-episode suicide note to a teenage girl’s friends and classmates, outlining their role in her decision to end her life. Originally hyped as a smart, important look at mental health and the social issues affecting teenagers, upon release the show attracted criticism for its ‘triggering’ impact, its overly realistic depiction of sexual assault and suicide, and negative portrayals of counselling or other forms of support. So what do we do with it? Ignore it? Watch it with our young people? Something between?
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IssuesThe Royal Family and mental health
The idea of the British stiff upper lip has been traditionally synonymous with our Royal Family, but the past few months have turned things upside down.
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IssuesThe general election
As you’ve probably noticed, there’s a general election this month, and it’s more than likely that the needs of children and young people won’t be front and centre during the campaign. But what should be being talked about? We asked some youth and children’s workers what should be on the top of the new government’s agenda…
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IssuesLoneliness a concern for thousands of children
They used to say that childhood was the happiest days of your life, but a recent report from the NSPCC suggests that that is no longer the case – children these days are lonely and isolated. Childline provided 4,063 counselling sessions about loneliness in 2016/17 and 73 per cent of these counselling sessions were with girls.
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IssuesMentoring: Kindness
Interestingly, as I was thinking about writing about kindness this month, I ended up in a conversation with my 12-year-old daughter about a lonely lad at her youth group, and whether it was her responsibility to look out for him if he was sitting on his own. As a year-eight, life is hard enough already just trying to fit in - is going out of her way for others actually her job?
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IssuesJustice: Pepsi vs protest
What are children and young people in your church talking about? This generation will change the world. They’re savvy creators, globally connected, with a heart for the global neighbours. Your job as youth and children’s workers is more important than ever.
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IssuesGames: Spring games
The weather is getting warmer and the sun is (hopefully) coming out. Let’s take full advantage of God’s beautiful creation and go outside! Grab the sunscreen and first-aid kit and bring on the fun.
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IssuesSamewise: Spiritual flashes and red herrings
I almost had one of those conversations the other day. You know one of those chats that we dread; the ones that starts when an older member of the congregation asks if they can talk to you about the children’s work. I say almost because while the conversation began with that phrase, it took an unexpected turn.
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IssuesCraft: Passover
The story of the first Passover, as God’s people prepare to leave Egypt, is full of powerful imagery. Here are some crafts to help children to explore the rich themes of what unfolds.
