Building on our diocesan priority of ‘Engaging with children, youth and young adults’, it is imperative that we are Growing Younger in our churches. We have a particular focus on increasing mission with children, youth and young adults and creating discipleship pathways for all ages, to give opportunities for all generations to encounter and follow Jesus.
The Growing Younger team are especially keen to come alongside supporting and resource churches, in both developing new missional ideas and activities and building from existing ministries to support young people to take their next step in a faith journey.
Many of our churches have connections with children and families in their community or local school through toddler groups, holiday clubs or a specific ministry like Open the Book or Messy Church, and these are all to be celebrated. But we know it can be hard to retain connections as children grow into teenagers and young adults. This is why a key thread for Growing Younger is supporting transitions from primary age to secondary, and beyond.
A high priority for our Growing Younger thread of transformation is deepening engagement with schools and colleges and we are keen to resource churches in offering support locally, as well as working closely with our C of E schools and the JET team to establish routes and opportunities for deepening connections. Through the Transformation funded programme we have the chance to establish missional chaplaincies in some of our C of E secondary schools and local FE colleges, rooted in local churches, to reach even greater numbers of teenagers and young adults.
The primary focus of the Growing Younger team is to enable the local church, coming alongside to provide ideas, coaching, support and guidance to get things started or increase the missional focus and discipleship pathway. Alongside this we will continue to coordinate a central programme of activities that will add value to parishes and local teams, including providing opportunities for children and young people to develop as young leaders.
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Please request to join the Diocese’s Growing Younger Network group for resources, training, events etc.