Editorial

Having heard that some non-Christian friends were coming along, and effectively doubling the size of our small group, the talk I had felt so confident about – and the new youth group model we were implementing that evening – suddenly felt insignificant and wrong. I had felt so sure that we were moving forward in the right direction. Now I had doubts. I wanted to go home, curl up on the sofa and lose myself in A place in the sun: Home or away.

With two minutes to go the other volunteer arrived and swiftly burst into tears. She regailed her emotional and difficult day, and I glanced up at the clock on the wall. One minute. This was never going to work. As the young people started to arrive the two of us relocated to the hallway – and, crouched on the floor, we cried. We had so desperately wanted it to be a positive start to the term, and yet we felt exhausted, upset and unprepared. It was too late, and we felt like we had blown it. Saying a quick prayer we gathered all of the strength we could muster, and stepped back into the room.

You know what? It was probably the best youth session we have ever done. We shared our testimonies, the young people asked questions, and they told their stories of powerful encounters with God at festivals over the summer. Somehow, by God’s grace, it worked. Everyone was engaged in all parts of it – which was a mini miracle in itself. Gathered around a sheet of paper on the floor – rattling around a space far too large for the ten of us – we sang worship songs. And even though the newcomers didn’t know the words, tune, or the God they were about - they sang their little hearts out.

Is it surprising that on the first youth group of term, when half of the group are non-Christians and will hear about Jesus for the first time, that we, the youth leaders, felt de-motivated, ill, stressed, emotional and unprepared? Youth work can sometimes feel and look more like a party than a battleground. But it is a battle.

We forget about the devil and the fight, which is why we have given over the whole issue this month to the topic of battles. Battles in the literal sense, like the war raging in Syria (see youth work in a war zone, p.14) - where the lines are redefined and normal activity grinds to a halt. And internal battles we all face: the fear, the doubt, the questions – where is God in all of this? On p.18 Katharine Welby shares her ongoing journey with depression, a battle raging within herself most of the time. Sometimes she feels victorious, other times defeated.

When the temperature of the battle is high our natural instinct is to retreat. In the case of our first youth session – it would have been so easy to play games all evening, timidly side-stepping around what we are actually about as a youth group, and never mentioning the word ‘Jesus’. How easy it is to entertain the crowds and avoid the conflict which might ensue if we are bold enough to step onto the battlefield. This is exactly what we must not do, as Jamie Cutteridge says in ‘Be more Batman’ (p.26).

Our mission at Youthwork has always been resourcing you for the battle. We exist to give you the armour that you need to fight this fight well, to get you ready in the barracks for the war out there. In light of this, if we are not doing our job – then tell us! We always read over and reflect on any feedback we are given, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us using the details below.

Whatever battle you are facing this month, term, or year - keep fighting, soldier. And know that you aren’t alone.

Phoebe Thompson EDITOR, YOUTHWORK

THIS MONTH PHOEBE became the editor of Youthwork magazine. In honour of this occasion, She did a Spring (Autumn ) clean of her desk - Items which survived the cull include: a purple sparkly reindeer, a book about Princess Kate and a dictophone that no one will ever use.