Trusting in God’s plan for our young people by Heather Martin

Heather Martin is Youth Hubs Coordinator for Hereford Archdeaconry. Here, she thinks about how God’s plan is unfolding in Leominster.

The classic Monday feeling — the start of a new week, the anticipation of how the week will unfold, or what awaits as you walk into work, school or college. This is one thing we always find differing answers for as we meet with Young People after school on a Monday afternoon as part of our weekly drop-in space at the Moravian Church Hall in Leominster.

When we first opened the space, as part of the Leominster Youth Hub Project, it was easy to view it as a stepping stone to what was to come next — that this was going to be a way to connect with young people locally as a vehicle to inviting them to the ‘more interesting’ stuff we had in the pipeline. But as this has become more established in recent months, it is clear that this isn’t always the way ministry — or indeed God — works. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). It’s easy to recall and say this verse, but how often do we actually live by it?

This is what we are seeing and learning from with the drop-in space. While we have regularly had over 40 young people coming in on a Monday afternoon to grab a free hot chocolate and a couple of biscuits, it could be easy to be discouraged that they are not staying and therefore think about how we would adapt the space to change that. But by doing that, we then lose sight of all that God is doing in the present when we consume ourselves with the future.

As we continue to base our practice on the Missional Youth Church Network Learning Journey, we find ourselves working through the ‘Love and Serve’ phase and yet chomping at the bit to share Jesus and build community with them. But there is something here about taking the time to dwell in the space young people are in and not trying to rush ahead simply because you have plans. It’s been a slow start and we need to recognise and be open to things taking a while to get going (easier said than done!). Take time to dwell in the presence of the people you’re trying to reach rather than trying to take them on your own journey. By persevering and stilling yourself in dwelling with them, you are able to build both more authentic relationships as well as a more authentic ministry.

While young people may not be staying for the duration, we are finding opportunities through a question/discussion board to engage with them around faith as they queue and chat about their weekends. Last week we asked the question: “where have you experienced God before?” and unbeknown to us, had the answer “in a difficult situation, when all hope was lost, he came through.”

These are the opportunities we have to speak into — praise God and may he continue to bless this work!
 

– ENDS –