Youth

We believe:
The overall goal of youth ministry is to set in place a structure to enable the youth to discover and develop their own faith and place it within the context of Church. To help them express that faith for their own benefit, the benefit of the Church, and the wider community and beyond.

We offer:

• To make experiences challenging and relevant.
• To have a structured youth programme, which provides opportunities to engage with young people of all ages.
• To have a pastoral approach to each young person, treating them as individuals, identifying and meeting needs.
• A safe environment where young people and leaders are protected in accordance with the Church of Ireland Code of Practice for Child Protection, Safeguarding Trust.

We are committed over the next 5 years to:

• Provide a resource of a full-time youth worker/team.
• Develop the spiritual lives of young people already involved within the Church.
• Develop relationships among young people in the Church.
• Increase the number of young people actively involved in the Church.
• Develop relationships between youth and others in the Church.
• Develop relationships between the youth of Christ Church and other Churches in Bray and beyond, and also the wider community.
• Identify, train and develop emerging leaders and helpers of all ages to work with young people.

And this is how:

• Facilitate opportunities for youth to examine and understand their spirituality through study, discussion and experience.
• Facilitate coming together for weekends, events, group work and prayer, thereby making them aware of each other’s value.
• By getting into places where youth are and engaging with them.
• By looking at various activities that all ages can be involved in.
• By encouraging youth to be open to different styles of worship, not just what may appear more attractive initially.
• By encouraging our youth to engage in prayer for the Church, looking for answers to those prayers.
• By developing and engaging in multi-denominational worship, services, meetings and gatherings.
• By developing and engaging in projects both in Bray and beyond.
• By identifying those gifts and areas of ministry that young people and leaders may wish to be involved in.
• By facilitating opportunities for youth and others to take on responsibilities, and learn about their likes and capabilities.
• By training and mentoring, through one to ones, or through group work