Emmanuel Youth Council
In light of Emmanuel's mission, our youth work will be focused on:-
- Bible Teaching
- Prayer & Praise
- Care and Support
- Equipping & Training for Life & Service
- Reaching Out
- Sending On/Sending Out
Emmanuel Youthwork Priorities/Values
Bible Teaching
The Word of God is the catalyst for the ongoing transformation of individuals’ lives. It is our desire that all youngsters at Emmanuel are rooted in the bible, learning from it in a fun, accurate, relevant way, and applying it practically themselves in their lives. We do so with the aim of supporting Emmanuel families in their teaching of the gospel clearly and unambiguously to every child.
Strategy implications:
- Good teaching materials
- Good coordinated teaching programme
- Good training for leaders
- Good selection of leaders
Prayer & Praise
Youthwork at Emmanuel is God’s work and nothing can happen in our own strength. We are committed to underpinning this work with prayer and giving God glory for His work in praise.
Strategy implications:
- Informed prayer by Emmanuel fellowship
- Commitment to prayer by Leaders
- Church fellowship prayer
- Teaching youngsters prayer & praise and doing it
Care & Support
Caring relationships must be at the heart of this work, both leader/youngster and amongst peer groups ie between youngsters and between leaders; also of parents.
Strategy implications:
- Safe (eg health/safety & Child Protection policy/procedures taken seriously & regularly reviewed)
- Fun
- Small groups to build friendships and sharing
- Inclusive
- help for those with special needs
- youth involvement in larger church fellowship
- strong, open, honest supportive relationships between leaders and also Youth Council/Parent Support
Equipping and Training for Life & Service
Our role must be to help individuals to build their own relationships with God and equip them for daily life and service at home, school and beyond; equipping and training also applies to leaders and parents.
Strategy implications:
Youngsters
- training talks/seminars/small groups (also for parents eg teens)
- Leaders modelling Godly living in own walk with God (ongoing)
- encouraging participation in Christian camps (from age level agreed by Youth Council)
- providing youngsters with practical opportunities to serve within the church body
- serving in the “community” (for older youngsters)
Leaders
- training talks/seminars (internal & external)
- encouraging participation as leaders in Christian camps
- open/supportive culture of feedback and learning between all those involved in youthwork at Emmanuel
- providing opportunities to take on increasing responsibility where appropriate/available
Reaching Out
We are committed to teaching loving service and unceasing witness to our youngsters and through them to their “neighbours".
Strategy implications:
- Gospel actively proclaimed within youthgroup
- Gospel opportunities to invited friends of youthgroup
- Group meetings friendly to “outsiders”
- Evangelism training for older believers
- Support of schools work through Emmanuel youngsters
Sending On/Sending Out
We want to do everything to encourage the sending-on of youngsters from one youthgroup to the next at Emmanuel and also the sending out of labourers from Emmanuel youthwork.
Strategy implications:
- Special attention to youngsters due to move between groups and settling them in to next group
- youth groups praying/supporting those already sent out (eg heads of university CUs, adult missionaries)
- short-term experience for youngsters with those sent out (eg visits)
- serving on camps
- leaders – challenging leaders to move onto other areas of service
