Chaplain Chat

Over the past few months, some of our weekly Chapel services have been blessed by guest speakers from local churches. The guest preachers, like Zoe Regel (pictured) who leads the High School Outreach of Centrepoint Youth in Bibra Lake, have all spoken relevant, gospel centred messages to our students. Zoe recently shared an amazing sermon with our secondary Chapel on trusting God amidst our doubts, and then stayed back to chat with students and speak faith into their lives. 

As the Chaplain here at Australian Christian College - Darling Downs, I am constantly looking for ways to connect the school community with local churches, specifically with local youth groups. My encouragement for all parents is to connect your young people into a local church youth ministry - for three reasons:

1. Youth ministry is a safe place for young people to BELONG.

2. Youth ministry is where young people BECOME disciples of Jesus.

3. Youth ministry has an impact in young people BEYOND the here and now.

BELONG

In a world that is saturated with technology that promises to connect people like never before, young people are increasingly missing a sense of genuine belonging. All humans, especially teenagers in that formative period of life, need to be known by and really cared for by others. Youth group provides this belonging by being a safe space, where young people can make genuine connections, have safe friendships, and be known and appreciated for who they are.

BECOME

Discipleship is the process of following and becoming like someone or something else. Whether you’re a Christian or not you are being discipled, perhaps by a trusted family member, or by what the overall culture is saying, or even by a celebrity. Young people are especially open to this process of becoming, and so the question is: who is discipling your child? There are so many bad role models out there - a quick look at what TikTok influencers are up to will confirm this for you. Youth ministry is a place all about becoming like Jesus. There is only one perfect role model, one perfect person to model life after - I want my kids to follow in His footsteps, and not go with the flow of the world. Youth group is where your young people can grow to become more like Jesus.

BEYOND

Youth ministry is more than just being a force of good for teens on a Friday night - but actually has an impact on their eternity. For so many, such as myself, it was in those teenage years that a decision is made to trust Jesus for salvation. Youth is not just a fun place for kids to hangout, but is about leading young people into a relationship with God that not only affects the here and now, but will go on into eternity.

If you would like any recommendations on a local church/youth ministry to connect into, I would be happy to chat with you. God bless you all.