Many Baptist churches are wrestling with the challenge of connecting with young people in our society.  Christian young people live very much on the 'front line' of mission in their schools and colleges, and churches have a vital role to play in supporting and nurturing them through everyday life as they live out their faith. 

One response has been to employ a paid youth worker, full or part time, to ensure the church teenagers are well discipled and to help the church make links to other teens in the community.  Some Baptist Union associations also employ Youth Officers to support the paid and voluntary youth workers in their churches.

Employing a youth worker is the responsibility of the local Baptist church and raises issues of recruitment, job and person descriptions, contracts, management and support for the person. The whole process should be undertaken responsibly and with good forward planning.  For guidance on employing and supporting a youth worker in your church, click here.

Give Youth a Chance

The team from Hivings Free Church, Chesham used a Home Mission ‘Mission Project’ grant to enable them to develop a youth club.  Through this, the church is aiming to provide motivation, confidence and hope for the young people, and anti-social behaviour on the estate has already been reduced.  Click below for a short video which explains the impact which this has had on the community.

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