Youth Update - Sept 

Hello Church
September often feels like the start of the ‘new year’ because of the new academic year, and all the changes that involves for young people. We’ve got lots planned for all things SBC Youth, and I look forward to sharing with you what’s going to be happening in these next few months!

We’ve just started our new series in Rooted, call ‘Discover’. This programme is going to take us up until Christmas. We will be looking at a different topic each week, starting with Reading the Bible, Worship, Prayer, and The Holy Spirit. We will then move on to other topics such as forgiveness. Throughout this programme, we aim to encourage young people to grow in confidence in their faith, whilst also answering big questions they may have about faith. It has been so wonderful to have the new Year 7 students join the youth group, and we’ve spent some time getting to know each other through playing games and icebreakers. It has been so wonderful to see the group all interacting together, engaging with activities and discussions. We’re really looking forward to seeing what God will do amongst the group!

Over the summer, I’ve been spending time thinking and praying about what the youth programme will look like now that we have decided to press pause on Youth Café, so that this gives more opportunity to do work in the community through schools and on the streets of Selsdon!

I am currently in the process of planning a new mid-week group along with some other events that will be happening, and details about this will be coming soon! We have also spent some time discussing with the young people, asking them what they would like to see in the youth programme, as we feel it’s really important for young people to have their say.

The hot chocolate stand will be returning to Selsdon high street in the autumn! This is such an amazing outreach opportunity, where we are able to have conversations with young people in the local community. I will be looking for a couple of people to come alongside me for this really important outreach, so if you feel this is something you would like to be involved with, please do come and have a chat with me!

I am also going back into Quest Academy for the mentoring programme on Thursday mornings. I will be working with two students, on a one-to-one basis. These sessions have an informal approach, where we play some icebreaker games, so that I can get to know them, and they can get to know me also! This then encourages them to open up and we can have healthy conversations about topics they may want to discuss.

I am also beginning to make conversations with Coombe Wood, Riddlesdown and hopefully Tennison’s to offer support with assemblies and Christian Unions, and I’m really looking forward to being able to broaden our relationships with local Secondary Schools.

Thank you all so much for your continued support and prayers.
God bless you all. Katie