Youth feature

Young people: re-engaging after Covid

One in four churches which had youth work in place before the pandemic have suspended this part of their ministry. These are some of the findings from recent research by the Evangelical Alliance and Sarah Yardley and Paul Friend (pictured) will be at CRE South West giving tips to youth leaders on re-engaging with young people after the onset of Covid-19. Sarah, who grew up in a mega church in California, visited more than 90 countries before settling in a village church in Cornwall. She is now mission lead at Creation Fest – a week-long summer outreach in Wadebridge and Tubestation, in Polzeath – a café, art gallery, and church ministry. Paul is a director of South West Youth Ministries (SWYM) based in Woodbury Salterton, Devon. ‘We want to explain how to encourage children and young people to follow Christ despite the problems brought about by Covid-19,’ said Sarah, pointing to her own experience as a useful indication of how the Gospel can change the direction in a young person’s life. ‘Jesus shifted me from being an awkward homeschool kid, embarrassed to say her name out loud, to one who lives in another country and loves to share God’s love. ‘The change has taken me through some unexpected chapters; travelling to 90 countries, walking through places of great joy and great grief and developing genuine friendships scattered throughout the world.’ Those experiences have given Sarah the expertise to give plenty of practical help to youth leaders in how to re-engage with young people unable to attend church during various lockdowns – and who are now finding it difficult to make the switch back to attending on a regular basis. ‘There is a tremendous gap in our ability to connect with young people,’ said Sarah. ‘They have had a raw deal with the pandemic. In some ways, the mental health challenge was in place before Covid-19 but the isolation and frustrations of the past two years have brought it to the forefront in a way that is very challenging. ‘We want to present youth leaders attending CRE with some practical things they can do to re-engage with young people at a critical time.’For seminars at CRE South West relevant to youth and children’s workers see p.24.

▪ South West Youth Ministries (SWYM) are on stand P6 at CRE South West