Brigade Chaplain
140 years ago, our Founder looked out at his community and saw that young people were missing out on something important, something that mattered to him, something that would bring them meaning and purpose. That something was faith in Jesus. Proposing the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom through the promotion of four habits was a bold statement about how Smith believed young people could grow in faith.
I think as we look out at our own communities today, we could say exactly the same thing. Our recently published Youth Culture and Trends research shows “Fewer young people identify as Christian now than a decade ago, but there is still openness to the idea of God and to prayer.”
In an ever-changing world, the big question for the BB now is how can we continue to fulfil this object of Advancing Christ’s Kingdom? How can we help children and young people to live ‘Life to the Full’ when we know that a full life is one that has Jesus at the centre?
To help us all understand how we can encourage and support the children and young people we work with each week in their faith journey, we have developed a framework, or a model, that is based on four ‘E’s’:
The first thing we do is Engage. We bring children and young people across the doorstep of the Church through our exciting and varied programme, and the BB is brilliant at this. Importantly, we often provide opportunities for children and young people to meet Jesus for the first time. I want to encourage you in all that you are doing but challenge you to continue to reach out so we can engage with even more children and young people! Keep up the great work.
Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ And they left their nets at once and followed him.”
Matthew 4:19-20 (NLT)
The second step in the journey of faith is to help children and young people to Explore the Bible in a relevant and meaningful way. We share Bible stories and explore those stories by having space to wonder about what’s going on in them. Who are the people in the stories? What’s God doing? Who is Jesus? And what does this all mean for me and my life?
With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots.”
Mark 4:33-34 (The Message)
We have brilliant ‘Get into the Bible’ programme resources to help with this, but as leaders you have told us that this is one of the parts of the programme you struggle with most. That’s more than likely because you feel like you might not have the answers to every question you might be asked by young people.
As leaders it’s important to recognise that we are all on a journey of faith and one of the most powerful gifts we can give to ourselves and to our young people is to journey alongside them and discover things together. Saying, “I don’t know!” is a great answer, as long as it’s followed by something like “What do you think it means?”, “Why do you think it matters?” or “Let’s explore it together!”. Being willing to get into a conversation and be honest that you don’t have all the answers is vital… because nobody has all the answers so we shouldn’t pretend!
There are also lots of other resources outside of our own programme which can help explore the Bible. Have a look around, talk to your Church or get in touch with our Ministry Team who can point you in the right direction.
The third step on the faith journey is Encounter. How can we offer opportunities for young people to encounter Jesus and make a personal decision to become a Christian? How do we provide opportunities for young people to encounter God through prayer and worship?
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 (NLT)
I think if we are honest, this is the step we struggle with the most. We know that there are some children and young people in our Companies who might be at this stage in their journey but there are others who aren’t. I see that in my own Company and it’s a difficult thing to tackle. How do we encourage those who are coming to faith while not turning off those who aren’t quite at that point yet?
I want to encourage you not to be too hesitant! BB could be the only place our children and young people (and our leaders) might ever be given the opportunity to make a commitment to Jesus. Don’t let that just pass by. So, how do we give those opportunities? And is it all just down to us?
I think if we are honest, this is the step we struggle with the most. We know that there are some children and young people in our Companies who might be at this stage in their journey but there are others who aren’t. I see that in my own Company and it’s a difficult thing to tackle. How do we encourage those who are coming to faith while not turning off those who aren’t quite at that point yet?
I want to encourage you not to be too hesitant! BB could be the only place our children and young people (and our leaders) might ever be given the opportunity to make a commitment to Jesus. Don’t let that just pass by. So, how do we give those opportunities? And is it all just down to us?
We are developing more resources to help you support children and young people in this part of the journey through the programme and we’re working to improve the training and support available to leaders in this area.
We want to encourage you to continue to journey alongside children and young people, but we also recognise that this might be the point where our regular weekly meetings might not always be the right space for this part of the faith journey to develop.
If the BB can journey with a young person to a certain point (and this will be different in different places), we need to be considering what’s next, and this might be the moment where the Church becomes the place to continue that journey through Sunday morning activities, youth service or other opportunities (i.e. young people’s Bible studies or group).
BB events like Unite and Cumbrae Camp, as well as events run by other Christian organisations might be just the place for your young people to encounter Jesus for themselves. Have a look around your area and see what’s happening. A faith-focused event is also something your Battalion could explore.
The fourth step in the faith journey is Expand. Growing in faith and discovering our calling is something we continue for the whole of our lives.
But it’s more than just about us, the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom is about making disciples. That’s what Jesus instructs his own disciples to do at the end of Matthew’s Gospel. Go and make more disciples.
God authorised and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you.”
Matthew 28:19-20 (The Message)
Hopefully, part of that calling for our young people will be leadership within BB. That leadership might be helped through something like KGVI training. Creating a culture where young people walk with each other on their journey of faith is the best way to model what good discipleship looks like, what life to the full is all about and ultimately how we go about fulfilling that vision to Advance Christ’s Kingdom.
I hope you will find the Faith Journey model helpful in living out the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom and supporting children and young people to live “Life to the Full”. Hopefully this article has helped get you thinking a little bit more about how your Company supports children and young people on their faith journey, and may I encourage you to take this further when you next meet as a staff team. Should you need any help with this, please do reach out to our Ministry Team who will be pleased to support you with this.
Finally, I would encourage every Company to ensure they have a Chaplain. Having a Chaplain in place is important in supporting the life of the Company, in underpinning that the BB is an integral part of the Church’s ministry and Advancing Christ’s Kingdom. Whilst the Chaplain is often the minister of the Church, if there is someone more appropriate then get them involved! If you do have a Chaplain, please do just check that they are registered with BB Headquarters, as this will really help them to help you.
Find out more about the Faith Journey
Stewart became the Brigade Chaplain in September 2022. Stewart is Minister of St Ninian’s Church in Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire, a partnership between the Church of Scotland and United Reformed Church. Before being called to ministry, he previously worked for both denominations in roles involving training and support for young people as well as youth and children’s work.