In March 2025 I became A Church and School Youth Ministries Leader based at St Matthew’s Church in Redhill. In October 2025 I started the Catalyst 30k Youth Ministries course. Themes studied on the course included learning, relationships, discipleship, culture and inclusion. The “30K” is part of a bigger vision of training thousands of new disciples and leaders in youth ministry across the country’s churches. As part of the course the students are asked to undertake a youth project within the church they are based which is used as a basis for a presentation at the end of the course. I would like to take a few moments to tell you about the project that I focused on based at St Matthew’s Church in Redhill.
Youth@StMatthew’s is a youth group formed last year to run alongside Messy Church once a month on a Sunday afternoon. Its aim is to bridge the gap for young people (aged 10-14) growing up through Messy Church. Its purpose is to give the young people their own outlet for fun, fellowship and discipleship. We are now 9 months into the project and we have a core of around 6 young people who attend.
When I attended the Southwark CYP foundation training, we were asked to think about three qualities we would look for in a new leader for Children and Young people and in church, I presented both the young people and the congregation with the same question.
I was interested to see that the qualities the young people and the congregation asked for matched. Where the congregation said ‘listening, patient and caring’, the young people said ‘kind’. Where the congregation said ‘humour’, the young people said ‘funny’. Where the congregation used words like ‘respect, empathy, inspirational and creative’, the young people said ‘Let’s us make our own choices of what to do.’ The same qualities but expressed by the young people in a more succinct way!
I realised that the Bible gives us the content of the activities but everyone can help evolve the planning of those activities. I used the first sessions of Youth@StMatthew’s to plan the way ahead involving young people and other leaders in the process and building relationships.
As you read this piece, I wonder if any of you have already worked out the Bible passage which I used as my starting point for the project, from the emoji at the top of the page? Matthew 7: 24-25 says “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (NIV) I wanted to build the group up from the rock – Christ’s foundations of faith and fellowship that already existed at St Matthew’s Church.
So it was that I based the first 3 sessions of Youth@Stmatthew’s on Matthew 7:24-25: and 1 Peter 2; Jesus as the cornerstone. In the first session we created an ideas wall on which the young people wrote their ideas for the future of the group, it proved an excellent discussion starter and insight into how they wanted the group to grow.
In another activity for this theme the young people had a competition to build towers using spaghetti and marshmallows thinking about building a group on safe, strong foundations. Other themes we have delivered have been entitled: food for the soul – this combined Bible themes with their love of cooking and building faith brick by brick creating a Minecraft cross.
It has been wonderful to see a group of 6-8 young people regularly attending Youth@StMatthew’s and taking ownership of planning and shaping the way ahead for the group. It has been lovely to see that the group has been inspired to take part in other church activities and services especially being involved in the Church Christmas fair, the Nativity Service and Mothering Sunday. They also planned and carried out their own church fundraising event. A lucky dip for the people affected by the Jamaican hurricane.
The most popular activity with the young people in this group has been when we have linked the biblical theme in with cooking. The Bible tells us that for those travelling on the Emmaus Road, it was in the in the breaking of bread that Jesus was recognised. It seems to me that when the young people come together in a shared meal, Jesus’ life and work reveals itself all the more clearly to them.
Catalyst 30k has helped to evolve my inclusive approach to the project, thinking about what is going to encourage biblical learning, foster healthy relationships and inspire discipleship. Through this course I have been emboldened to look beyond the boundaries of my thought and views and to think outside of the box.
Youth@StMatthew’s is an ongoing evolving project which the young people are fully involved in forming and creating its unique pathway. As a leader I remain open to changing and adapting to the dynamics of the group. Through fellowship with one another, the young people are curious to learn more about Jesus’ life and what being a Christian can mean for their lives whilst forming friendships and most importantly to them through having fun!
Julie Knight
Youth Ministries Leader – St Matthew’s Church, Redhill
