On Saturday 18th April, participants from the latest Catalyst cohort shared what they’ve been trying, what’s been changing, and how the course has shaped their ministry in ways that feel both hopeful and genuinely doable.
Catalyst is a free, online and in person, 7 month children and youth ministry course. The Diocesan children and youth team facilitate the sessions which Ridley Hall theological college in Cambridge provide the content for.
What Catalyst Looks Like in Real Life
One of the best things about Catalyst is that ideas don’t just stay in the group. Every participant works on a project rooted in their own church context, and there was such a variety this year.
Here are just a few of the ways people have been putting their learning into practice:
- Bringing faith into midweek youth groups led to young people who’d never been on a Sunday started turning up to church.
- Making children’s ministry more inclusive linking with the Thy Kingdom Come service at the Cathedral, helping children feel part of something bigger than their usual Sunday group.
- Letting Catalyst shape the church calendar from Easter installations to Nativity services, several churches used Catalyst principles to rethink how they plan and lead key moments in the year.
- Growing faith through music in ways that encourage children and families into deeper connection and worship at the church.
- Engaging midweek with Bible stories among children and parents with no church background and watching faith take root across whole families.
- Developing youth provision within Messy Church so young people can explore their faith more deeply.
- Planning for a more inclusive, volunteer‑empowered children’s and youth ministry.
- Listening to young people through a youth ministry questionnaire to understand how the church can better support their discipleship.
Leaders spoke about feeling more equipped, more intentional, and more hopeful about what God is doing through their children and young people ministry.
If you’re thinking, “Maybe this could help me too…” , register your interest for Catalyst Cohort 4 here: https://tinyurl.com/catalystcohort4
For children and youth ministry support from the Diocesan CYP team contact [email protected] to talk about any of the following:
- Context specific CYP ministry queries.
- Support for volunteers and paid workers.
- Resources and networks for children , youth and families ministry including through music and all age.
- Developing a 0-18 pathway for children and youth ministry.
