The trees behind our house are humming with birdlife: tūī, pīwakawaka, starlings, the occasional kererū – and way too many sparrows. Protected from the bracing southerly that rips through Wellington, this little grove has had time and space to grow tall and put down deep roots. And while these trees are part of a larger interconnected ecological system providing a sanctuary for wildlife, it is also a handy sound barrier between us and the screaming children at the primary school next door!
In a recent study exploring the faith journeys of 439 young people aged 16 to 20 in Australia, the Your Story Research Project¹ looked at the factors shaping and influencing the spiritual experiences of younger people today. As I listened to the findings shared at a conference in Auckland last week, it was clear that a strong relational ecosystem is vital in helping children and young people weave together their own faith story.
You may have heard sayings like “faith is personal,” or “if you strip everything else away, then you’ll know what your faith is made of.” Interestingly, the research showed that what is going around a young person meaningfully impacts their faith – as much as what is going on inside them.
The spiritual environment and points of relational connection around a child matter.
Over the years, the church has surfed waves of new initiatives that aim to help children stay connected to Jesus – whether it’s a new intergenerational focus, resources for parents in the home, or setting up creative kids’ programmes.
However, author and theologian John Roberto notes that there isn’t one ministry expression that is more important than the other – he names three contexts that are vital for young people to flourish in their faith:
All three are important for a faith-filled relational ecosystem. Deep roots are created when we provide opportunities for young people to be grounded in intergenerational communities that support and welcome them, helping them to see where God is at work in their lives already. Faith can flourish at home when families are equipped to share the Word of God and offer generous manaakitanga. And having an opportunity to gather with friends of a similar age allows for safe, fun, and joy-filled connection.
We can’t underestimate the time spent with trusted friends, having coffees, playing games, mentoring, around family dinner tables, in youth groups, and church celebrations – they all add to the time bank of a wider relational connection.
“Just like a natural ecosystem, it is the interaction of multiple factors that supports healthy growth. Effective discipling does not look for one solution but rather cultivates a rich ecosystem of faith in and around young people.”³
And it is this rich ecosystem that we draw on over the course of our lives, as we learn to tell and re-tell our story of where God has been at work. It helps us recognise the people sent along the way to encourage and support us, and the ways in which we see faith outworked in the lives of others.
May our churches provide a deep, wide and sustaining ecosystem for young people to flourish, where we continue to cultivate a network of connection to Jesus and one another.
1 Your Story is a research project exploring the spiritual experiences of young Australians, undertaken by Converge Oceania – a network of youth-oriented agencies seeking to support the discipleship of young people through research-informed, evidence-based practice.
2 Roberto, J. (2020) in Larson, M. and Keeley, R. (Eds) Bridging Theory and Practice in Children's Spirituality: New Directions for Education, Ministry, and Discipleship, Chapter 5, Zondervan.
3 Lewis, D and Stanton, G (2024) Your Story: Hearing the Faith Narratives of Young Australians: Key Findings.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
The trees behind our house are humming with birdlife: tūī, pīwakawaka, starlings, the occasional kererū – and way too many sparrows. Protected from the bracing southerly that rips through Wellington, this little grove has had time and space to grow tall and put down deep roots. And while these trees are part of a larger interconnected ecological system providing a sanctuary for wildlife, it is also a handy sound barrier between us and the screaming children at the primary school next door!
In a recent study exploring the faith journeys of 439 young people aged 16 to 20 in Australia, the Your Story Research Project¹ looked at the factors shaping and influencing the spiritual experiences of younger people today. As I listened to the findings shared at a conference in Auckland last week, it was clear that a strong relational ecosystem is vital in helping children and young people weave together their own faith story.
You may have heard sayings like “faith is personal,” or “if you strip everything else away, then you’ll know what your faith is made of.” Interestingly, the research showed that what is going around a young person meaningfully impacts their faith – as much as what is going on inside them.
The spiritual environment and points of relational connection around a child matter.
Over the years, the church has surfed waves of new initiatives that aim to help children stay connected to Jesus – whether it’s a new intergenerational focus, resources for parents in the home, or setting up creative kids’ programmes.
However, author and theologian John Roberto notes that there isn’t one ministry expression that is more important than the other – he names three contexts that are vital for young people to flourish in their faith:
All three are important for a faith-filled relational ecosystem. Deep roots are created when we provide opportunities for young people to be grounded in intergenerational communities that support and welcome them, helping them to see where God is at work in their lives already. Faith can flourish at home when families are equipped to share the Word of God and offer generous manaakitanga. And having an opportunity to gather with friends of a similar age allows for safe, fun, and joy-filled connection.
We can’t underestimate the time spent with trusted friends, having coffees, playing games, mentoring, around family dinner tables, in youth groups, and church celebrations – they all add to the time bank of a wider relational connection.
“Just like a natural ecosystem, it is the interaction of multiple factors that supports healthy growth. Effective discipling does not look for one solution but rather cultivates a rich ecosystem of faith in and around young people.”³
And it is this rich ecosystem that we draw on over the course of our lives, as we learn to tell and re-tell our story of where God has been at work. It helps us recognise the people sent along the way to encourage and support us, and the ways in which we see faith outworked in the lives of others.
May our churches provide a deep, wide and sustaining ecosystem for young people to flourish, where we continue to cultivate a network of connection to Jesus and one another.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
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