YBA CYF Workers Network Gathering
A reflection by Robin Smith - (Interim CYF Enabler at the YBA)
On 8th May 2025, Children and Youth Workers from around the Association gathered at the Blackley Centre in Elland. Twelve people from eight churches and projects round the region met to renew old friendships and make contacts for the first time. The group spent time together listening to shared experiences of the joys and challenges of ministry with children, young people and families (CYF) and discussions developed round three key themes.
There was some wisdom about simplifying ministry. We looked at the Emmaus Road story in Luke 24 which centred round conversation. Several workers felt the pressure to perform bigger and better events or resources, which was balanced with examples of more sustainable approaches to studying scripture with young people. There was a suggestion of aiming to build with the resources we have, rather than crying out for more of what we don't have - more people, more time, more energy. This gave hope for inviting volunteers to share in a more achievable pattern of sharing food together, using simple models in bible study and some standard resources that can be reused in different ways with different groups.
There were also discussion around how to support and resource the whole family of the child or young person to take active roles in discipling their children. The paid worker often focuses on the child or young person, but we were challenged on how we see our role as working with the whole family, not 'just' the child.
During the afternoon we focused on our role as leaders which developed the final thread of how workers access support for themselves. As with people in other ministries, there is a risk that we spend all of our time ministering to others at the cost of our own discipleship, so we discussed peer mentoring, spiritual direction and retreats. The Baptist Union is organising a residential retreat for CYF workers next year which may be part of that patchwork for support but there may be a focus in our next gathering on developing a support net to enable longevity in ministry rather than the common picture of burnout.
The group has chosen to meet again in early Autumn, to build a useful network which equips and encourages each other through a balance of supportive networking and input from experts on specific topics. If you would like to find out more about the network, Please contact Robin Smith.