Youth: Engage Them With Love And Support

Our Lady of the Snows, IL—The 2007 Assembly of Forward in Faith North America has a stake in supporting our youth. They are the ones who are bringing the unchurched to Christ. If we are to be faithful to our mission of making Christ known, we need to be engaging our youth; not only to train them, but also to provide them the resources to make Jesus Christ known to their friends, so that they’ll want to invite their friends to come with them to Church and to church events.

Rob Shattuck

Rob Shattuck, 27, who was just elected to head the Fort Worth chapter of FiFNA, spoke to the gathering of representatives from congregations across the country. “If we are to have youth follow our lead and remain a part of the catholic and apostolic church, we must engage them with our love and support, and show them the way,” encouraged Shattuck. “We depend upon you, volunteers, to do what you can to make the ministry of youth happen, in your parishes and regionally.” 

“We must engage the parents of these children, as they ultimately decide what the young people will do until they leave the home.  If you don’t have buy-in from the parents, you may struggle with the children’s interest down the road. Parents need your help and support in encouraging their children and youth be brought up in the Christian Faith.”

“FiFNA parishes need to know about the St. Michael’s Conference and to make it possible for their 14-21 youth to travel and participate in these week long training and worship experiences. These conferences provide a week set apart as a learning time, and a myriad of programs. And the kids have a great time together!”
“Our youth are thirsty for Truth found through our practice of the faith, and could benefit from additional programs held throughout the year, outside of the summer program.  “There is no reason, in my mind,” says Shattuck, “to reinvent an already successful program.  Build off of existing programs, or work together to create your own. Make it happen for our youth—whatever it takes.”
“Your interest in the lives of the young people at your parish or in your diocese can make their interest in the church that much greater.  Of course, you’ll be fighting against new technology, college professors, and lazy parents.  I don’t know if any study conducted on current youth trends has really captured how they want to be involved with the Church.”

“Training youth for leadership roles starts early. By the time they are teens they have an important role as evangelists. They will bring their friends with them if their church is there meeting that thirst for the Gospel. If we educate them with the traditions and fundamentals of our faith early and often, then we have a great chance to make them lifelong Anglicans.”

“Youth involvement at any level in our Church begins and ends with what we do as adults to engage the youth and their parents on a regular basis, and to allow the young people to participate in something—and that’s living the Gospel. It is up to you…lead the way Forward in Faith!”