Scripture Union England and Wales (SU) has launched a mission framework, Revealing Jesus, based upon research undertaken about how people come to faith. Its aim is to see children and young people find a personal vibrant faith in Jesus.
It’s designed to connect with the 95% of under-18s who have no contact with church in England and Wales. In four steps, – Connect, Explore, Respond, Grow – young people are guided and supported on their faith journey.
SU is working to envision and equip churches to raise up Faith Guides. These are passionate individuals who, with the support of their local church, will travel alongside children and young people, building authentic meaningful relationships as they come to faith and grow in their faith. The Faith Guides are consistent positive role models, and can be anyone within the church family of any age. This will all be done in communities that are culturally relevant to each church.
en spoke to Becky from Hertfordshire, who came to faith this way 15 years ago.
‘Being welcomed into someone’s home and seeing the Christian life lived out in normal circumstances is how I became a Christian. People do need to be intentional about what they do, and this package isn’t a formula. But it can be used prayerfully to bring people like me to Jesus.
‘It was costly for friends to pick me up and bring me to groups at church, but because they had the eyes to see the potential good that could come from it, they enabled me to explore the Bible and respond to Jesus’ invitation and have a relationship with Him.
‘Once I’d responded to the gospel, people continued to invest time in me so my faith grew and I wasn’t snatched away. There was an emphasis on discipleship at church, not just being saved. The different parts of Revealing Jesus means the young people in church need to be equipped alongside their parents to have a vision to take an interest in mission like this.’
