This year has been one of visible transformation for the youth at Clark Road Chapel in Whangārei. Two weeks ago, the church gathered to celebrate as four of them were baptised, sharing stories of faith and God’s work in their lives.
Youth Leader Shane Coutts says it was special to see the youth take this step, share their testimonies, and see God at work, “It’s pretty cool to hear what God has been doing among the youth.”
Shane says that when they started off the year the group was pretty reserved when it came to worshipping together during Wednesday night youth group:
“We keep it pretty simple, we preach the gospel and pray and worship, and it’s God who does the work. Every week we play icebreaker games, three worship songs, and one of the leaders gives a talk for about 15 mins. Then we have small groups for about half an hour, finishing with supper.
“Youth lead the worship time, which is really cool. We’ve had ones who were really scared and embarrassed to stand up and sing, but have grown and are encouraged in leading the group. When we started off the year, worship was very reserved and quiet and now each week they’re more and more engaged in worshipping God together.”
And that’s not the only change they’ve seen in the youth group. Earlier in the year Shane was chatting with Craig Barrow (CCCNZ Youth and Young Adults), who asked him if there was anything he could pray for: “I told him we have a big group of youth group kids from Christian homes struggling to make their faith their own...” says Shane. Craig joined the Clark Road team in praying for fruit and growth in the lives of the youth.
“A while back we had a talk on baptism,” says Shane, “this is something we try to do at least a couple of times a year.” And for one young person, the talk built on what God was already doing in his heart, “…it was kind of like a lightbulb went off in his head, he was so attentive, so focused on what was being talked about and adamant that was what he wanted to do, he was busting to talk to the guy who did the talk, and wanted to be baptised ASAP.”
It was meaningful for the families to see their teens get baptised: “particularly those who have not always been super vocal in contributing during our small group sessions, or kids who are more of the ‘give you the answers you want to hear’ types… for families who have noticed a real change and growth in faith among their children it was a special morning.”
CRC Youth is led by an intergenerational team of 12 leaders, including Clark Road Elder Scotty Delemare and his wife Jo, and others who are willing to share their many years of experience in youth ministry. Shane says they’re a great team: “And we are really blessed to have such an amazing supportive church family behind us that pray for us.”
The church recently fundraised and helped support the whole group to head down to Cambridge for a Word of Life camp this past week. “For this camp, we needed $11,000 to get a group of us to Cambridge and through donations and fundraising we just about covered the whole cost—it’s a team effort,” says Shane.
God continued to work during the camp, “There was a talk about fearing God and not fearing the world, and as young people came forward to respond, one boy told me he wanted to be baptised.
He says it’s encouraging to see genuine openness among the group:
"Sometimes in youth ministry there are young people who are trying to be cool and not look weak, and you know they’re telling you what you want to hear, and it feels like you’re not really breaking through to them during the small group times… but this group is a really cool bunch of kids who feel comfortable enough to share. There are quite a few homeschool kids, and maybe it’s something to do with not putting on a façade to fit in, they’re not afraid to tell you the truth. I believe that’s having an impact on the others.”
