Pilgrim's Progress column with Malcolm Chamberlain: The youth of today
On July 6, I had the privilege of accompanying the Lord Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Prof Adeeba Malik CBE, on a visit to The Youth Association in support of her Mental Health/Wellbeing priority.
It was an inspirational visit, not only in hearing about the excellent work of The Youth Association over its 120-year history from its current CEO and staff, but even more significantly in meeting some of the young people who are currently being supported.
They spoke to us with a refreshing honesty about the challenges they face and their hopes for the future, as well as describing how The Youth Association has helped them to grow in confidence and wellbeing. They were a credit to themselves and to the valuable support they’ve received from outstanding youth workers, and I have no doubt they will go on to great things as a result.
The God of the Bible has a proven track record of working in and through young people. Joseph, the boy with the famous colourful coat, was 17 when he started to receive his dreams from God; Samuel was only around 12 years old when he heard God calling him; the teenage Jeremiah couldn’t believe that God wanted him to be a prophet, but God encouraged him; and, of course, Mary was likely only in her early-mid teens when the Angel Gabriel told her she had been chosen by God to give birth to Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
Young people can often feel marginalised, even vilified, by wider society, but throughout my ordained ministry it has often been teenagers and young adults who have inspired and taught me, including my own children!
And so, I’m profoundly grateful for the excellent work of The Youth Association and other organisations that work with young people, including faith communities. Maybe we all need to heed the advice St Paul gave to the young Timothy when he appointed him to a leadership position in the early church, “Let no one despise your youth…” (1 Timothy 4:12)
Malcolm Chamberlain, Bishop of Wakefield