In a world that feels increasingly uncertain, the Church has something extraordinary and grounding to offer the next generation of Christian leaders. But only if we invest in them deeply enough to help them keep their faith.

The world our young people are inheriting is filled with uncertainty. Geopolitical instability. A cost-of-living crisis. Climate anxiety. The corrosive influence of social media. A culture that can be perceived, in so many ways, as unravelling at the seams.

And into that world, the Church is called to send not passive bystanders, but faithful, grounded, courageous Christian leaders. The problem is that we, the Church, are in danger of losing these young people.

The children who might grow up involved in some form of Church life – Sunday school, holiday clubs and family services – often begin secondary school and drift quietly away. And with them goes potential Christian leaders, leaders in communities and public life, faithful voices that a fractured world desperately needs.

What young people are actually carrying

Young people are carrying new social pressures, questions about identity, and a growing need to own their faith for themselves rather than simply inherit it from their family.

Many are carrying real weight: anxiety about the future, confusion about where they fit, uncertainty about what lies ahead in a world that can feel frightening and unstable. And in this setting we have heard so much in recent years of the toxic influences that can then become important.

For me, three things become critically important: belonging, voice and identity.

Young people are searching for a space where they are genuinely known, where their questions are taken seriously, and where they can explore faith honestly. The Church – at its best – should be and can be exactly that place.

Engagement is not the same as discipleship

We work together with many Churches who are working hard – offering activities, events and programmes that open doors, build community and keep young people connected.

But activity is also not the same as formation. Young people can attend faithfully without ever being deeply rooted.

Without that space, young people may remain involved but never truly formed. And when life gets harder, the step into the workplace or university, a world in crisis, it is depth of formation, not frequency of attendance, that holds.

The model Jesus used speaks directly to this. He was remarkably unhurried, investing deeply in a small group through consistent, patient relationships. The disciples were not simply taught; they were discipled… shaped in character over time. This has always been the pattern of lasting faith formation.

A long-view partnership – and a critical intervention

The Boys’ Brigade has been walking alongside Churches, children and young people for over 140 years – one of the most significant and proven bridges between the Church and the wider community.

Through Anchors (5-8), Juniors (8-11), Company (11-14) and Seniors (14-18), we walk alongside young people (both boys and girls) across thirteen formative years, providing opportunities for children and young people to learn Christian leadership, grow and discover in a safe, fun and caring environment which is rooted in the Christian faith.

At the heart of what The Boys’ Brigade does is a Faith Journey – a framework that runs across our work:

• Engage with children and young people
• Explore what the Bible tells them about who they are and why they are here
• Encounter Jesus and acknowledge him as their Saviour
• Expand his kingdom by stepping into everything that God has planned for them.

What faithful formation produces

Of course the investment made in young people today does not stay in the youth group. It reaches into families, careers, communities and moments of genuine public leadership.

Professor Jason Leitch CBE joined a BB group as a boy. He went on to become the National Clinical Director of Scotland – and when the Covid pandemic hit, it was his voice that helped steer a nation through one of the most frightening episodes in living memory. He traces the foundations back: “It was about camaraderie and friendship, but also independence, discipline and skills. I grew, and I discovered the importance of belonging.”

Derrick Evans MBE – aka Mr Motivator – is equally clear about how The Boys’ Brigade developed his sense of Christian leadership: “BB created relationships that lasted a lifetime. It gave us a sense of belonging and purpose.” With young people today facing toxic masculinity and dangerous online influences, he reflects: “Parents are desperate to keep their kids out of crime and away from dangerous influences. The Boys’ Brigade can provide that alternative.”

A public health leader steering a nation through a pandemic. A cultural figure speaking hope into a generation. This is what the Church is capable of forming – when it invests in young people deeply, consistently and for the long term.

They don’t have to walk away

A generation of potential Christian leaders is not lost – it is waiting to be invested in.

What that investment requires is the patient, relational, long-view formation that roots young people deeply enough in faith to lead through whatever the world throws at them.

The Boys’ Brigade offers Churches a trusted, proven partner in that work – with a coherent Faith Journey framework and a quality programme.

The world is changing fast. The Church has a response. It begins with the young people already in our midst – and with the decision to invest in them as if everything depends on it. Because, in so many ways, it does.

Find out more

The Boys’ Brigade partners today with 700 Churches across the United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland to reach children and young people aged 5-18, through a programme of experiences and opportunities rooted in the Christian faith. Find out more about our work and what we offer at boys-brigade.org.uk/discover

Jonathan Eales
Chief Executive, The Boys’ Brigade