For
many people the word Local Ministry or ‘Centre’, like the
word ‘church’, will immediately bring to mind the image of a
building. It is certainly possible that the activities of a
Local Ministry will be based around a particular building,
yet like the church, a YFC Centre is primarily about people.
A Local Ministry is a group of Christians from a
cross-section of local churches committed to taking Good
News relevantly to young people and to training and
mobilising Christian young people for the strengthening of
the local church.
YFC believes that young people should have the opportunity
to hear and understand the Good News of Jesus Christ. The
Movement as a whole - and Local Ministries in particular -
have a unique role in communicating with them. The task is
to build bridges and to present the gospel to the nation’s
younger generation.
BY BRIDGING THE CULTURE GAP, we aim to get right alongside
young people, not just telling them about Jesus, but also
demonstrating His compassion and transforming power.
BY BRIDGING THE CREDIBILITY GAP, we aim to show the youth of
our nation that the Church is very much alive with the
message it bears both exciting and relevant today.
BY BRIDGING THE GENERATION GAP, we aim to help the church
discover that far from being just ‘the Church of tomorrow’
young people are a vital and integral part of today’s
Church.
The work of a Local Ministry begins with a thorough
examination of this specific area, finding out the needs
which exist and formulating a strategy suitable to that
locality. Organisationally, it operates as a local charity
and is run by Trustees, often employing staff. They all
operate under the guidance of a Council of Reference
comprised of local leaders. Through these structures a Local
Centre seeks to be a servant of the churches in carrying out
the aims outlined above.
What does a Local Ministry Do?
This will very much depend on the locality in question and
the specific needs identified. YFC developed with local
staff a strategy outlining the direction we believe under
God we are called to. This acts as a framework to local
work. However, it needs to be adapted, applied and made
relevant locally. The strength of the Local Ministry is the
fact that it is a locally driven movement, part of something
international, essentially autonomous yet at the same time
part of the wider YFC family. As such, National and
other Local Ministry staff will endeavour to provide a
measure of guidance and co-ordination where appropriate.
The range of activities which Local Ministries undertake are
very diverse, depending not only on the needs of the area
but also on available resources. However, a major emphasis
is on schools work. Using relevant methods of communication,
YFC workers lead assemblies, take lessons, contribute to or
establish Christian clubs, help in classrooms, act as
pastoral advisors, get involved in pre-exclusion work, help
on school trips, assist in school productions, act as
governors and arrange lunchtime or after-school concerts and
events.
Another important area is the work amongst young people on
the streets, sometimes accompanied by drop-in Centres, bus
projects and coffee bars. Other types of activity undertaken
by Centres include concerts, camps, involvement in church
and statutory youth clubs, bus evangelism, discipling,
training of youth leaders, teaching, training and
celebration events, Custody Centre and prison visitation and
youth missions.
Working Example
Click
here to see a working example of
how Bath YFC are doing this in there area.
Click here to see another
working example of a Centre bridging the gap.