New generation’s spiritual growth

Recently, MPower reported how mentoring has led to powerful steps of faith among the youth at Porth Elim, especially the boys. We wanted to know more, and asked leaders and youth there to share their stories.

“When we started at Porth Elim the only child there was Mark Lyndon-Jones’ ten-year-old son,” says John Barwell. “For years we prayed, ‘Lord this isn’t good enough – you promised us the next generation and we don’t have anyone.’

“Now we have a youth group of 15 – nine of them lads – and we’re seeing noticeable spiritual growth, especially among the boys. We baptised five of them in April.”

John and fellow youth leader Kay Aweojo are talking about a group which launched a year ago to mentor and disciple a growing set of church teens. Via group sessions, one-to-one coaching, relational discipleship and space for honest questions, the group is becoming rooted in Scripture and faith is deepening.

Here, Kay, John and five of the youth share their experiences.

The leaders

Kay Aweojo

Discipling and mentoring our youth is so important because they’re just starting out in life and are influenced by so many people.

One way we nurture them is by exposing them to the truth of the Bible. Currently we’re looking at Jeremiah 29:11, speaking about God’s plans and purposes.

We’re teaching them how God’s plan aligns in everything they do and how they can speak to their friends about Jesus. We also ask them questions about anything they’re going through. We guide them, using Scriptures to show how God has shown up for people, especially some of the heroes in the Bible.

We’ve spoken about things like temptation. They’ll be exposed to a lot of things, especially on their phones. There can be addictions too, so we teach without condemning, showing how God loves regardless.

I ask tricky questions too – is God wicked? Does God answer all our prayers? I can shed light on vital questions that might be on their minds. We’ve created a culture of reading from physical Bibles to get them more connected to God’s Word. We’ve given everyone a Bible, along with notebooks and highlighters so they can highlight particular Scriptures.

We’ve noticed significant growth in the youth, and with the help of the Holy Spirit there’s been a great move in the church as a whole too.

John Barwell

When we started this group, the first thing I said was that we needed to nurture these older kids well, because they’d be joining from age 11 but leaving as adults.

Nurturing is different with each child. Four of the guys we baptised are from Nigerian families with strong faith backgrounds, for example, so with them we want to challenge and build on that.

Not everyone has good parental input though, so others might need more practical advice. As we’ve been looking at Joseph recently, for example, we’ve explored how his situation relates to theirs at school and to help guide them.

We had one lad who got up to speak during a Sunday youth session. His group had spent weeks putting stuff together but he was very unsure of himself.

I heard someone tell him afterwards that he could have done better, so I pulled him aside to tell him he’d done well and that next time we could sit down together and work things through to give him more confidence.

We also accommodate neurodivergent young people – I work with autistic adults so I know to be direct and relate to them.

It’s unusual to have so many boys in a youth group. It’s an exciting time.

The young people

Imisi, 17

The Lord has done wonders in my life in recent months and especially since I joined the youth church.

I was frequently concerned and afraid, especially when studying, but after being baptised in April I have become bold and confident.

According to 2 Timothy 1:7, God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind; therefore, I cry ‘Abba Father!’ My baptism was a profoundly unique and pivotal moment as it gave me a clear mind, which helped deepen my faith in Christ Jesus.

Before it I couldn’t concentrate and got easily sidetracked when studying. Afterwards, I was able to be honest with myself and not fool myself by asking God to direct me.

Also, following my baptism, I’ve grown to love my parents more for teaching my brothers and me about the facts of life. The Bible’s principles and ideals that they instilled in us helped me develop a new perspective, which is to live my life through God.

Iyanuoluwa, 15

When I first arrived at this church, I marvelled at how welcoming the members were. I started attending youth church where we study different Bible verses and learn about their meanings and importance.

My attendance brings me closer to the Lord as I study the Word more with my church family, thanks to our youth teachers. This has helped me to understand God’s promises for me as my connection with him grows stronger.

I have learned to put my faith and trust in God and rely on him to help me overcome all my worries, as He has told us in Psalm 55:22 to cast our burdens on him.

In April, I had the opportunity to be baptised. During this life-changing moment, I felt all my worries, fears and struggles disappear as I felt refreshed in the glory of the Lord.

This allowed me to surrender my life completely to Jesus Christ and have the utmost faith in him. I’m now able to call on him to assist me in my everyday life by praying constantly, reading the Word and putting my faith in him no matter the situation.

I have been able to worship him not just in the good situations but also in ones I don’t enjoy. I put my faith in him, knowing he will never forsake me and will always guide me.

My strong connection with God has allowed me to feel forever blessed as I now understand and believe strongly that the Lord will guide and protect me and my family forever.

I will forever be grateful to Porth Elim Church for making me and my family part of this godly family.

Ife, 12

Ever since my family and I joined Porth Elim Church we have been richly blessed.

We were given a warm welcome and everyone shared their stories of Jesus’ blessings with us.

Jesus has done so much for me and my family, and that’s why I am grateful to serve an Almighty God like him. His grace, mercy and favour is always available and he remains faithful.

At Porth Elim, I totally surrendered my life to Jesus Christ and had the privilege of being baptised in April.

After that, it felt like I had a burden lifted off my shoulders. I joined the youth church and since then I have learned to put God first in all I do, and he has never forsaken me.

I want to say thank you to everyone at Porth Elim for being receptive and loving. I testify that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and whosoever comes to him shall never perish or die. I am indeed blessed and highly favoured.

Morayo, 15

I came here when Porth Elim started a youth service. The main verse we’ve been looking at is Jeremiah 29:11, which talks about how God has a plan and purpose for all of us, to prosper us and give us hope for the future.

This verse helped me throughout my exams when I was really stressed. A bunch of exams were piling up and I was scared about the outcome because I didn’t think I was going to do well. I kept repeating that verse, then every Sunday a new verse came up that would help too.

When I entered the exam hall, I wasn’t scared at all. I was like, God has a plan and purpose for me; he wouldn’t want me to fail and I know I’ve tried my best.

On results day I was still expecting to fail everything. But thanks to the Lord I got a B in Welsh. That was a really good grade because I’m not that good at Welsh and getting a B made me so happy.

Then the rest of my results, physics, biology and chemistry, I was a high A and if I do well in my next exams I will get an A*. Thanks to the Lord and the youth church I’m doing well in school and I’m not as stressed as I was.

Ade, 12

Being in the church youth group has given me much more of an understanding of things I’ve learned this year and before.

It’s taught me more about Christ and what to pursue, and about good and bad and what I should and shouldn’t do.

In Romans 12:12 it says, “Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we might prove what is good.” That verse helps me a lot, because it shows me how closely I can meet with God through the Bible and through what I can learn.

The youth is a way of bringing people together from young ages and helping them grow more in the love of Christ.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.