Faith
Scripture-Centered Youth Ministry Urged
Faith Facts
- The Church faces challenges engaging Gen Z shaped by digital culture and complex issues of identity.
- Ashish Hirday stresses relational discipleship rooted in Scripture and empathy for young people.
- He advocates for parents to take a leading role in teaching biblical values at home, supported by the Church.
The rapid changes in today’s world have left churches seeking ways to connect with a generation questioning identity and morality. Ashish Hirday, of the World Evangelical Alliance Youth Commission, insists the foundation must be God’s Word and not shallow programming.
He said
“Many pastors understand what young people are going through, and they want to help.”
“But the problem is how to help.”
“Seminaries never trained us to have counseling talks about issues like sexuality or identity.”
“Those conversations are happening now whether the church is ready or not.”
Hirday observes that pastors often lack the relational skills needed to walk alongside youth wrestling with tough questions. Listening with true compassion and addressing past hurts is essential to meaningful discipleship.
He said
“If someone comes to church and says, ‘I’m gay,’ we immediately say, ‘He’s a sinner.'”
“But we don’t listen further.”
“We don’t ask what happened in that person’s past or what led to this point.”
He draws from Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, noting the balance between acknowledging sin and showing hope.
He said
“Jesus knew her sin, but He still spoke into her life, naming her reality while offering hope.”
“That’s what changes people—truth with compassion.”
In his own ministry, Hirday has seen genuine transformation by welcoming people as they are and nurturing real relationships based on the gospel. Emphasizing love opens hearts and allows truth to take root.
Formation, Hirday believes, starts at home—parents must reclaim their biblical duty to train up children in God’s ways. He urges churches to equip parents, not replace them, and calls for better training on parenting within seminaries.
He said
“More than pastors, parents have the key role in speaking about sexuality and identity.”
“And not just about biology, but about the deeper questions of purpose, temptation, and boundaries that their children face.”
Bridging generational gaps, especially with Gen Z, takes humility and a willingness for leaders to step down from authority and truly listen. Hirday shares that genuine relationships grow when leaders approach youth as friends and co-learners rather than just authority figures.
He said
“When leaders insist on keeping a distance, they lose the ability to influence.”
“But when we show vulnerability, we gain respect.”
Finally, he calls for deeper mentorship—life-on-life investment that breaks out of formal structures and lives out the love of Christ through everyday moments. The future of the Church depends on passing down faith through families, humble leaders, and genuine discipleship centered on Scripture.
Invest in the next generation by equipping parents, practicing empathy, and bringing God’s Word to the heart of youth ministry. Together, we can nurture faith that stands firm and lights the way for our children and nation.
Faith Facts
- Three-quarters of girls and young women aged 7 to 21 have experienced online harm, with cases of sextortion rising by 2,600% in 2024.
- The UK’s Online Safety Act recognizes online threats to young people as ‘Primary Priority,’ but enforcement remains challenging.
- Christian communities are called to provide safe, supportive spaces and cultivate biblical truth and discernment in young lives.
The internet shapes the lives of nearly all young people, providing opportunities but also exposing them to unique dangers. Girls and young women face particular risks, from online abuse to harmful role models that can erode self-worth.
As Christian leaders, it is vital to confront digital misogyny and reject values that contradict God’s design for human dignity. We are called to respond with moral clarity and courage, standing firm for truth.
Education anchored in biblical wisdom offers protection, teaching youth to discern what is real and valuable in God’s sight. Programmes like ‘Staying Safe in the Digital World’ equip girls with practical tools and spiritual strength.
Effective legislation is needed to hold tech companies accountable and protect the most vulnerable. Discussion about these challenges within faith communities ensures young people know they are not alone and have trustworthy adults to turn to.
Trusted adults—whether parents, teachers, or Christian volunteers—must be visible advocates, offering both guidance and protection. Children and teens need opportunities to discuss online challenges openly and access support when needed.
While practical steps like limiting screen time are important, true safety stems from a blend of spiritual discipleship and digital awareness. Our actions should point to a lifestyle of wholesome relationships and faith-filled living, not just restriction.
We must model healthy habits, prioritizing time with family, faith, and activities that nourish the soul. The digital age demands active stewardship, rooted in our biblical calling to protect, love, and guide every child.
Now is the time for Christians to lead, championing online safety and Kingdom values for girls and young women—and shining as a light in the darkness of the digital world.
Faith Facts
- More than 200 celebrities, including Mark Ruffalo and Benedict Cumberbatch, signed a petition urging the release of convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti.
- Barghouti, linked to the Fatah terrorist group, was convicted of orchestrating attacks resulting in the deaths of Israeli civilians.
- Christian leaders criticized the celebrities for supporting Barghouti, calling attention to the moral implications of their actions.
Christian values call us to remember the sanctity of life and the importance of standing with victims of violence rather than those who promote terror. These public figures’ actions raise important questions about our nation’s moral compass and the need to uphold biblical justice.
“Barghouti was convicted of five murders. That’s bad enough, but he also led one terrorist organization and co-founded a second, responsible for incalculable human suffering,” said Liora Rez, StopAntisemitism founder and executive director.
We must remain steadfast in upholding truth and defending innocent lives, rejecting the glorification of those who inflict suffering. Let us pray for discernment and courage to stand for righteousness, no matter how popular the opposition may be.
Faith Facts
- The House of Bishops paused standalone same-sex blessing services, citing constitutional and theological concerns.
- Current guidelines still allow ‘Prayers of Love and Faith’ in existing church services.
- The decision follows legal advice warning changes must follow proper Church governance.
The Bishop of Winchester, Philip Mounstephen, emphasized the importance of adhering to Biblical doctrine and church law in considering changes to marriage teachings.
He addressed the Winchester Diocesan Synod, affirming that upholding God’s design for marriage preserves unity and integrity within the Church of England.
“The sheer constitutional difficulty of making such changes brought us face to face with the importance of due process,” Bishop Mounstephen stated.
The bishops’ consensus to pause reflects a commitment to protect the Church’s foundation and honor scriptural values before adjusting any practices.
He warned against circumventing established governance, highlighting that such shortcuts undermine trust and stability in the church community.
Rev Canon John Dunnett, representing evangelical Anglicans, also expressed ongoing concern about the direction of these issues, underlining the need for vigilance in preserving Christian doctrine.
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