Hello, everyone, and welcome to this week's episode
of Trinity Talks. My name is Kyla, and I am sitting
down here with three folks who help to lead our
youth ministry here at Trinity Streetsville.
And we're going to talk a little bit more about
what that youth ministry looks like. Yeah, what
do they do together? What are some of the highs,
the lows, the in -betweens? And yeah, I'm just
excited to sort of hear. what this ministry is
all about. And yeah, it's been a while since
I've been in youth group, but I'm sure that it
has both changed and maybe not changed at all.
We will learn together. So thank you for joining
me, folks. Absolutely. Thanks for having us.
Yeah. Yeah. So maybe I'll just get you started
to get some introductions, say a little bit about
yourself and sort of how long you've been doing
youth group. Yeah, I can start. I'm Rylan and
I love youth ministry so much. I'm a child at
heart, so I'm surprised I'm not in kids ministry,
but no youth ministry is like, for me, it's,
it's, it's just one of the most magical things.
Um, I think part of it is I had such crazy years
in my, uh, preteen and teen years, uh, a lot
of, as we say, highs and lows and all the way
around, but they were such crazy years. And my,
my number one. I guess, regret or looking back
as, oh man, I really wish I knew how amazing
God was and was following him because I thought
he was so lame and I wanted nothing to do with
him. So that's really, honestly, like my heart
for youth ministry. I'll also just say I'm in
Bible college. So this is like, this is my thing.
I don't know where exactly I'm going to end up,
what kind of ministry, but I believe I'm called
to do vocational ministry my whole life. So yeah.
I've been the youth director for less than a
year, almost a year. And I don't want to spoil
Mia's response, but she's been there longer,
twice as long as I have. I'll just, yeah, I think
I've said enough. No, that's awesome. Thanks,
Charlotte. Yeah, do you want to go ahead? Sure.
I'm Luciana and I've been like helping out with
juniors for almost a year, like six, eight months.
Well, I've been youth, like I was youth before
for like four or three years. Okay. Yeah, so.
I've been around. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you were
doing junior youth for three years, and now you're,
like, helping out with that, and then you're
attending the senior youth as well? Yeah. Okay,
cool. Awesome. You've been there longer than
any of us. Yeah. I have more experience. The
real experience. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. And
then I'm Mia. I've been working as the co -youth
director for two years now. So, yeah, just finishing
my second year. Okay. Yeah, and, like, Rylan,
like, I think youth ministry is so, so important.
Young people have such a difficult time in the
world. And I think it's important for them to
have this like. grounding place for them sure
yeah and that's what youth was for me when i
was a teenager yeah yeah oh that's awesome yeah
so folks may or may not know that you all gather
here on a friday night uh for youth group but
they probably don't know what it is that you
actually do at youth groups can you sort of describe
for me like what is a typical youth group night
look like yeah well from what i like i've seen
and everything and Just being here. It's mostly,
like, it's just fun. Like, you enter, you play
a bunch of games that are made by, like, the
people there, Riley and Mia, sometimes Zion.
And they're just really fun games, and then you
get to do Lesson, where, like, we talk about
how Jesus impacts their life, or, like, just
any story of the Bible. And, like... That's what
I tell my friends because I normally invite most
of my friends to youth groups. I tell them, it's
just, we're going to be at the church, play games,
and then we're going to have like a quick lesson
and a quick snack. Okay, cool. Sorry, I love
that you said we get to do lesson, not that we
have to do lesson. That's a good sign. Yeah,
for sure. Yeah, so we have junior youth, which
is grades six to eight here from six o 'clock
to eight o 'clock. And then we have the high
schoolers here from eight to 10. And the night
looks... We kind of have a similar structure.
Sure. And like, yeah, Luciana said, there's games.
We try and do some like crazy, chaotic, fun games.
Okay. And yeah, usually youth like them. Yeah,
we do. Yeah. And then a lesson and snack and
sometimes small group as well. Okay. Which I
think is a super important part of the night.
And we've kind of started putting a little bit
more emphasis on that. Sure. Okay. So what does
that look like? The like small group bit? Yeah.
So we usually break off. It depends on how many
leaders we have, but into like two or three groups.
And we go over like any questions they had from
the lesson or like sometimes Rylan will talk.
Sometimes we watch a video. So we go over questions
from that and also just talk about our week and
how it's been. Sure. And yeah, have a little
bit more community in a smaller group where it
feels a little bit. safer for some of the youth
yeah no that's awesome yeah yeah um and so like
how many youth do you usually have like on a
given friday night junior youth is is always
a little less okay yeah uh sometimes a lot less
uh yeah it could be last week is actually or
two weeks ago i guess was probably our the most
we've had okay very very long time uh maybe as
long as i've been here so i'd say with junior
youth probably It could be 8 to 12 of them or
so. Yeah, okay. And then the senior youth is
more than that. A lot, yeah. Like lowest amount,
like maybe 15, but usually like 20 to 30, I would
say. We have a lot of senior youth bring friends
with them. Sure. Which is awesome. Yeah, if those
friends come, we get like... yeah around 30 but
if they don't there's a few less but yeah it's
okay yeah it's a good number of them okay yes
so you mentioned lots of wild games and fun chaotic
things happening so do we have like a favorite
game or a favorite like ah we did this thing
this one time and it was crazy and awesome oh
i have yeah um there's this game that was called
i think it was three couch Okay. Four on a couch.
Four on a couch. I love that game. Okay. Everybody's
like, because we normally play like Ghost vs.
Boys. Okay. So everybody's like riled up and
like saying, no, you, you, you, you're the name,
you're the name or whatever. And like, it's just,
I love that game. Okay. So how do you play four
on a couch? Uh, there's four people on a couch.
Okay. And there's someone there. Everybody sits
like around the couches and each person has like
a each person puts like a name on their on like
a paper and they switch it up around okay so
then you have a name of like another person okay
right so like if we were playing i mean there's
four of us so you probably need more than four
people to play but like you would be like mia
and i would be like rylan yeah yeah okay so then
so if you call you call a name a random name
and then if that person is in the couch like
if the person that has the paper is in the couch
then he has to Stand up and then switch places.
Yeah, exactly. Okay. So then the point of the
game is getting your group, your whole group
in the four couches. Okay, great. So if it's
girls and guys, you want four girls on the couch
and four guys on the couch. And that's what's
so confusing is you're trying to remember who
has which name. Right. So it's because I wouldn't
likely have my own name. But then also every
time you swap with someone, you sit down, you
also trade the card. Oh, you like trade names.
I actually have no way, like my mind does not.
So I just guess. I actually just guess and I
get lucky sometimes. But yeah. Also, good thing
you were able to explain it because I'm going
to maybe have you explain that for the G &A today.
So that's awesome. You killed it. It's tricky.
It is. I get confused every time I explain it.
Okay. Okay. What about for you, Rylan? Favorite
youth group game? Easy. It's salad bowl. That's
my favorite. And how does one play salad bowl?
How does one play salad bowl? Basically, there's
also pieces of paper and everyone will have them.
The way I like to do it is, well, you can write
a word or a sentence up to three words. Okay.
And so everybody gets a chance to write that.
You just write down one or maybe two, depending
on how many we have. And then you fold it up,
fold it with a piece of paper, throw it in the
bowl. And then basically it functions like charades.
Okay. bend the rules and maybe it's just because
i don't remember the rules that i've been there
but i the way i so we'll do like one or two or
three rounds okay round one will usually be you
can use up to three words except for the words
on the paper okay describe it okay but no actions
and then round two will be you can only use one
word so at that point like it might be such an
absurd statement you have to remember them yeah
yeah then it's like you have one word and then
last one is actions no words okay so basically
charades but like insane um yeah it's so i love
it i love it so much yeah yeah very cool yeah
yeah one of my favorites is a game i don't think
it has a name i kind of made it up i think okay
i love that um But we played it a lot with the
youth last year. I would take beanbags and hide
them all around the church. Okay. And then the
youth would have to find them and put them in
like a basket downstairs. Okay. But the leaders
would be it. And they'd be like trying to catch
the youth. And if you got caught, they'd go to
like jail, which was the youth room. Okay. And
be freed. So it was kind of like capture the
flag. Right. instead of like two teams, it was
youth versus leaders. Right. Okay. Yeah. And
then it was a specific time. So you have to get
them all in like 20 minutes or whatever. Yeah.
Okay. And that game gave me a good workout. Lots
of cardio. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. For sure. For
sure. Yeah. So those are some of your favorite
games, but like, what about other parts of doing
youth ministry? Are there parts that you're like,
ah, this is like what I really love about it.
Um, whether like being part of youth group or
leading youth group. As a youth and also helping
with the youth, I've learned that youth group
really changed yourself and how you see friends
and meet people. Because when I came into youth
group, I generally found it as a safe space.
Just like a break from the week. And it was just
so relaxing to just play games. And then here,
it's like, somebody new comes in and then it's
like just oh hi and then you just instant like
become friends so like youth group really does
open a lot of doors and that's why i always tell
my friends like hey come to youth group it's
actually gonna be so much fun you're just gonna
meet new people right yeah that's awesome i love
that yeah yeah for me it's kind of similar but
from the other end of like seeing it um especially
when leading small group like seeing especially
friends of youth who I know better who start
to come every week. And then there's been some
small groups where like they start to open up
a little more and share. And yeah, just seeing
how like it really does change. I'll say change
people's lives because that's a big claim. But
yeah, it changes their life for a little bit.
Sure. Which is cool. Yeah. Yeah. Just adding
up to what Mia said. Actually, I didn't just
come to youth group because of an email or because
I already knew about it. It was because a friend
invited me. I've been here for four years now.
Right. Yeah. It's crazy. It literally changed
my life. Yeah. yeah yeah and it's so interesting
like it's it is those like personal connections
right and like yeah maybe somebody would come
to youth group because like get an email or text
or whatever but like those like being able to
like bring your friends and feeling like this
is like actually a really exciting and safe space
to do that i think is awesome yeah yeah and that's
what's so important about youth ministry i think
like the connections in the community because
that's what you need yeah for sure if i could
chime in a little bit i i definitely like yeah
i think this is important because i I know like
to say, yeah, I come here, your, your life's
going to be changed. You know, it's, it's, it's
ambitious, but, um, but I think, you know, having
your life changed doesn't always have to like
look super big and glamorous. It's, it's like
the small things, right. And it's like, wow,
there's something about this place that I feel
I can come and, and be safe, be known, be seen.
I think that's one of the biggest things is like
to be, to be actually seen and asked questions
and, um, having people remember things about
you and remember when you're not there, the weeks
you are there. And yeah, I just think like for
myself, I mean, before I really came to Christ,
there were, I still had participated in youth
groups and there's things I remember still about
those youth groups and about people in my life
that like, yeah, we're, it's weird because it's
the whole idea in the Bible of like a seed, right?
You plant a seed and you might not see it grow.
until years later you might not see it grow at
all sure but just i really believe in that like
i believe if somebody comes that like maybe like
a little they'll get a little bit of jesus like
we get a glimpse right and then uh yeah maybe
that's in fun maybe that's in and if it's in
any game though it's definitely going to be in
salad bowl just say that but uh yeah as long
as what we write is appropriate which it usually
is um one time we wrote rylan in there They had
to act out Riley. Okay. Okay. Anyway, that's,
yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's awesome. Like, I
think it is like, you know, you, you both kind
of said, you know, maybe it's a bold claim to
say that it like changes people's lives and like,
maybe, maybe not, but like, I think it does,
it adds meaning, right. It adds value. It adds
this like sense of community that I think has.
that we can't always like put our finger on and
be like, oh, this is the impact that this has
had in my life. It's like, no, no, just being
in a space where I'm known and loved is so important.
Yeah, for sure. Very well said. Yeah. So when
you think about, you know, being involved in
youth ministry, are there any ways that it has
sort of shaped your own faith or like impacted
your own relationship with Jesus in some way?
Yeah, do you want to start us off? Yeah, I can
start. I definitely think it's really interesting
because when I was in youth, I was part of a
strong faith community. And I was in a space
where I could ask the hard questions and really
think things through and talk things through.
And then leaving that, I kind of lost a little
bit of that, especially going to university.
Most of my friends aren't religious. So I didn't
have that sense of community. And then coming
back and working here, it's really cool because
the youth are now the ones asking the hard questions.
And I can talk through these things with them.
Yeah. Which, yeah, it's awesome because I'm growing
by hearing their questions and talking through
their questions with them. Sure. So, yeah, it's
kind of the other side, but I'm getting the same
thing out of it, which is awesome. Yeah. So it
is like even for you, it's being part of a community.
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, that's awesome. yeah what
about you right yeah yeah well that's that's
such a good it's such a good question like really
i i it's a good point like yeah the questions
the youth ask will actually really challenge
us um which is amazing like that's and that's
something we tell our our small group leaders
as well um our leaders when they're when they're
as yeah running small groups is like Yeah, don't
feel pressure to answer everything because there's
a lot of things that actually no human being
on earth has the answer for. So we're not going
to expect you to just like have it like that.
It's like, yeah, I like to say, I don't know
is a holy answer. It's humble and it's important.
And then they'll come to us after and we'll talk
about it. But yeah, and just one other thing
for me. This is especially for in regard to my
schooling and what will be. like just a huge
part of my life like like teaching i've been
so so challenged and actually these two for example
have challenged me a lot and just like um encouraging
me to to sometimes uh make my points more cohesive
or more sure in the lesson a bit because they're
i'm losing them Uh, but I just, I've heard it
said that, uh, like if you can't explain something
to like at a grade six level, you don't actually
understand it. Sure. Which is interesting. Cause
that's like our also cool. Cause it's our lowest
grade level, but it's true because especially,
you know, if you're studying theology and stuff,
you get all these, these terms and all these,
you know, these, Oh, look at me. I know all these
words, but it's like, but if you can't like actually
just explain it in normal language, um, And when
people poke holes in it, then your thing kind
of falls apart. It's like you don't really understand
it. You know what I mean? There's parts of it
that you don't understand. So I think it's like
somebody said once, I don't know who, like you
don't understand something until you understand
it in multiple ways. And I just that's been huge.
Like, no kidding. Some of our youth, especially
usually actually the youngest ones, will ask
these questions that are so childlike and so
pure. so difficult i don't know sure yeah causes
us to yeah to wrestle through it ourselves yeah
and to be able to like find new language and
find new ways of like thinking about and talking
about god like i think especially like as you're
sort of going through bible school like you're
you're taught at a certain level, it's like,
as you should be, right? Like, like there's a,
there's a good reason to think through this in
like high level language, but also then to be
able to explain that in a way that resonates
with people. Like, yeah, it just shows us a different
side of God. I think. Yeah. Beautifully said.
Yeah. Yeah. What about for you? Um, well, yeah.
Community mostly because, uh, like you realize
how. community is like really important like
when you're walking through faith yep because
you get to like actually talk about it ask questions
and just like actually experience god through
others right yeah yeah yeah yeah i love that
the the experiencing god like through other people
um his yeah just so powerful i think yeah that
that we don't walk through life alone. And that
like, sometimes we like think about, you know,
it's, it's just me and Jesus. It's just me and
God. And like, cool. That's great. But like God
actually made us to be in community. Right. And
so as we meet other people, we get to also like
encounter God there. And that's, yeah, that's
awesome. I'm so sorry. No, go ahead. I just,
yeah, I, I, I just want to say one thing about
this. Cause I, this is like, been really big
interest of mine recently. I really believe that
to a degree, you can only see the image of God
so much in another person and not in the mirror.
And it's not because like you're, you should
have this lower view of yourself, but I, I just
believe that's the nature of it. Like, you know,
God himself is the Trinity and being made in
the image of God is a communal thing. I just
believe that's important because even as, like
you said, experiencing God through another, even
as we experience God through each other, I think
then. Um, we're also living out in ourselves
what it means to be made in the image of God.
And we remember that we do have value ourselves
because people treat us that way. And it's just
a mutual thing. Whereas, yeah, I completely agree
with you. Like when we're just so stuck up on
just you and Jesus, just you and Jesus, like
you could try that. You could try to just have
your own journey apart from everyone else, but
you will. have a terrible time yeah so i yes
you won't get to play salad bowl you won't get
to exactly yeah exactly exactly i'm sure he'd
be fun to play with but yeah yeah i also want
to circle back to like one thing that you sort
of said like really passingly as if it was like
nothing but like this idea that like i don't
know is like a holy answer i think is so again
can you just like say more about that like what
that means like what that looks like i don't
know it just like struck me and i was like huh
yeah oh yeah i yeah i honestly it's it's one
of the first things that really puzzled me when
i came into the church was how arrogant we all
are everybody And we're all so sure that our
denomination or even our church has it all together
and all right. And I was so bothered by that.
And especially more and more like learning, because
like you said, like that learning at the academic
level is actually really important. And when
you do that, you get to actually see like how
people have come to the conclusions they came
to. And there's brilliant, like spirit -filled
people in every different, you know. stream of
the church i really believe that and um yeah
so i just think that's been a big thing is learning
uh the more i learn about theology the more i
learn about these the things of god and how it
interacts with life and such power like beautiful
like colorful ways that are not black and white
yeah um i i just believe more and more uh with
limits like there's some things we can't compromise
of course but um more and more that when we hold
what we know loosely, we actually open the door
to knowing more and knowing God, like Paul prays,
you know, know the love of Christ that's beyond
knowledge. And when knowledge kind of becomes,
I think like the ceiling for how much we can
know God, then we just end up knowing about him,
right? Like you get a resume of God and that's
not what the Bible is. The Bible is inviting
you to actually know him personally. I'm going
a little over, but I'll try to circle back. Yeah.
So that's the main thing is I just think it's
about humbling ourselves. And like Proverbs says,
you know, trusting him with all our heart and
not leaning on our own understanding. Right.
Part of that comes from, well, are you willing
to be wrong about some of the things that you've
held so tightly? Because if you're not, then
it's like you could end up kind of building an
idol of God that just aligns with. everything
you believe, you know, and then those other,
every other Christian, every other church, they're,
they're all heretics, you know? So, yeah, I don't
know. Does that? Yeah, no, no, that makes perfect
sense. Yeah. Yeah. And I think from a more practical
standpoint too, like with youth saying, you don't
know also shows them it's okay to not know things
and not like they don't have it all figured out.
And I think it encourages them to like, kind
of, Sit with things and think with things for
themselves, because, yeah, like even if I have
an idea of what I might think, I want them to.
come up with their own conclusions on things.
Yeah. Yeah. And that actually like builds a much
more solid foundation for faith as well. Right.
Like, cause I can think about, you know, different
things in my life that were just sort of handed
to me as like, okay, this is how it is. This
is what you should believe. And like, that's
cool. And like some of those things I do still
believe, but like the things that I actually
hold most dear to my heart are the things that
like I have come to discover or I have come to
like question and wonder about. Right. But. yeah
creating that space for curiosity and not knowing
the answers i think actually deepens our faith
in some ways for sure yeah yeah and i think that's
just so much of the beauty about the christian
faith is that it's so um it god invites us to
question like it's not a textbook right the bible
is anything but a textbook it's so confusing
and it's like it's inviting us you know that's
part of seeking god with all your heart is seeking
him asking and and yep as whereas other it's
not all but other religions will say, you actually
cannot question this and ask questions because
that's being irreverent. It's like, no, God knows
that, um, we'll have questions and difficulties
and that's part of it. I think that's really
part of it. So I love what you said about the
foundation. Yeah. Test it. And then, yeah, like
letting those questions, the questioning phase,
like test what you believe so that it actually
is refined and it becomes stronger. I love that
so much. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. So in all of this,
um, you know, like obviously Trinity has been
a place where we've sort of put this, this emphasis
on, on youth ministry, but why do you think it's
important for churches to do that? Like, why
do you think youth ministry matters in the world
today? Yeah. I mean, a simple answer is like
youth are the future of the church. Sure. Like,
and they deal with so much, like, other noise
nowadays so i think putting an emphasis on like
the church a place where they can yeah have fun
but also like learn and question is so so important
for them to like stay a part of the faith and
continue to grow in their faith because i mean
we hear like young people are leaving the church
so much now yeah and i think yeah it's important
to have a place where they can come and grow
In the church. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's also
very important because you just get to like know
more. In like Sunday churches, yes, you do like
learn a lot. But in like youth, as like we were
talking about, you actually get to like ask questions
and like you generally do learn more. And like
I remember one time it was just. uh first we
got small group and it was just me my friend
and then rylan and um i learned so much that
day just us three oh sorry just us three and
like i went home and i was thinking about it
and praying about it and it was a really good
day Yeah, what about for you, Rylan? Why is youth
ministry important, do you think? Yeah, I just
think it's everything. I think the mental health
among youth today is like an all -time low, I
think, ever in history. I think that's actually
statistically true. Suicide rate and everything,
I believe, is highest too. Yeah, I heard somebody
who's in charge of... like uh missions within
canada kind of like inter uh inter -country missions
uh say that we don't so much have a mental health
crisis as much as we have a faith crisis and
mental health kind of springs out of that and
i definitely don't believe all of mental health
is It's because you're just not believing enough.
You'll never catch me saying any such thing.
It's horrible. But I will say that a lot of it,
like if you really think about it, if God is
the deepest desire and the meaning of it all,
and we don't have that, it doesn't matter how
much counseling we get or what medications we
get, as effective as those things can be and
they can help, but it's like the one thing. So
I think youth today are more than, Also, maybe
ever before are searching are really searching.
I think that comes with being so lost and being
in such dark places that you search for light.
Like I need something. I just cannot see a thing.
So, yeah, I would I completely agree with what
you both said. And it's they are the future.
So it's are we going to invest into the future
of the church? But then also is like even for
them right now, I do believe there is it is.
I'm intense. This will sound intense, but I believe
it is kind of life or death for some of these
youth. It really is. I've heard stories about
youth who, who were really on the verge of ending
their life. And then it was, it was their youth
group or someone in a youth group that went out
into their schools. Right. Because it's not just
supposed to, ideally our youth group doesn't
just stay in Trinity. It goes out into the schools
and invites friends to you like that. Yeah. It,
It's salt and light into the world. So I would
say that it's just young people right now. I
think we're all young, but you know, the youngest
of the young just, yeah, just really, really
need the Lord and need people who, who walk in
his love. Yeah. Yeah. And I think like, as you
were sort of talking about that, like salt and
light bit, I think like the thing that came to
mind for me was that like, our youth have access
to people and spaces that like i don't have access
to right like if i were to walk into a high school
first of all they would say why are you here
but but even after that if they let me in for
some reason like nobody's gonna listen to me
nobody cares what i think but like people care
what you think because you like have friends
there you like have influence right and and there
are like digital spaces as well where youth are
and like can contribute and can like be like
no like there is an alternative to all of the
things that seem to be going wrong in the world
right and there is you don't need to be isolated
there is a community that you can find and yeah
so just being able to like equip our youth well
to go back into those spaces and yeah that's
something that comes up in small group a lot
like how do we share our faith and also just
how do we like be a christian in the world and
yeah show like our light and our like the love
of god to everyone around us yeah um yeah because
that's I think oftentimes what brings people
to God, right? Seeing other people, seeing the
way they live. Um, so yeah, we, we talk a lot
about how do we do that? Yes. Yeah, for sure.
Um, so in thinking about all that, and I think
we've sort of touched on some of this already,
but like, what do you think are some of the biggest
like challenges that youth are facing today?
Um, what are, what are some of those things that
like, yeah, they keep coming up against? I think,
like, especially, yeah, like Rylan said, mental
health. Like, the stress of school and then expectations.
And then, like, school have changed. Like, it's
mostly about grades and not, like, as much as,
like, learning. So, like, the stress builds up
and builds up. And then that just really plays
on. And then there's not only the stress from,
like, grades. uh homework test yeah but it's
also like uh having to like be cool i guess yeah
like yeah for sure yeah and like i've uh some
friends i've seen that like have been like pressured
into like not doing very good stuff and like
they've changed yeah and then just also like
me my friends like most of the people i know
like have developed like some type of mental
health some some like anxiety stress because
of like all that it's happening like it's too
much for somebody for someone our age yeah yeah
and i think like sometimes it's easy like even
sometimes i find myself here but like sometimes
it's easy for people who are like in older generations
to, like, look at what's happening and be like,
oh, well, that's not real stress. They don't
know the stress of a job. They don't know the
stress of raising a family or whatever. And,
like, no. But also, like, it is a real stress.
And it is, like, yeah, different than the stress
that someone else is living, but it is real.
And it is something that is, like, really heavy,
right? And compounded with, like, all of... You
know, the stress of school, the stress of friends
and all that sort of thing, but compounded with
the stress of like all that's happening in the
world. Right. And trying to be like, OK, where
is there a future for me at all? Right. Like
there's just so much. Like you see like what's
happening in the world. I'm like, I'm going to
graduate. And like, is there even going to be
like any jobs for me? Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
It stresses you out a lot. For sure. Yeah. And
I feel like there's so much noise. And then it's
like. How do you prioritize God through all of
this noise and stress and social media? Like
all of that is. Yeah. And that's something I
even struggle with. And I'm still quite young,
but I'm not quite a youth. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah,
for sure. Yeah. Yeah. I'll just kind of add on
to that. I think you guys nailed it. And I would
just say, yeah, when you think about social media
and the news. It's like all the stuff, all the
wars and the violence and everything all around
the world is all pulled in together and then
put on put into this this rectangle that glows.
We are taking it all in. And that's just talking
about that. There's not to mention just all the
stuff pouring in from the culture. That's just
harmful. Yeah. Yeah. And all that is made so
much worse. I think the one thing I would like
to touch on is I think just the pressure that
youth are feeling. um, to kind of have sides
and, you know, political matters and it's, it's
insane. Like it's really insane. And that, so
that's one thing, like, you know, I, I always,
especially as, um, You know, I get to I get to
teach sometimes with the youth. I always am so
careful whenever anything I say starts to like
even remotely touch on things that are political.
But the one thing about politics that I'll always
say to them is, guys, do not worship politics.
Do not let that become who you are. Like, you
know, I'm a Christian, but I'm not. i'm a conservative
i'm a christian or i'm a liberal like that's
that's and like those should just be not anywhere
near each other it's like so i i think that's
that's something i really really believe in is
trying to actually show them that um don't be
afraid and don't give in to this pressure to
have um really even have opinions about a lot
of these things or have it figured out but sure
so much more to um view another person as your
enemy because they disagree with you on these
things i think that's one of the ways that I
hope and believe and pray that this next generation
will shine like stars, you know, Sunday is being
people where like, maybe they won't even say,
or they'll say, this is what I believe or whatever,
but it's like, they're so willing to be, um,
to just fight against, I guess, the divisiveness
of our culture. That's what it feels so divisive.
Everyone is it's tribalism. It's everyone just
picks a side and whatever. matter that really
no one understands deeply enough to be speaking
on most of the time so i think yeah that's another
thing and luciana maybe i'm right maybe i'm wrong
but i i feel like i sense that from these because
i feel it for myself as a young adult yeah like
to be honest i feel like our generation is like
really woke like they're because of like what's
happening and like all the social media you really
know what's going on sure so like most of the
youth really want to take action on that they
just don't really know how sure but like they
really really know the subject like i go around
in school and like i say oh yeah this this and
that and like they really know about it like
most of my friends know a bunch about politics
like i actually like praise them for that because
like they are they really really know the subject
sure so like They have really good points of
view and I love how we can just talk about it
and not really be like, oh, I don't like you
because of your opinion. We're kind of like,
just say something. We agree or we don't agree.
And if we have a little debate, you could say
it. Sure. She's good. But then we say like, oh,
maybe you're right. Right. Yeah. Yeah. And then
like, just. like we really tried to take action
yeah no that's awesome yeah yeah so then in all
of these challenges um what are some ways that
folks in churches or folks who just like care
about youth what are some ways that they can
like be supportive and encouraging for youth
today yeah what do you need it's tricky a lot
of sleep okay okay yeah well um just like places
to like clear your mind i would say the most
like try to make spaces what's where somebody
doesn't feel like they used to feel like judged
or just like a time to have fun and don't not
worry about the week and worry more about like
am i doing good with god how is yep the whole
thing going right yeah so just like yeah being
supportive of even just the youth group space
yeah um yeah but then maybe even you know in
other conversations and other spaces yeah it'll
be like okay just tell me about what's going
on in your life and like yeah be receptive to
that yes yeah and i think going like closely
with that um making an effort to get to know
the youth um even like sunday after a service
because I know, especially for myself as a youth,
when I would go to church and I didn't really
know anyone other than my family. It was great
when someone who like even was like an older
person, like a grandparent age person would come
talk to me and ask me questions and like genuinely
be curious and want to get to know me. Yeah,
because I was just like, oh, this is a place
where I feel very seen. And it wasn't just youth
group or like youth church, but it was. everywhere
in the church. And that made me want to keep
coming back. Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah.
Anything you would add to that? I don't know.
I don't think, I don't think I killed it. Yeah.
Yeah. I, I think, uh, you'd mentioned meaning
earlier. Yeah. Uh, I think it was you. I'm sorry.
Yeah. But yeah, meaning like I would just add
that maybe is, um, you, we need meaning. Obviously
we need something that drives us and, um, there
can be many things and, and yeah, politics can
be one of those things. And, uh, whatever cause,
whatever passion you have, it, these are all
important, but to have that, um, underneath,
uh, one core thing, it's like, what is your thing?
Why are you alive? Why did you get out of bed
this morning? I think that's just, that's something
I've seen in, in youth. And it's, it's also why,
um, yeah, I don't, I don't tend to, uh, try to
make the lessons or the even the small groups
like easy because that's not what they need like
they need to be challenged and they need to be
like because you just see it in youth's eyes
like in anyone's eyes is when you are actually
called to a challenge and and you see that that
uh this group like there's we are having so much
fun and yeah all this um is so important and
there's community in it but there's also there's
a greater purpose of it yeah like i think that's
what just it's magnetic it's like wow we're actually
all a part of something together and trying to
um discover what this is all about yeah that's
why i like to put it in those terms a lot it's
like this is the meaning like this is this is
the point of it all and if this is then like
we better pay attention to it you know um and
it's yeah it shouldn't it shouldn't be this burden
like you come in and it's like oh the first thing
they said is like Hey, uh, watch your language
or Hey, like, you know, we'll have to say that
sometimes, but like, you know, it's, no, it's
not, it's not about being judged. It's not about,
um, definitely not about being perfect, but it's
just about, uh, how can I continue to grow and
improve and, and, uh, in biblical terms, be formed
into the image of Christ and look like that,
that person of love, that person of truth and
justice that. we're made to be. Yeah. And I think
all of that, like that challenge, that encouragement,
that meaning, all of that happening in the sense
of community that we've sort of kept coming back
to, right? That it's not just like, ah, go and
be better. It's like, no, no, let's be better
together. Like let's love and support one another
as we walk through this. Yeah. And that's not
something you can teach outside of community.
Like you have to have that community and relationship.
first yeah and that's why i think like we start
off with games and we start off with building
that community sure so that we can talk about
difficult things yeah for sure yeah for sure
and like when you go to youtube you realize that
you don't have to be perfect like you go in and
you see like your friend's life or like even
the leaders and you realize that we don't have
to be perfect like you you could just walk in
your faith you have your problems like and yet
god will still love you for who you are so it's
i find it really awesome that you get to learn
that through youth group yeah yeah that's so
good So I'm just going to say you all sound like
very cool people. And so if there are other cool
people who are listening to our podcast or like,
hey, I want to go hang out with those cool people.
How can they get in touch? How can they like
what's what's next steps for people to get involved
in youth ministry here at Trinity? Yeah. Well,
if they want to volunteer with you, always looking
for volunteers. Love that. They can email myself
or Rylan. OK. Um, and yeah, we can get them set
up with how to do that. Um, if it's any youth,
they can also shoot us an email or just show
up on a Friday. Um, and we'll be there. We'll
be welcoming. So Friday, six o 'clock for junior
youth, which is grade six, seven and eight. Yes.
And then eight o 'clock for our senior youth.
So it's nine, 10, 11 and 12. Yes. And then we
also have a youth retreat coming up. Okay. Um,
and that is. Not next weekend, but the weekend
after. May 8th to 10th. Yes. I'm pretty sure
registration for that ends on the 26th. Okay.
So yeah, it's going to be... Get your registration
in now. Yes. A great weekend. And yeah, just
a lot of fun. And again, being in community with
each other, but also up north doing like high
ropes and yeah, all the fun things. Sounds awesome.
Yeah. Well, thank you so much, folks. This has
been a really awesome conversation. Lots of.
meaning and like just so good to like hear your
joy and your passion for this work and for this
community that you're building together. And
thank you for tuning into this week's episode
of Trinity Talks. Whether you are a youth or
whether you know and love youth or you're like,
what is happening right now? I hope that God
is blessing you in that and that you are able
to find ways to also develop a community and
to care for those in your midst. who are going
through really hard times. And we will see you
again next week.