Youth

Our Youth Ministry is a vital part of meeting our RBC mission: Building a vibrant, Christ-centred community with a vision for extending His Kingdom.

We recognise the importance of our teenage years in discovering who we are, understanding how much God loves us, knowing God through his written word - the Bible - and taking decisions that will shape our lives.

We welcome all teenagers and young people in a secure and supportive environment, where they can have fun, discover, discuss and learn - as well as serve, be supported and mentored as they explore faith and grow in their relationship with each other and with God.

We'd love to welcome you to The Sidewalk, and answer any questions you may have about God, faith or Christianity.

See what we do below - and feel free to send an email to Nikki Latham, our Children, Youth and Families Team Administrator here, or contact us another way. We are now back to meeting in church, so get in touch if you'd like to be involved!

We take the safety of the children in our care extremely seriously. Full details on our safeguarding policy is available here.

sunday groups

Alongside the Morning Service

phase
school years 7-11

midweek groups

During Term Time

school years 7-9

thursdays,
7.30 - 9pm

Roots is our younger youth group which aims to provide a relaxed environment where 11-14 year olds can play games, sports and hang out which each other, and be supported by role models who care for them and their families.

We’re called Roots because we believe this name reflects the vision and values we have across our youth groups. Values such as "People are our heart", "Raising up sons and daughters is our duty" and "Jesus is our message".

We believe that God loves us - all of us; no outsiders - only children of God, and we believe our lives are most effective and make most sense when we are rooted in him. The trees with the deepest roots remain standing through the storm. As such, we want to support our young people in their faith journey and equip them to grow deep roots that aren't shaken during life's trials and temptations. “Roots" is about building the foundations that we hope will last a life time. Foundations of friendships and foundations of faith.

It’s open to anyone who is in school years 7, 8 & 9. During part of the evening we have a "God-slot” where we’re look at bitesized versions of our 7 Essentials of Faith (see below).

The activities during free time include football, hockey, table tennis, table football, pool and access to DVD’s, Music and games consoles.

It’s completely free, but we have a tuck shop where the young people can buy snacks and drinks! We also have a number of socials throughout the year. Such as Laser Quest, Nandos, Liquid Leisure & more!

school years 10-13

tuesdays,
8 - 10pm

Refine is our older youth group where we want to offer support, encouragement and Christian teaching to young people so that they can grow and thrive in their faith. We recognise that it's tough to be a teenager, but we believe life is best lived in community and so we aim to provide a real family feel in Refine.

We’re called Refine to reflect many of our value statements such as "Jesus is our message", "Culture is our method", "People are our heart", and "Raising up sons and daughters is our duty". We believe that God loves us exactly as we are but way too much to leave us that way. He is constantly seeking to refine us and to help us become the people He created us to be.

In the Bible, God's people are likened to gold and silver, valuable metals, but ones that need refining for their potential to be fully realised. In the same way, we are refined by God's love as he gives both direction and correction.

Refine is for our older youth and is primarily about discipleship - teaching them to live distinct from the world and as reflections of their Maker. We want to equip them by teaching them the why behind the what. As leaders, we don't just tell them what we believe, we explain why we believe it. We are passionate about helping them in their relationship with Jesus, by providing great role-model leaders who provide genuine friendships and mentorship. We invest in them today, to help them to become the leaders of tomorrow

The evening consists of 30 minutes of free time, followed by an hour of activities and teaching from 8:30-9:30, and then ends with 30 more minutes of free time, where the young people can socialise and play games such as table football, pool, table tennis, and games consoles (Wii, PS4). There is also the option to play various sports including football and unihoc.

7 essentials

The 7 essentials serve as our foundation and teaching material for our entire youth ministry. This content is based upon biblical principles that are crucial for students to be properly equipped for life beyond youth group.

These Essentials will help us to be even more focused and clear on what we hope to achieve and see accomplished through the Youth Ministry here at RBC – and more importantly in the lives of our young people at this church.

It is our goal that these 7 basic principles be understood, memorised, and embraced by any young person we have the chance to impact before they leave the safety of their homes and our youth ministries for university of the workplace.

Essential 1: Authentic Faith

This essential focuses on a correct understanding of faith. Confusion in this one area is the primary reason so many students abandon Christianity. True faith is confidence that God is who He says He is – and confidence that He will do everything He has promised to do.

Principle: God can be trusted; He will do all He has promised to do.

Critical Question: Do you trust God with the critical areas of your life?

Key Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Essential 2: Spiritual Discipline

The focus of this essential is on developing a healthy devotional life. The apostle Paul says that true spiritual transformation begins with a renewed mind. Only as we begin to renew our minds according to the truths of Scripture will our attitudes and behaviour begin to change.

Principle: When you see as God sees, you will do as God says.

Critical Question: Are you developing a consistent devotional and prayer life?

Key Passage: Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Essential 3: Moral Boundaries

One of the most important things you can teach teenagers to do is to establish clear moral limits. They need to learn how to protect their bodies and emotions by honouring God’s plan for sex, drinking and morality. That’s the focus of this essential. The depth of their intimacy with God and others is dependent upon it.

Principle: Purity paves the way for intimacy

Critical Question: Are you establishing and maintaining godly moral boundaries?

Key Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 - It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable…for God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Essential 4: Healthy Friendships

The people we associate with the most will have a direct impact on the decisions we make and the standards we choose. Healthy friendships build us up and draw us closer to God; unhealthy friendships bring us down and cause us to compromise what we know is right. This principle focuses on helping students build healthy friendships while avoiding unhealthy ones.

Principle: Your friends will determine the direction and quality of your life.

Critical Question: Are you establishing healthy friendships and avoiding unhealthy ones?

Key Passage: Proverbs 13:20 - Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

Essential 5: Wise Choices

This principle focuses on the necessity of applying godly wisdom to the choices we make. Good decision making is found in learning to ask, “In light of my past experience and my future dreams, what is the wise thing for me to do in this

situation?”

Principle: Walk wisely.

Critical Question: Are you making wise choices in every area of your life?

Key Passage: Ephesians 5:15-17 - Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Essential 6: Ultimate Authority

Teenagers often view freedom and authority as opposing concepts. But the Bible teaches that true freedom is found under authority. This principle focuses on our need to recognise God’s ultimate authority and respect the earthly authorities He has placed over us.

Principle: Maximum freedom is found under God’s authority.

Critical Question: Are you submitting to the authorities God has placed over you?

Key Passage: Romans 12:1-2 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Essential 7: Others First

Selfishness comes naturally to all of us! Selflessness, however, must be learned. The Bible says that Jesus “made himself nothing” in order to serve the people He loved. He put the needs of others ahead of His own. This principle focuses on the true nature of humility and service.

Principle: Consider others before yourself

Critical Question: Are you putting the needs of others ahead or your own?

Key Passage: Philippians 2:3-11 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

youth