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Young Norfolk leaders complete Christian course

Nine young people have just completed the Diocese of Norwich ‘Growing Young Leaders’ course which explores leadership from a Christian perspective.


The young people have been supported throughout the course by their local churches, with mentors, helping them reflect on their learning and apply it to situations in their church, school and colleges.
 
Jonathan Richardson, Children, Youth & Families Development Officer for the Diocese of Norwich said: “This is the first time we have run the course and I have been really encouraged by the growth we have seen in the young people who attended.  The combination of getting people together from different churches, enabling them to serve in a variety of situations and ensuring they reflect with a mentor from the local church has been really effective.  I have been particularly struck by the commitment the young people had to completing the course – it’s not easy for them finding time around busy school lives, but they have stuck it out.  I am looking forward to seeing this group of young people grow and impact the church more in the future.”
 
The course has involved a series of monthly evening sessions – over pizza! – alongside a residential weekend and looked at the wisdom and encouragement from 1 and 2 Timothy in the Bible. At the residential the young people helped lead activities and discussions at the ‘Soulshaper’ weekend, run by the Diocese of Norwich at the Horstead Centre.
 
Holly, one of the nine young people who completed the course, said: “It’s been so much fun and I have met some amazing people on the course.  It’s made me feel a lot closer to God and I feel I could go and lead a small group of people because I have grown in self-confidence”, Holly.
 
Reuben, another course member said: “it’s been a safe space to speak your mind and discuss stuff”
 
As part of the course the young people have been given opportunities and encouraged to get involved in other activities run by the Diocese.  Several of them got involved in writing for the youth focused May/June edition of the diocesan magazine as well as helping run events – and even leading at a church youth weekend.
 
The Children, Youth & Families Team at the Diocese of Norwich are committed to supporting young people growing in roles of responsibilities in their churches and will be running the course again in the coming year.
 
There is a taster session for the next course on the evening of Tuesday 18 July for leaders and young people to come and find out more. The course starts for real on Saturday 16 September – you can find out more or book on to the taster session here.


 


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