Hard Gospel
About UsResourcesArticlesNewsMediaBlog
Hard Gospel - Sublinks
  • News Archive
  • Hard Gospel - Sublinks
    Hard Gospel - Immigration
    Hard Gospel - Loyalist Community
    Hard Gospel - Parish Courses
    Hard Gospel - Central Church Structures
    Hard Gospel - Chancing Your Arm
    Hard Gospel - Hot Potatoes

    News

    Youth Work, Spiritual Development and Building Community: Hard Gospel Youth Report

    Posted: Tuesday April 14th 2009

    Youth work is one of the major activities of churches and other faith
    based communities in Northern Ireland. It is important in terms of the
    spiritual development of young people. It also makes a very significant
    contribution to how young people both find their place in our wider
    community and make a constructive contribution to it.

    The interweaving themes of youth work, spiritual development and young
    people finding their place in the community come together is the subject
    of an important new report launched by the Church of Ireland Hard Gospel
    Project. The report, entitled 'Youth Work and Spiritual Development in
    the North and South of Ireland" is one of the final pieces of work to be
    produced by the Hard Gospel Project, which came to an end earlier this
    year.

    Commenting on the launch the former Director of the Hard Gospel Project,
    Rev Earl Storey, said "The Hard Gospel Project was born out of a belief
    that any community, or church, is strongest when it is willing to ask
    itself hard questions. This report looks at how youth work in
    faith-based organizations not only contributes to spiritual development
    in young people but also helps shape them as members of our wider
    community. Given the challenges we have had in living with difference in
    this community anything that shapes young people, our future, is a
    subject worthy of examination."

    The report, a result of extensive research, has been written by former
    Hard Gospel Project Officer Mr Stephen Dallas. Stephen has wide
    experience of youth work in both church and secular environments. He
    also has recent academic background in social research. Commenting on
    the report he said "My research brought me into all sectors of youth
    work on this island - both religious and secular. I have a personal
    commitment to youth work being seen as a real contribution to a peaceful
    and stable community life".

    The report is being launched at The Village Centre in Monkstown,
    Newtownabbey at 2pm on Wednesday 25 March.

    ENDS

    Note to Editors: For further information please contact Rev Earl Storey
    Tel 07752841802
    Photo-opportunity at 2pm (Wed 25 March 2009) in Monkstown Village
    Centre, Newtownabbey

    Click here to download the report as a PDF (1.4MB)

      Read More News ItemsHard Gospel - Bubbles