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)
