Learn anew to connect with youth. (BJRE008)

Learn anew to connect with youth.

(Dr. Edward Edezhath - Published in Kairos Magazine in 2018)

It was September 1981, and we had gathered in a room at St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, for an initial discussion on the forthcoming National Charismatic Convention to be held in Cochin. Fr. Gino, the new National Chairman of the Charismatic Renewal in India, had come to form committees and check our readiness to host the event.

“Do we have enough people to plan and work for such a large gathering? What about young people?” he asked. “We will need many volunteers.”

Someone commented that although we had mobilized about a thousand youth just a few years earlier, in 1978, only a handful were still active now. This led Fr. Gino to share some remarks that became a turning point, laying a foundation for what would eventually grow into the Jesus Youth movement.

“Think of it! Why did those youth not continue?” he challenged the leaders. “If you want a good set of youth, you must invest a lot of time and energy in them. Youth are essential. Without them, we cannot put our plans into action — they have the energy for it! And they will only continue tomorrow if we begin today. Remember: the elders will remain in the Church even if you don’t do much for them, but for young people to come into an active Christian life, you must do focused work. And to reach them, you need a language and approach that is relevant to them.”

His words were a wake-up call. Fr. Gino reminded us that unless we made a deliberate effort to engage youth in ways meaningful to them, our renewal efforts would be in vain. This was a call not just for more activities, but for a search for a new style of renewal suited to the youth of the time.

That day, a five-member youth team was formed with a mandate to look for new styles, create plans, and organize young people at the Kerala level. This marked a decisive step forward and laid another foundation stone for what became the Jesus Youth movement.

Discoveries Along the Way

Very soon, this new team began working earnestly. Connecting with others, exploring fresh approaches, and seeking God’s guidance brought a sense of excitement. Looking back, several key elements stand out from this period:

1. Lifting Our Eyes to Look Around (Jn 4:35):

“Consultation” became a new and important word. We met youth and their companions in different places, asked questions, discussed issues, and took notes. This was a humbling way to overcome the “oh, I know it all” attitude and truly see the real issues and challenges youth were facing.

2. Learning to Connect Widely:

We wanted everyone to contribute — ideas, contacts, and even words they felt the Lord was speaking. This inclusive approach wasn’t easy, as differences in style and opinion sometimes created friction. Yet, as we learned tolerance and patience, a wide network of friendships began to form.

3. Learning a New Language:

Informal conversations and idea-sharing taught us fresh, simple ways of doing things that youth enjoyed. Friendship was at the heart of this process, forming a basis for all learning. We were often reminded of Jesus’ words about “new wineskins” (Mt 9:17) — calling us to adapt our approaches for the new generation.

4. A Fresh Spiritual Enthusiasm:

This youth-focused mission rekindled our own prayer life. Scripture became more alive, and we spent more time before the Blessed Sacrament interceding for others. Enthusiasm is contagious — and we saw others we met catching fire spiritually as well.

5. Learning Perseverance and Continuity:

Any renewal process advances in waves. We realized that a key leadership task is ensuring continuity — never giving up, even when energy dips. What began three or four years earlier was renewed with even greater enthusiasm in the early 1980s, leading to significant fruit in the years that followed.

The Lesson for Today

Years have passed since that historic discussion, but its lessons remain powerful. In every time and place, youth need fresh attention and a renewed way of connecting. We can never take them for granted. The commitment to understand youth culture and speak a language that resonates with them remains one of the foundational insights of our movement.

The Jesus Youth movement seeks to bring Jesus, His message, and a new lifestyle to the contemporary world — a world that is constantly changing. For that reason, we must keep a “dialogue process” alive, paying close attention to the changes in youth culture and responding creatively.

This is not only a challenge for our movement but also for families, parishes, and all communities seeking to engage the young. May we never lose the willingness to learn anew how to connect with youth and lead them to a vibrant life in Christ.

Points for Reflection & Discussion

1. What challenges do we face today when trying to connect with young people?

2. How can we make sure our language, style, and approach are truly relevant to them?

3. Share an experience where you saw youth come alive in their faith because of a fresh approach or initiative.

4. How can our group or ministry build in “continuity” — so that efforts to form young people keep growing and bearing fruit year after year?

5. In what ways can prayer and intercession for young people be made a regular part of our group’s life?

Group Exercise: Mapping Youth Connection Points

Objective:

Help participants discover practical ways to connect with young people in their parish, campus, or neighborhood.

Time: 30–40 minutes

Steps:

1. Small Group Brainstorm (15 min)

• Divide participants into groups of 4–6.

• Give each group a chart paper or whiteboard space.

• Ask them to make three columns and title them:

• Where we meet youth (home, parish, campus, online, sports, music, etc.)

• Barriers to connecting (language, busy schedules, mistrust, style differences, etc.)

• Creative ways to engage (new events, new language, personal follow-ups, social media ideas, prayer initiatives, etc.)

2. Sharing (10–15 min)

• Each group presents one or two of their best ideas.

• Write the ideas on a central board so everyone can see the collective “map.”

3. Action Step (5–10 min)

• Together, choose one or two concrete actions that the whole group can try in the next month (for example: start a monthly informal hangout, organize a music jam, or have a special intercession time for local youth).

• Assign volunteers and set a follow-up date to review progress.

Outcome:

By the end, participants will have a practical, community-driven action plan to engage youth — rooted in prayer and creativity.