Cultural Mixing in Jesus Youth Groups Can Be Exciting! (BJRE043)

Cultural Mixing in Jesus Youth Groups Can Be Exciting!

A multicultural approach is truly at the heart of the missionary fervor of Jesus Youth

(By Dr. Edward Edezhath. Published in Kairos Magazine in 2021)

“Your youth groups are a nice blend — from cities and villages, English and vernacular-speaking, college youth and uneducated, fashionable and ordinary. You use western songs and local tunes, and all feel part of it.” This was Manuel from Madras, who visited us in the early days of Jesus Youth and was struck by the cultural variety. In his place, city and rural youth gathered separately, with different songs and prayer styles. Interestingly, those culturally divided groups eventually disappeared, while Jesus Youth drew strength from its multicultural approach and kept growing.

Being inclusive is a long and challenging journey — but one that the Father of all diversity calls us to take. More than ever, this approach is becoming crucial everywhere.

What Is Being Culturally Inclusive?

In the Bible, the spirit of God’s Kingdom is often portrayed as a harmony of diverse cultures: “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” (Is 11:6) This vision inspired our early youth groups. Young and old, students and workers, English and vernacular-speaking, from city and rural areas — all came together. One day, our leader Marykutty asked me, “Eddy, is our group Latin or Syro-Malabar?” Holding together different Catholic rites was yet another challenge! But we were convinced that unity beyond diversity was the Lord’s plan for us, and our leaders worked intentionally toward that vision.

Look around today — migration and cultural mixing are global realities. Such intermingling of ethnicities, cultures, and even nationalities was rare in the past, but it is now everywhere. Some find this distressing and retreat into cultural “safe zones.” But the missionary Church — and Spirit-filled Jesus Youth — do not shy away from this challenge.

Multiculturalism is the Church’s missionary response to this reality. Jesus commanded, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Today, nations come to our very neighborhoods. What an opportunity to invite them into our communities and walk with them in Christ! Pope Francis reminds us:

“What is called for is an evangelization capable of shedding light on these new ways. Cities are multicultural… The Church is called to be at the service of a difficult dialogue.” (The Joy of the Gospel, 74)

What Prevents Us from Welcoming Others?

Xenophobia — the fear or dislike of those culturally different — can subtly creep into our spirituality. Like the Pharisees who accused Jesus of mixing with sinners (Mt 9:11), we might invent reasons to avoid building bridges. What are some common barriers to cultural inclusion?

• Obsession with depth and focus: “Don’t bring new people — they lack our spiritual depth.” This can sound pious, but it actually closes the door to others.

• Narrow view of Christian life: Our groups may stick to programs and prayer styles that suit only a few of us, leaving no space to include others.

• Prejudices: “They are playful… money-minded… too pushy.” We carry stereotypes about different social sections and rarely challenge ourselves to see them as sons and daughters of the same Father.

• Spirit of competition: Even spiritually, we can try to prove ourselves superior, building groups or ministries as part of an unspoken rivalry.

These tendencies can isolate us within our cultural bubbles. The antidote is a culture of dialogue. Pope Francis says it beautifully:

“Approaching, speaking, listening, looking at, coming to know and understand one another, and to find common ground: all these things are summed up in the one word ‘dialogue.’” (Fratelli Tutti, 198)

A Way of Speaking That Unites

Recently, JY leaders in Canada met to discuss how fellowships could become more multicultural. Timson shared an experience:

“While I was in India, we faced a delicate issue in our online group. Most of us knew Malayalam, but others didn’t. Many were posting jokes or comments in Malayalam. Most enjoyed them, but a few were left out. Those who cared for the whole group realized how painful this was for the minority. Finally, the regional team insisted that all communication be either in the local tongue, Hindi, or English. This changed everything! Soon, local leaders emerged, and for the first time, we had a coordinator from the local ethnic community.”

Being inclusive is reflected in how we communicate. Taking the trouble to speak the other’s language is a big first step, but inclusion goes deeper — it’s also about how we listen and make others feel at home.

One of the most powerful examples I have seen is at Taizé. Their prayer and community life are deeply evangelistic, yet never preachy or intolerant. In a group of 15 or 20, young people from across continents share in many languages. Whatever is spoken is translated into every language so all can follow. Wouldn’t it be easier to split into language groups? Perhaps — but they don’t. Conversation is slower, simpler, and content is less, but the focus is on building communion. This becomes a powerful experience of God’s love in action.

Points for Reflection

1. How do I personally feel when I am in a group with people from different cultural or language backgrounds?

2. Can I recall a time when cultural differences caused misunderstanding or exclusion in my group? What helped (or could have helped) resolve it?

3. What are some cultural elements (songs, prayers, festivals, food, language) that we can integrate more intentionally into our fellowship?

4. Which of the “blocks” mentioned — obsession with depth, narrow program focus, prejudice, or competition — do we see in our group? How can we address them together?

5. How can our communication style (language choice, listening habits, tone) become more inclusive and welcoming?

6. Jesus sent His disciples to “make disciples of all nations” — how does this call challenge us in our own local setting?

Group Exercise: “Bridges Across Cultures”

Purpose: To help participants experience inclusion, recognize barriers, and discover practical steps for making their fellowship more multicultural.

Step 1 – “My Culture in 3 Words” (5 min)

Each participant writes three words or phrases that describe their own culture (e.g., “family-oriented,” “spicy food,” “love of music”).

• Share in small groups of 3–4.

• Notice the differences and similarities.

Step 2 – “Invisible Walls” (10 min)

In the large group, brainstorm things that make people feel excluded in a fellowship (language, inside jokes, program style, cliques, etc.).

• Write them on a board or large paper, calling them “invisible walls.”

• Allow participants to add more silently if they wish.

Step 3 – “Building Bridges” (10 min)

Form pairs or small groups again.

• Ask: “How can we turn each invisible wall into a bridge?”

• Write down one or two concrete steps for each barrier.

Bring everyone back together and share the proposals.

Step 4 – Commitment (5 min)

Invite each participant to make one personal commitment for the next month (e.g., learn a few words in another group member’s language, invite someone new to a gathering, change how they post in WhatsApp groups).

• Option: Write the commitments on cards and place them at the foot of a cross or in the center as a sign of offering.

Closing Prayer (Optional)

Pray together Psalm 133 (“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity”) or a spontaneous prayer for unity in diversity.