Jesus Youth, Called to Be Master Builders (BJRE094)

 

Jesus Youth, Called to Be Master Builders

(By Dr. Edward Edezhath. Published in Kairos Global in 2025)

Many people like the beautiful depiction of the Sacred Heart as the resurrected Lord in my parish Church. Fr. Augustine, our former parish priest, planned and built the new church and envisioned the image. Later, he was transferred to another parish. he rebuilt the Church there also. Wherever he goes, he builds. Over the years, you can trace his presence by the landmarks he has left behind—visible signs of faith planted in brick, mortar, and vision.

Thinking of other builders, I remember my friend who happened to renovate his house. After getting the knack, he built another house and sold it. And he has continued, building houses. Long after he has moved on, those houses continue to shelter generations.

Thinking of it, this is something profound: the gift of building. Some do it with cement and stone, others with people and communities. And in the Christian vision, building is more than construction; it is a calling to build persons and communities.

Building in the Bible

The Bible is filled with images of building. Saint Paul, writing to the Corinthians, captures this beautifully: “According to the commission of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it.” (1 Cor 3:10). He goes on to talk more about the ministry of building laying a foundation that is none other than Jesus Christ. On that foundation, others are called to build communities of faith.

Paul reminds his listeners that faithful builders will be rewarded abundantly, but careless ones will lose everything. And those who selfishly destroy God’s work will face judgment. To build is both a privilege and a responsibility.

This biblical image speaks directly to the heart of the Jesus Youth movement. Over the past decades, Jesus Youth has embraced the identity of a builder—not of monuments, but of people, communities, cultures, and networks that carry the life of Christ.

A Story from the Beginning

I still remember something from October 1978. Together with Sr. Cleopatra, I went to meet Fr. Fio in preparation for the first youth conference. After listening to our plans, he gave us a word of direction that has stayed with me ever since: “You have brought together so many young people and now going to have this big gathering. Your next focus must be on the further steps of building them into clusters locally, connecting them, and networking them.”

That was over four decades ago. Yet that vision—clusters of young people, rooted locally, connected in friendship, and networking across regions—continues to guide us. It was never about big events alone. It was always about building steadily, person by person, community by community.

Building People, Step by Step

The Holy Spirit, in His gentle way, raises people through stages of growth. First, they come as Seekers. Then, touched by grace, they become Believers. As their love deepens, they grow into eager Disciples, walking closely with Jesus. At a certain point, they are sent out as Apostles, Missionaries bearing witness to the Gospel in the world.

But the journey does not end there. Many of these Apostles become Builders themselves. They mentor others, raise leaders, form communities, and shape cultures in their contexts. With time, some emerge as Master Builders, entrusted with wider responsibilities—guiding national initiatives, inspiring international networks, or designing creative platforms for mission.

This is the genius of the Jesus Youth formation journey: it does not stop at individual growth but naturally flows into the building of others. Each person formed becomes a living stone in God’s house, and often a builder of others as well.

Global Builders in a Globalized World

We often say that we live in a time of global connectivity. For many, globalization is a challenge; for Jesus Youth, it has also been an opportunity. The movement is both a beneficiary of this reality and a contributor to it.

Good Jesus Youth builders are skilled architects of community. They know how to leverage modern tools—technology, media, management skills, and the global environment—to bridge distances. What once required long trips and handwritten letters can now be achieved through instant messaging, video calls, or collaborative platforms.

But the tools are not ends in themselves. They serve the deeper purpose of building faith-filled relationships, strengthening communities, and weaving networks that embody the Gospel. A Jesus Youth builder today must be as comfortable organizing a prayer meeting as designing an online campaign, as skilled in personal mentoring as in managing cultural diversity.

The Harmony of Gifts

One of the striking features of the Jesus Youth movement is the sheer variety of gifts and talents that come together. Musicians, dramatists, evangelizers, intercessors, teachers, organizers, writers, and countless others—all bring their unique offerings to the table.

This diversity echoes the Old Testament account of the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit equipped different people with a wide range of skills—craftsmen, artists, leaders—so that together they could create a structure of beauty, excellence, and harmony (Exodus 31).

In much the same way, Jesus Youth builders are diverse, and communities are not uniform. They are mosaics, where different colors and shapes come together to form a living picture of Christ’s body. And when these gifts are harmonized, the result is both effective and beautiful.

In every age, the Church needs builders. Some are hidden, quietly mentoring young people or holding a small prayer group together. Others are visible, leading initiatives that span nations. All are essential. Together, they carry forward the mission of Christ: to form a living temple of faith, hope, and love.

Conclusion: Building on the One Foundation

Looking back, it is striking how the simple vision spoken by Fr. Fio in 1978 continues to inspire us. To gather young people, form them, connect them, and send them out—this remains at the heart of Jesus Youth’s mission.

In a world that is often fragmented and transient, the call to be a builder is more urgent than ever. To build in Christ means to form lasting foundations of faith, to raise communities that can weather storms, and to weave networks that embody communion.

We may use modern tools, we may live in globalized times, but the essence remains the same. Our building must be on Christ, the one true foundation. And when we build with Him, we are not just constructing structures for today—we are raising temples that will stand forever.

The call to be a builder in Christ is both a joy and a responsibility. It is a task given to each of us, whether we are priests, engineers, musicians, housewives, or ordinary young people. And when we embrace this call, we step into the great adventure of being God’s co-workers, master builders in His kingdom.