Mina Smallman

Mina Smallman, the curate at St John's, Stanmore in Middlesex, led her youth group through the CPAS Growing Leaders - Youth Edition course while it was being piloted in 2008.

She said: 'Alison, the rector at St John's, found out about the pilot at a CPAS Growing Leaders - Training the Trainers day. When she described the course to me, I thought that's exactly what the young people at St John's need, and so approached CPAS asking if we could take part in the pilot. Thankfully they said yes!'

Seven 14-16 year olds were involved in the Growing Leaders -Youth Edition pilot at St John's which ran over two terms and featured a mixture of teaching, mentoring and practical application to develop young people in Christian leadership.

Mina said: 'Running Growing Leaders - Youth Edition was a bit of work but it was brilliant. It enabled the young people to see their Christian faith as part of their whole identity and not as a separate part of who they are. They were encouraged to live as followers of Jesus in all the places that they go - not just at church but at home and at school.'

Each young person was paired with a mentor - an older and more mature Christian - who they met with regularly throughout the course. Mina said: 'The solid relationships the young people had with their mentors were amazing.'

Peter, one of the mentors, said about his experience: 'Gianni and I would meet for an hour in the week usually following the group's Growing Leaders - Youth Edition session. I tried to emphasise Jesus as the example of how we should lead, and we would spend time talking about how Jesus related to different people and how he encouraged people to follow him.'

Gianni, Peter's mentee, said: 'Mentoring was one of the best bits of the course. I got to spend time with someone who I wouldn't usually spend time with - someone who had lived life and was able to answer questions about my faith.'

Growing Leaders - Youth Edition includes looking at different leaders in the Bible chosen by God to lead people for him and to him. Mina said: 'It was exciting to see how the young people's understanding of the Bible improved as we explored biblical leaders such as Deborah, Moses and Gideon. The group was inspired by these very human leaders and how they were used by God.'

The course had had a lasting impact on the youth group at St John's. Two young people are now co-running the crèche on a Sunday morning, and another is helping to lead the 8-11s group.

Gianni says: 'Everyone should do Growing Leaders - Youth Edition. You really have to try it! Before the course I wasn't sure of where I was going in my faith and it definitely answered a lot of my questions. It brought me closer to God, and helped me to say "yes" to him. Growing Leaders - Youth Edition also brought the group closer together and gave us ideas about doing other things in the church.'

Mina shares Gianni's enthusiasm: 'Growing Leaders - Youth Edition is definitely the course to be doing! It's the real deal.'

Inspired by this story?

You can support CPAS by praying, making a donation or simply staying in touch with us.