ARE you ready to run the race that God has set out for you?

Young people from across our diocese take part in the Discovery Day

Guest speaker Mark Russell with young people from St George's Church Portsea

That was the challenge given to 36 young people from nine churches across our diocese at the first Discovery Day event at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Crookhorn. It involved music, worship, group work, reflection and food to help young people with their sense of vocation as part of our Ministry for Mission initiative.

It began with contemporary worship songs led by the church’s worship team, before a reading of the Bible story of how Samuel was called by God. The young people then got together in small groups to draw two pictures: one of a ‘good leader’ and the other of a ‘good disciple’. The qualities they identified were similar – a good communicator, a servant, good listener and being prepared to spread the word of God – but the focus of their role was different.

Ben Mizen, diocesan youth and children’s work adviser, said: “All leaders need to be disciples, first and foremost. Our character matters and who we are in God matters. 

“With Jesus we can really go places but we have to listen to know what that place is. Like Samuel, say to God ‘speak your servant is listening’ and then be prepared to do something with what he says.”

Guest speaker Mark Russell, chief executive of the Church Army, encouraged the young people to believe in themselves, listen for God’s call and be prepared to run the unique race he has set out for them.

“God wants you to believe in yourself,” he said. “Inside each one of you is the potential to change the world. All of us have things that entangle us and stop us running the way that God wants us to. It might be jealousy, pride or selfishness. But I challenge you today to throw off all of those things and run with perseverance the race marked out for you. 

“Your life is not a coincidence. God has got a race that is marked out just for you. You have a choice: you can run that race or you can run another race. Jesus turned the world upside down with 12 people and there are more than 12 people here today. God hasn’t changed.”

They also heard from people serving God in all walks of life including a former naval nurse, a trainee teacher, a nun, a vicar, a church leader and our bishop. Bishop Christopher encouraged them to be like Samuel and be prepared to serve God wherever that might be.

“In my experience, God’s ‘call’ on my life has felt like a push or a bit of a kick or a nudge,” he said. “The times that Samuel was living in were uncertain times, so in that respect not unlike our world today. 

“Each time Samuel was called he went off to check with Eli. That is what we need to do, check our initial thoughts with each other and most importantly check them with God. This is not a recruitment fair. It is about discovering the skills and qualities that each of us has and listening for how God is calling and sending each one of us.” 

Discovery is the diocesan-wide programme to help young people explore their sense of vocation. It includes the chance for young people to work as interns in one of our parishes for a year. The first interns are being recruited now and should start in September.

See www.portsmouth.anglican.org/discovery.