“What would you like to see from your local church in the community?”

This unabashedly forthright question was put forth to countless Darlington locals on July 26th – by children and young people, with those as young as 5 and those as grown-up as 18 pitting their ideas and faith together to help improve the local community.

Darlington Seventh-Day Adventist Church’s Youth Evangelism Day and Prayer Walk, held on July 26th, was a modestly impressive affair; run entirely by the church’s children, who had been practicing for 4 weeks in the run-up and for 6 hours the night before, the children set out to preach to their congregation as well as entertain (with a handmade puppet show, inspirational songs and a children’s story... told by children) and interact with people from all walks of life, getting to the crux of real people’s thoughts and concerns.

Perhaps unsurprising, then, that the questions went straight to the heart of the matter.

And, it would seem that this is a winning formula, since various locals voiced their concerns openly, without fear of censure or disapproval. “I’d like a place that my grandson would be able to go to to keep out of trouble”, said one concerned grandmother, while, on the opposite end of the spectrum, a young mother expressed her desire for “a place my two sons can go, to participate in singing, nativities and group activities”; two different people, two strikingly similar, yet simple, wishes.

Some locals even warmed to the idea of being prayed for by the children and congregation.

It is most likely this unusually personal, determined and frank approach to people and relationships that is one of the contributing factors to Darlington SDA church’s amazing recovery; after dwindling funds and members forced this endearing group of people (with fewer than 10 members at the worst of times) to relocate from their traditional church (which was, astonishingly, converted into Bathroom World), the Adventists started again from scratch in a smaller, more humble building.

And Youth Evangelism Day, it would appear, is just the tip of the iceberg. The youth group is already taking on board local ideas. “We plan to volunteer at elderly care homes and raise funds for other projects, such as a mothers and toddlers club, a teens community football team, youth Bible Q&A drop in sessions, a soup kitchen for the most needy... a sponsored 10K hike near High Force in late September...”, reels off Leyan Ham-ying, who encouraged and guided the children with the day, without any apparent hint of fatigue.

On Youth Evangelism Day more than 50 people came to the church – from all kinds of different backgrounds; Jamaican, Nigerian, Polish, Filipino, Malawi, English. And, evidently, this all-embracing outlook has influenced its younger members; Lupi Mwanjoka, 15, told me, “No matter where people are, we should go out and talk to them – and not just those that are easy to talk to. It’s especially those that need help”.

Leyan Ham-ying echoed these sentiments, saying, “It’s important to keep an open mind – with no pre-conceived ideas about people when you talk to them”. Making an altogether refreshing break from narrow-minded, judgemental Church stereotypes. Significantly, the youth group is open to Christians and non-Christians alike, and Leyan points out that the day is a reminder to Christians of all denominations, good citizens – and people of all ages – that we all have a ‘responsibility’ to the local community. Most interestingly of all, it is the youth of Darlington setting this example.

Never has the Biblical adage to ‘humble’ oneself and ‘become like children’ been more in force.

By Sarah J. Kipling