By Emily Casey
Behind
the church podium, two rows of children dressed in their Sunday best sang in
perfect harmony to the lyrics “I am not forgotten, God knows my name.”
Each
of the young choir members sat anxiously, scanning their eyes through the pews
to find their parents who waved encouragingly before each performance.
Youth
choir is just one of the many ways that the youth ministry is involved within
the Messiah Baptist Church in Brockton.
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| Photo by Emily Casey |
“Every
area of the church is open to them,” pastor of Messiah Baptist Church, Michael
Walker said.
The
children in the youth ministry are the stars of the Sunday youth services that
happen every second Sunday of the month, where they take on the varying
responsibilities of the service.
Youth ministry
members lead the readings, announcements and prayer, as well as serve as
ushers. All the while, the children’s choir sings throughout the service and
dance ministry prays through gospel dance. Others have jobs outside of the youth
service that work to benefit the community, such as tellers at the church’s
credit union.
“They
are learning and incorporating emancipatory hope,” Walker said. “They see
themselves as God’s agents so that they can correct and right the racist,
homophobic, sexist and classism in the community and work towards changing
those things.”
According
to Walker, there are around 30 kids involved in the youth ministry program,
ranging from ages 6 to 18.
Minister
Veronica Truell oversees the youth ministry program and preaches during the
youth services, often using lessons that will inspire the positive community
that youth ministry promotes.
Truell
said she tries to relate her lessons to the young people that surround her so
they can “connect more directly to it.”
“They
are being compassionate to the most vulnerable members of our society, and that
is what is most important,” Walker said.
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