How we do it

(theory of change)

1. Pioneering Teams: through the partnerships, we envisage deploying pioneering teams who will be involved in evangelism and disciple-making as they plant and grow Christ-centred communities which we are calling Missional Youth Churches – MYCs.

We will use the existing capacity of the partners to plant and grow MYCs. We hope the partners will include, for example, dioceses and local churches, mission centres and hubs, schools and colleges and new and current workers – both paid and/or volunteers. Together we can tap into existing capacity, both people and funding. We shall also be able to source new capacity and funding streams for new pioneering teams.

2. MYCN will form Learning Communities of emerging and established leaders. It will develop and equip leaders and teams in mission:

the pioneering teams heading up each MYC community
the 11-18 year olds showing leadership potential - the new disciples - will become peer-to peer evangelists and the next generation of missional leaders.

3. The Learning Communities will:

seek out strategic opportunities, locations, local churches and partnerships for planting and growing new missional youth-led churches
share good practice, support and prayer
encourage, nurture and mentor existing and new missional leaders
develop appropriate leadership training resources
foster vocations to youth ministry.

4. MYCN will use the fresh expressions of Church journey as a model. Based on the learning of FX and others over 20 years, we can summarise how MYC’s will be planted. Pioneering teams will need a map (what we are calling the developmental cycle - see diagram below). This helps them to plan their journey, recognize how far they have travelled, and decide where to go next.

Learning Journey

5. Like any travellers, pioneers can choose a wide variety of routes, but all the routes have these features in common:

leaders listen to God and to people round them
through listening, they prayerfully discover a simple way to love the young people
they build community with them in the process
as trust deepens, they find natural opportunities to share Jesus together
a new worshipping community with the character of church takes shape among those coming to faith, where they are
new believers repeat the journey in their own way.

6. To make this FX journey, pioneering teams will also need a compass to point them in the right direction. The compass comprises four values or characteristics, which also provide a definition of new worshipping communities:

Missional – Missional

the MYC pioneering team will develop relationships in the local community, particularly connecting with young people who would never otherwise be reached. It will have the Great Commandment to love at the centre of its life
the MYC will use the network of relationships, including existing relationships and networks to draw alongside young people, build relationships and create various groups that enable an intentional journey of faith into discipleship
there is an emphasis on the importance and priority of evangelism and nurturing disciples.

Contextual - Youth

the MYC will connect the Gospel at the intersection of school and college, local churches, family, and the wider, local community
each MYC will be attentive to the context and will, therefore, be innovative, entrepreneurial and rooted in the location
a MYC will inevitably look different in each location. It will, however, share a common DNA.

Ecclesial – Church

a 'family of God' is formed
in fulfilling the Great Commission, the MYC will repeat the journey. As new young leaders emerge, we pray expectantly that they will gradually begin leading existing groups within the MYC and start new initiatives and worshipping communities.

Formational - Network

the MYC will develop a journey of faith which is growing into a mature expression of multigenerational church
the pioneering team will empower the young people. The MYC will seek to plan activities and groups with the young people and, as much as possible, involve them with the intention that they become future leaders and evangelists to their peers
the pioneering teams and new young leaders will, in turn, belong to the Learning Network so they continue to grow and develop as leaders.

For more information see ‘The DNA of Pioneer Ministry’ (SCM, 2016) DNA of Pioneer Ministry by Andy Milne, Michael Moynagh

The model is based on the successful journey of best practice developed by Fresh Expressions UK to grow a sustainable and replicable disciple-making community. We firmly believe that the establishment of MYCs will transform the lives of hundreds of young people. Each MYC will work with young people so they are:

nurtured in discipleship and faith
enabled to take ownership of what they do and grow as leaders
provided with the confidence to grow and flourish in a community which gives a feeling of continuity, relationship and stability in their lives.

We have seen how this leads to a transformation in local communities, reducing youth crime and increasing social opportunities and aspirations for young people. The establishment of Learning Communities will build up the wider church, as both young people and adults develop their skills and understanding, establishing support networks and developing relationships. Like All churches, MYCN seeks to:

Build communities among young people and adults together, particularly in places of deprivation which are full of hurting and broken people
Help people … to flourish by letting young people take ownership with guidance, support and nurture. Our ethos is ‘by young people, for young people’
Grow churches, spiritually and numerically by establishing new churches, initially among young people, which will grow in number and depth as young people come to faith and begin to take the lead.