Surrender Youth Hour is an hour dedicated to helping young people discover a life of service to the margins as inspired by the life of Jesus. 

The online gathering, the first of its kind as part of Surrender’s Have You campaign, launched in September of this year. The initiative invited a variety of youth groups to share a space to learn about hearing seeing and noticing those whom Jesus has placed at the centre of the Kingdom and work towards a more just and compassionate world. 

Young people from Werribee Karen Baptist Church, Earthen Vessels Baptist Church (Vietnamese) and Faith Christian Community Church (Filipino) joined the online service hosted by Surrender while other youth groups held Bible studies during their own Friday night services.  

Charlene Delos Santos,  BUV’s multicultural 2nd Gen Coordinator, who has also been the Director of Surrender for 6 years, opened up the evening with an Acknowledgement of Country—a great learning opportunity for some young people who have never witnessed one before. 

Making the most of the breakout rooms, the groups entered an even smaller space where they discussed larger questions on listening, serving, advocating and going local when it comes to taking action for God’s kingdom in the margins.  

Charlene reiterated the verse in Luke 4:16-19 that talked about Jesus’ purpose (“to proclaim the good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour”).  

Afterwards, in a time of reflection, Joyce Chen led worship through song, concluding the evening in joy and warmth as the group parted in gratefulness for the opportunity to meet new people and to make new friends, but also in vigour as they take on what they learnt, ready to take action! 

For more information and to access resources on what it means to re-orient your life to the radical call of Jesus amongst the margins, visit www.surrender.org.au