On March 5th, we held Ash Wednesday at the Manchester Alliance Centre, organised by the Alliance Bible Seminary, marking the beginning of Lent. Every year, before the arrival of Lent, pastors remind believers through various occasions and media about the connection between Lent and spiritual practices. I find it particularly interesting to introduce Lent to young people. In contrast to Easter, young people often feel both unfamiliar and intrigued by Lent, as the liturgical actions involve stories from the life of Jesus, carrying significant symbolism. For example, Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, Lent reflects Jesus’ temptation, and the Last Supper establishes the practice of communion. These events encourage believers to reflect on Christ’s life and redemption, enriching their spiritual practices.
After attending the Ash Wednesday service at the Manchester Alliance Centre, the next day when I picked up my child from school, he was excitedly brushing his hair back to show me his forehead. It turned out that he had received the ashes during the school’s Ash Wednesday service. He found it very interesting! During that week’s youth fellowship, I discussed the school’s Ash Wednesday service with several girls, both local and from Hong Kong. They were very curious about the meaning of Lent and were eager to practice spiritual disciplines during this period. I provided them with spiritual resources and encouraged them to take turns sharing devotionals within their peer group, hoping to inspire them to grow closer to the Lord. I also shared with the Year 7 and Year 8 students about how Lent encourages practices such as self-discipline, giving, and prayer. They were keen to think about how to integrate spiritual practices into their daily lives. Apart from fasting, they thought about limiting time spent playing games, eating chips, or staying in bed too long in the mornings. For giving, they considered caring for stray cats and dogs and praying for the poor before going to bed with their siblings.
The “Way to Live: Christian Practices for Teens” series, written by Dorothy C. Bass and Don C. Richter, etc., uses daily life themes to help young people reflect on the spiritual meaning of life issues and creatively think about how to practice various aspects of spiritual disciplines in daily life. Topics in this series include time, material possessions, food, creation, forgiveness, hospitality, recreation, and prayer. For example, in the discussion of “time,” the author points out that modern life has made it difficult for young people to slow down. Therefore, we need to rethink the meaning of creation and rest, allowing young people to creatively carve out moments of quiet, such as during a shower, cleaning out a locker, lingering on the playground, praying before meals, or enjoying a slow meal, to reclaim opportunities to reflect on and remember God’s grace and the Creator of time.
This series enriches our imagination when discussing spiritual practices with young people, going beyond the limited options of Bible reading, devotion, and prayer in church. When young people understand the meaning and feasibility of spiritual practices, their engagement, creativity, and reflection can exceed our expectations. In my experience with campus ministry, I have been surprised by the active participation of young people in morning prayers and pre-class devotionals. Once, a secondary 3 student in Hong Kong, deeply touched by God’s love, eagerly hoped that the school would experience the Lord’s love more profoundly. She took the initiative to start praying for the school every morning as soon as the doors opened. They continued this practice for two years, and God indeed brought revival to many teachers’ and students’ lives. Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12—“Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”(RSV) —are still a goal young people can achieve today.
Of course, we hope to see our children and the next generation set an example in their spiritual lives, loving God and others. The growth of their spiritual lives also requires our encouragement, support, and examples. We must practice what we preach. Whether during the liturgical seasons or regular days, we can creatively practice spiritual disciplines, grow closer to the Lord, and experience spiritual growth together!
Rev. Alice You