BREAK THE ROUTINE, BUILD COMMUNITY - THAT'S JY | KAIROS GLOBAL | NOVEMBER 2026

Author: Dr Edward Edezhath

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We need one-of-a-kind gatherings, not just regular meetings.

Jesus Youth gatherings can be deeply transformative. A discussion meeting, a prayer gathering, even an online meeting can break new ground, and it is worth keeping records and taking notes. Israel did the same, and the apostles wanted to recall the times when the Lord did great things. That is why it upsets me to see people take gatherings so lightly. How can one not be troubled to see beautiful opportunities lost because the organisers lacked vision, understanding and preparation?

Recently, JY members from two zones came together, many active members and some youth among them. I came with great anticipation, but as the meeting went on, the leaders' thoughtlessness became plain. It began abruptly, with no welcome and no introductions. The facilitator gave 15 minutes for a sharing, but the speaker took 45. A couple of people then talked about an upcoming programme. After that came a few songs, a routine prayer session and a photo session, and the meeting ended. Nearly two and a half hours of great opportunity were completely lost. Then came fellowship and food. Many were happy with that, and nobody remembered the boredom and torture that went before.

No one tried to greet people, welcome them or make them feel they belonged. I would have asked everyone to look around, talk to a few others and share something. Instead, one-way input took most of the time, and some were dozing off. The prayer time was another torture. Despite the instruments and musicians, who thought they did a good job, it was a performance. Three or four people prayed repeatedly while the rest sat patiently with their eyes closed. That kind of ‘retreat prayer’ neither helps people open up nor builds a sense of community. If only people knew how to mix sharing, discussion and prayer and involve everyone! 

Several youngsters were present, some of them new. Sadly, no one welcomed or introduced them. It could have been a beautiful occasion to make everyone feel they belonged, help them discover what Jesus Youth can be, and send them out deeply motivated, with new vigour, zeal and vision. Instead, it became one more routine, fruitless meeting.

Why does a meeting become a boring routine?

The leader’s enthusiasm makes the difference: A single person’s eagerness and excitement is the salt and leaven of a gathering. When more people come charged with missionary zeal, the meeting becomes explosive. Our Wednesday meeting was a regular affair, but every Monday a handful of us met for an hour to pray, discuss and plan. On Wednesdays, a few would come early to prepare in prayer before the others arrived. Needless to say, each meeting became special. New people arrived and were welcomed, new songs were introduced, and the meeting took unexpected turns as the Spirit led. The chats after the meeting often grew into mission initiatives.

Not an organisational duty, but a missionary endeavour: A household meeting can be seen as just a monthly gathering of all the committed people in an area. That organisational, duty-bound approach can itself do damage and turn the meeting into a rigid ritual. In South Florida, they reimagined the household meeting with a missionary angle. It begins with many people sharing their missionary initiatives from the past days, moves forward step by step, and ends with joyful prayer. Most importantly, the household meeting is no longer an organisational duty. It is an opportunity to network and to challenge one another to bear fruit.

Not following a ritual, but being moved by the Spirit: ‘What are the steps of a Jesus Youth group meeting?’ I hear this question often. Unfortunately, many group leaders learn the steps and follow them mechanically, which spoils the spirit of community. Instead, a Jesus Youth meeting should be visibly moved by the Spirit. For that, those leading the gathering must be open to the Spirit's guidance and attentive to the inspirations that come through others in the group. This is also called a synodal approach to a gathering. It makes all the difference in a Jesus Youth group.

The gathering is not the community, only a means

Recently, 90-year-old Archbishop Thomas came to my house. I was surprised by how eager he still was to travel, visit people and talk. Mission becomes possible only through relationships, so a missionary does not want to miss any chance to connect and meet. A good missionary heart looks forward to meetings of every kind, big or small. When hearts meet, especially hearts open to the Holy Spirit, there can be explosions of love and momentous turns for the good news.

Recently I gave a group a list of seven simple tools Jesus Youth uses to make a gathering a truly Spirit-filled experience: free praise, singing in the Spirit, listening and sharing inspirations, and so on. But only a setting of joyful freedom and friendship can prepare the way for the Spirit to move. That is why, whenever we gather, we tell people, ‘Look around, see everyone, and feel that you are part of this beautiful body of Christ.’ When people are truly alive to one another, the rest is easy.

Do everything possible to build community

Many years ago, our group repeatedly received a prophetic message, and it made a big difference to our community: ‘Do all that is possible to build love!’ Our core group began to look for the areas where we needed to take steps to become a loving community. There was plenty of laughter and chit-chat in our meetings. Some people began bringing food to share. We collected personal details, did birthday greetings and learned about each other's families, and all of this helped everyone belong. Once a month, we set the meeting aside to pray for people and to pray with them. Personal accompaniment and small groups grew strong. The group became close and joyful, and that attracted many people. Above all, we learned simple ways of praying as a community: sometimes by sharing, often by giving everyone a chance to say what was on their hearts, but always by being alive to one another.

Jesus was very clear about this: ‘Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.’ Big or small, a true gathering of Christ's disciples is a powerful occasion to experience the Lord and to let him move us to go out in love. A good Jesus Youth group is a refreshing and motivating fellowship. It naturally grows into a joy-filled, magnetic community that is missionary without even trying. This is how Jesus Youth becomes a missionary movement that transforms the Church and society.

One of the pioneers of the Jesus Youth movement, an international preacher and author, Dr Edward Edezhath is a retired professor from St Albert’s College, Ernakulam. He is presently a researcher at Amoris Christi in Florida, USA.