From Isolation to Belonging: The Gospel at Work in Rainham’s Young People

It’s a Thursday afternoon in Rainham, East London. School is out, and a group of teenagers makes their way to a modest hall near the parish church. On the surface, it looks like any other youth group – snacks, games, laughter.

But look closer, and you’ll see something far more profound: a safe space where young people are finding hope, healing, and the love of Jesus.

Where young people can lay down their burdens

For Bradley, this space matters so much because:

“We realised there were many young people in Rainham and nothing for them. We wanted to create a safe space where they could learn about Jesus, hang out, and just be themselves. For some, it’s the only place where they can talk to a trusted adult.”

The issues these teens face are real: stress over exams, mental health struggles, isolation, and even the fallout from school discipline.

“A lot of the boys come late because they’ve been in isolation or detention,” Bradley says. “The girls often carry heavy emotional burdens. They walk in with the weight of stress and pressure on their shoulders.”

Jay, the youth worker at Rainham Parish Church, says their approach has always been relational:

“We felt the biggest thing God would send us was the opportunity for genuine relationships. We needed to build relationships first, and then everything else would develop from there.”

That strategy has paid off. Leaders have created a culture where vulnerability is welcomed – where teens can grab an adult and say, “Can we talk?”

And they do. Conversations lead to prayer, encouragement, and practical advice. Leaders share their own struggles too, modelling that honesty.

“We’re vulnerable with them,” Bradley says. “We tell our stories, so they know it’s not just one-way.”

God is at work through the youth group

This isn’t just theory – it’s positive change in action. When the group started, language was rough, tempers flared, and respect was scarce.

So, the leaders introduced simple rules from biblical principles: love your neighbour as yourself, no swearing, no violence, and treat others as you want to be treated.

At first, it was hard. But a year and a half later, the difference is striking.

“The swearing is gone,” Bradley says. “The fighting has stopped. They call each other out if someone slips up. One lad who used to be really rough recently got angry playing football. He said something nasty to a girl – but before I could intervene, he stopped himself and apologised. That’s huge.”

For those who’ve encountered Jesus, the change runs even deeper. After attending Satellite, a Christian youth festival, several teens gave their lives to Christ.

“They’ve realised that when you live for Jesus, you live differently,” Bradley explains. “Now, when they mess up, they repent. They come to us – but they know they can also go to Christ.”

A sanctuary for youth who feel unseen and unheard

This is more than a youth group. It’s a sanctuary for young people who feel unseen and unheard – a place where they can lay down their burdens and discover that they are loved, valued, and never alone. As Bradley puts it:

“Young people are crying out to be heard. They carry brokenness from family, school, and social media. They need to know what real peace and love – found alone in Jesus – look like. And God is at work. We’re seeing change happen.”

The impact may be quiet, but it’s profound. Lives are being reshaped. Hearts are opening. And in Rainham, God is using a youth group to welcome young people into his Kingdom.