Queensland’s young people are stepping into a world that feels increasingly uncertain — socially, economically, spiritually. And yet, the Church in Queensland holds something deeply grounding and profoundly hopeful: the opportunity to raise a generation of Christian leaders who are faithful, resilient, and courageous.
But this will only happen if we invest in them deeply enough to help them keep their faith.
The World Our Young People Are Inheriting
Across Queensland, young people are navigating pressures that previous generations never imagined:
- rising cost‑of‑living stress
- climate anxiety
- social media’s relentless influence
- cultural confusion around identity and belonging
- global instability that feels close to home
Into this world, the Church is called to send not passive bystanders, but faithful, grounded, Christ‑centred leaders.
Yet many of the children who begin life connected to church — Sunday school, holiday programs, family services — quietly drift away during their teenage years. And with them goes a generation of potential Christian leaders our communities desperately need.
What Young People Are Carrying
Queensland’s young people are carrying:
- new social pressures
- questions about identity and purpose
- anxiety about the future
- uncertainty about where they fit
- a longing for belonging, voice, and identity
They are searching for spaces where they are genuinely known, where their questions matter, and where faith can be explored honestly. At its best, the Church can be exactly that place.
But engagement is not the same as discipleship.
Activity Isn’t Formation
Many churches across Queensland work hard to keep young people connected — running programs, events, camps, and activities that build community.
But attendance alone does not produce depth.
Young people can be present without ever being formed. And when life gets harder — university, work, crisis, adulthood — it is depth of formation, not frequency of attendance, that holds them steady.
Jesus’ model was clear: slow, patient, relational investment. The disciples were not simply taught; they were shaped.
This is the pattern of lasting faith formation.
Where BBQLD Stands in This Mission
For over 140 years, The Boys’ Brigade has partnered with churches to disciple children and young people. Here in Queensland, BBQLD continues that legacy — offering one of the most consistent, long‑view discipleship pathways available to churches today.
Across Anchors (5–7), Juniors (8–11), and Seniors (12–18), BBQLD walks with young people for thirteen formative years, providing:
- Christian leadership development
- safe, fun, caring environments
- opportunities to grow in character and resilience
- mentoring from godly men and women
- a community where belonging is real and identity is anchored in Christ
At the heart of BBQLD is our Faith Journey, a framework that shapes everything we do:
- Engage with children and young people
- Explore what Scripture says about who they are
- Encounter Jesus and acknowledge Him as Saviour
- Expand His Kingdom by stepping into God’s calling
This is long‑view discipleship. This is formation.
What Faithful Formation Produces
The investment made in young people today does not stay in the youth group. It grows into:
- stronger families
- healthier communities
- workplaces influenced by Christian character
- public leadership shaped by faith
Across Australia and around the world, Boys’ Brigade alumni have become leaders in medicine, education, ministry, public service, and culture — carrying with them the belonging, discipline, and purpose they first discovered in BB.
Their stories remind us: the Church is capable of forming extraordinary leaders when it invests deeply and consistently.
A Generation Is Not Lost — It Is Waiting
Queensland’s young people do not have to drift away. They do not have to lose their faith. They do not have to face the world alone.
They are waiting to be invested in.
What they need is patient, relational, long‑view formation — the kind that roots them deeply enough in Christ to lead through whatever the world throws at them.
BBQLD offers churches a trusted, proven partner in that work.
The World Is Changing Fast — Our Response Must Be Faithful and Focused
The Church’s response begins with the young people already in our midst — and with the decision to invest in them as if everything depends on it.
Because, in so many ways, it does.
Find out more about partnering with BBQLD
The Boys’ Brigade Qld partners today with 26 Churches across Queensland to reach children and young people aged 5-18, through a program of experiences and opportunities rooted in the Christian faith. Find out more about our work and what we offer at bbqld.org.au and discover how your church can invest in the future of your children and Christian leadership.
Adapted from a blog from BBUK by Jonathan Eales Chief Executive, The Boys’ Brigade UK