In Boys’ Brigade, we often talk about leadership, mentoring, and walking alongside our boys. But every now and then, a concept comes along that gives language to what we feel and do instinctively. Andrew Root’s idea of place‑sharing is one of those concepts.
Originally written for Leadership staff, this idea now speaks powerfully into every corner of BB ministry—Companies, Battalions, State events, and every leader who stands beside a boy or young man.
What Is Place‑Sharing?
Andrew Root (2007) describes “place‑sharing” as a way of understanding relationships in youth ministry that goes far beyond surface‑level connection. It’s not simply being present. It’s not just listening. It’s entering into the lived experience of another person—sharing their space, their story, their pain, their joy.
Root writes:
“He or she has reached out beyond the connection into relationship and the demand of Christ is now presented to me.”
(Root, 2007, p. 193)
In other words, once a young person opens their heart—even a little—we are no longer dealing with a casual interaction. We are stepping into sacred ground. Christ Himself calls us to respond.
Drawing on Bonhoeffer, Root expands the idea:
“Just as Jesus incarnate, crucified and resurrected was fully our place‑sharer, so we too, as Jesus’ disciples must ourselves become place‑sharers… able to see human‑to‑human relationships as the location of God’s presence in the world.”
(Root, 2007, p. 83)
This is a profound thought: our relationships with young people are the very place where God is present and active.
When Deep Sharing Happens
Every leader has experienced it. A devotion hits deeper than expected. A boy shares something painful. A conversation shifts from light-hearted to vulnerable. A moment of communitas forms—where the group moves beyond activity and into shared humanity.
Imagine a boy sharing about the death of his father. Two seats away, another boy begins to cry. Is it shared experience? Empathy? The Holy Spirit stirring compassion?
Whatever the reason, something sacred is happening.
This is place‑sharing.
And when it happens, there is a responsibility:
Do not vacate the space. Do not leave a void.
A boy who shares pain is not looking for a quick fix. He is looking for someone who will stay.
The Challenge Beyond Leadership
In a perfect world, every boy who opens up would have a trained leader ready to walk with him. But in reality, we must be intentional. We must identify someone:
- available
- trustworthy
- willing to inhabit that space
- who understands that this is incarnational ministry
Place‑sharing is not a one‑off conversation. It is a willingness to walk with a young person for as long as needed.
This Is BB Ministry
If you serve in BB—Company, Battalion, or State—you are in youth ministry. And sooner or later, you will meet a boy who is hurting. It might be a momentary struggle or a long‑term burden. Either way, you become his place‑sharer.
This doesn’t mean you must approve of every choice he makes. It doesn’t mean you must have all the answers. It means you refuse to judge, refuse to abandon, and refuse to stand at a distance.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 echo loudly here:
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for me.”
The hungry, thirsty, lonely, hurting, confused, broken.
When a boy is in physical, emotional, or spiritual need, you stand in the place of Jesus for him—not because you are perfect, but because Jesus is already there. Your role is simply to join Him.
Why This Matters
Place‑sharing is not a technique. It’s not a program. It’s not a leadership strategy.
It is incarnational ministry—the kind Jesus modelled.
The heart of BB’s Object lived out in real time.
The quiet, unseen work that shapes boys into men and leaders into shepherds.
And it is one of the greatest privileges of BB ministry.
by Don Smith