Maya Bradley is the Baptist Youth Ministries Administrator. She attends Royal Oak Baptist Church in Auckland.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers…” — 1 Timothy 4:12
Every year, supported by the Ministry of Youth Development, National Youth Week brings Aotearoa New Zealand together to celebrate young people: their ideas, their energy, and the difference they make in their communities. It’s a reminder that young people don’t just belong in our society—they help shape it.
In 2026, the theme says it clearly: Our voices matter! We deserve to be heard | Taringa whakarongo! Ki te reo o ngā taiohi.
This is where the Church has a powerful opportunity to respond and be part of something happening across our nation.
A shared invitation
At the end of National Youth Week, there is an invitation for churches across the country to share in one simple, meaningful moment: National Youth Sunday, held on Sunday 24th May.
In partnership with youth ministries departments from across denominations, this is a chance for churches to stand together and intentionally champion young people. It’s about creating space to hear their voices and stories, and taking time to pray for their lives, their challenges, and their calling.
It doesn’t need to be complicated to be meaningful, it just needs to be intentional.
What this could look like
National Youth Sunday is designed to be flexible, making it accessible for every church context. For some, it might look like a fully youth-led service. For others, it might simply be five focused minutes within an existing gathering.
A church might show a short video of young people sharing their perspectives, invite a young person to participate in the service, or set aside time to pray for young people in their church, local community, and across Aotearoa. It could include a Scripture reading, a moment in worship, or a message that reflects God’s heart for the next generation.
Whether it’s big or small, each expression contributes to something larger.
A Baptist opportunity
For Baptist churches, this moment carries particular significance. It reflects both a commitment to local communities and a deep belief in the next generation.
To support this, a series of short videos has been created, featuring young people speaking about their openness and hunger for Jesus, the realities and pressures of life today, and the way God continues to call and use young people. These videos are simple to use and help churches engage meaningfully, while also reminding us that we are part of something bigger.
Here are some prayer points that might be helpful:
· Thank God for young people, for their lives, gifts, and presence in our communities
· Pray that they would know they are loved by God and valued by others
· Pray for their voices to be heard and for spaces where they can speak honestly
· Pray for those facing pressure, anxiety, or loneliness, that they would know God’s peace and support around them
· Pray that young people would be open to Jesus and grow in faith
· Pray for a sense of purpose, that they would see how God is at work in and through them
· Pray for courage to live differently and set an example in their generation
· Pray for youth leaders and churches, for wisdom, care, and energy as they support young people
· Pray for unity across churches as we stand together for the next generation
· Pray that young people would know they belong in the life of the Church now
Why it matters
National Youth Sunday is more than just a date in the calendar. It’s a simple but powerful opportunity to pause and recognise what God is already doing in and through young people.
When churches create space for young people, something shifts: young people feel seen, they feel heard, and they know they belong. And when we pray for them and stand with them, we’re not just investing in the future; we’re acknowledging that they are a vital part of the Church right now.
An invitation
On Sunday 24th May, take a moment.
Lean in, show up, and champion the young people in your community. Because when the Church lifts its voice together, it becomes a powerful and visible expression of hope, for this generation, and for those to come.
Photo supplied by Maya, from Northern Easter Camp 2026
