What is a cell?
Cell
The Leeds Youth Cell Network helps to support a number of cell groups across Leeds, all take a slightly different form how below is a brief description and some key values that are true of all the groups we support. A cell group is a weekly gathering for young people aged between 13 - 18. These gatherings usually take place in the home of an adult Cell Coordinator or host. The young people gather to pray, study the scriptures and share faith with each other. A cell group is not an exclusively Christian group as the aim is for them to be outward looking and a safe place for christian young people to invite their friends to hear the gospel message in a relevant way. Cell groups are places full of life, fun and the hope is for them to be places of fellowship for Christian young people here in the city of Leeds. Cell groups can be made up of the young people from a specific church however we encourage them to be open spaces to gather all the Christian young people within their locality, irrespective of church or denomination. Cell in not a replacement for church but a supplement with the aim that as we encourage the young people and help them to grow they will throw themselves into church life being positive and valuable contributors to church life. Cells often use the 4 w's as a guide to follow, if you are interested in how a cell evening might run please see the description below.
Why is it called a Cell?
Excuse the brief biology lesson but a cell is a small particle, however bigger things are made up of them. We believe that being part of a small "Cell" group helps to remind the young people that they are part of something much bigger......the body of the church. Another characteristic of a biological cell is that as it grows it reaches a certain mass and divides to form multiple cells. Our hope is that "Cell" remains a safe environment for young people to invite their friends as as it grows we see new groups rising up.
The 4 W's
The 4 w's are a tool to help plan sessions for "Cells groups". Most groups will roughly form this structure even if not intentinally!
Welcome - This is the social time where often the groups have a game and some food, it is important to build strength as a group and to build great friendships with other Christians.
Worship - This is a chance for the group to come before God, pray, sing, read. Each Cell will approach this in very different way but it is time to lift God's name up and give him thanks.
Word - This is a time for discussion, again groups will do it in various different ways, sometimes taking a bible reference or following a bible study or sometimes one of the group may share a a story or message about a particular theme or topic.
Witness - This about the groups looking outside of themselves are the world around and taking to the time to pray or act to see change. Sometimes groups will use this time to pray for friends or family, somethimes they might engagin in an activity of some knd, planning a findraiser for charity or plannind to get involved in a Demonstrate Day.
Cell Values
We believe there are 5 key values to a Cell. They are:
Jesus at the Centre
Cell is a Community of Care
Every Member Involved In Ministry
Every Member Growing In Their Own Faith
Every Member Responsible For Making God Known
Peer Leadership
As a network we believe in Peer Leadership and encorage the Cell groups across Leeds to be developing young leaders amungst their group. For more information please see the Peer Leadership page.
More Information
If you would like more information please see our "Who Are We?" flyer or get in touch via email.
