Like many parents of pre-teens and teenagers, we want our children to grow into compassionate adults with strong friendships, meaningful work, and a sense of purpose. But parenting has a way of humbling you. No matter how hard we try, we quickly realise we cannot control everything. We cannot shield our children from every disappointment, influence, or struggle. But what we can do is help provide a foundation for something deeper that shapes how they see themselves, others, and the world around them.

For my wife and me, faith in Christ has been that foundation. It has shaped how we understand purpose, relationships, compassion, and what truly matters in life. Because of that, much of our lives has been spent helping others, especially young people, discover that same foundation for themselves.

While living in the United States, we ran a youth group for teenagers at our church for many years. Over time, more and more young people began attending, many from homes with little or no church background. They brought honest questions about life, suffering, relationships, identity, and God. But after a while, we noticed something important: information alone only goes so far. Young people do not simply need lectures about faith or values. They also need opportunities to experience compassion, service, community, and faith for themselves.

That led us to partner with an organisation called Urban Promise. For many years, we took groups of high school students on week-long trips to Honduras to serve alongside local youth in after-school programmes for children.

Our students helped children with homework, life skills, played games, and taught Bible lessons despite language barriers. In the evenings, they spent time with local teenagers playing football, sharing meals, and talking about life and faith. One moment has stayed with me all these years later. A student from our group broke down in tears after noticing that many of the children carefully used pencils down to tiny stubs because replacing them was difficult. He said, “We have so much, and we never stop and appreciate it.” Our group also noticed something else. The Honduran teens were incredibly generous. If they had gum, candy, or food, they offered it to others first. Their faith was not merely something they talked about; it shaped how they lived even in the small things.

Slowly, our students began to change too. What started as ideas and concepts about faith discussed in a youth group became something real and personal as they developed a faith of their own. Many of those students later chose careers in education, healthcare, law, public service, and community work because they discovered something larger than themselves. They realised that a meaningful life is not built merely on comfort or success. Those things alone are never enough. A meaningful life grows when we learn to love our neighbour, serve others, and recognise that our lives can make a difference.


The youth group itself changed as well. Conversations became deeper. Friendships became stronger. Parents began joining service trips, helping as chaperones, and becoming involved in the wider community life of the church.

One of the great insights of the Christian faith is that love becomes real when it is lived out. Compassion, forgiveness, generosity, and service are not simply ideals to admire; they are meant to be practiced.

That is why I would gently encourage parents here in the Algarve to consider helping their children connect with a faith community. Not because churches are perfect, none are, but because healthy faith communities can give young people something increasingly rare in modern life: belonging, purpose, guidance, and opportunities to serve others. These lived experiences in a faith community can leave a lasting mark on a young person’s life. And sometimes, they change us as parents too!

Early in Jesus’ ministry, he invited people to follow him with two simple words: “Come and see.”

It was an invitation into a way of living rooted in faith, community, purpose, and love. Perhaps that invitation is still worth exploring today for your children and you? Come and see!

About Rev. Steve Chisholm

Rev. Steve Chisholm has lived in the Algarve with his wife and two teenage daughters for the past two years. Originally from the United States, he serves as pastor of Christ the King Church, an English-speaking congregation based in Almancil. For the past 30 years, Steve has served in ministry, helping youth, families, and adults connect with God, one another, and the communities around them locally and globally.