Ben Rose – A little piece of Switzerland

A little piece of Switzerland...

I was invited, on behalf of the Global Relationships Team in the Connexional Office in the Methodist Church in Britain, to spend ten days in Switzerland in late July – early August. This was to participate in STR 2026, the Swiss Meeting 2026 of the JEMK. I was invited to spend some time with the Evangelisch-methodistische Kirche (EMK), the Evangelical Methodist Church in Switzerland, which is part of the United Methodist Church European Regional Conference.

Or, more specifically, I was spending time with the JEMK.

JEMK stands for the Jungschar Evangelisch Methodistische Kirche. Jungschar does not have a direct translation into English but can be described as a church-based Christian children's and youth group, centred on community, outdoor adventure, practical activities, personal development and faith. More than just a church youth group.

I was part of an international group of young adults from Methodism from around the world, from countries such as Argentina, Cambodia, Hungary and Norway. We stayed in tents on land that used to be farmland and had been turned into a campsite. We also briefly stayed in a scouting centre for introductory workshops before the camp, and later in our stay, we stayed in a backpackers' hostel in Interlaken owned by the Methodist Church.

While I was there, I joined the JEMK Ost Region (East Region) and Jungschar Radix for their big summer camp, held as part of STR 2026 in the beautiful Swiss countryside, alongside the other three regions of Switzerland.

While I was there, we took part in lots of different activities with the young people. We went hiking, learned about the world around us, spent time praising God and, of course, had lots of fun together, praising God through drama, devotion, dance and song.

We even had the opportunity to build rafts, go swimming, and explore some of the amazing Swiss scenery — including visiting the odd castle and going on the odd train ride here and there.

I experienced youth work from a different context to that of my own country and saw that relationships and community were very important, no matter how big or small the group was.

I found that the relationships with young people were very strong, and that the young people were really known by their leaders. Relationships are sometimes forgotten about, and it is important that they are not. These relationships created a strong sense of belonging for the young people and helped foster a real sense of cohesion within and across the group.

I was placed with the older young people, as more of them spoke English. This helped very much in terms of language and engaging with the young people. Some of the younger participants spoke limited English but understood through play. The language of play and faith transcends human-made borders and boundaries.

Meal times, games and activities, such as those in the forest, were often shared as part of the regional gathering, bringing together young people from different Jungschar groups within the Ost Region. This meant young people could develop key skills, from learning about the natural world, including what you could eat in the forest, to recognising different cloud formations. Through games and activities, they could also get to know each other and build relationships with people of different ages.

Younger people and teenagers participated in games together, alongside the leaders. Each young person and leader also had a nickname that was specifically theirs. This helped foster a sense of belonging across the different age groups and between the young people and leaders. Leaders and young people rarely used their Christian names, with a few exceptions. This was something I had not come across before, and it made me reflect on how people become known and recognised within a community.

Meal times were another important part of this. Everyone ate together, often singing a simple song followed by a prayer of thanks to God for the food. Afterwards, the young people joined in with the washing up, making sure everything was clean and spotless ready for the next meal.

Eating together also created space for small talk and conversation. It gave the young people time to unpack what they had been doing, share their experiences and simply spend time together. These were ordinary moments, but they helped build relationships and a sense of belonging within the group.

I found that faith was woven into everything, even the little things. Even when going for an activity in the forest, there was a care to make sure everyone was present before moving on. We would sit around in a circle and make sure that everyone was there, from the youngest young person through to the oldest.

It was a simple thing, but it showed that everyone mattered and that no one was simply left behind.

One evening, while we were in the forest, there was thunder and lightning where we were due to stay for the night. We quickly made our way to shelter. When we reached our place of refuge, we started singing together. It was a memory that I will cherish, despite the setback, because it reminded me that God is with us in the good times and the bad times.

Thankfully, we made it safely and were able to put our tents up in the dark, with the help of the well-prepared young people and their leaders. It was a small setback, and thankfully nobody got too wet in the process! But it was one of those moments that stayed with me. Even in the middle of an unexpected situation, we were together, we sang and we trusted one another.

Young people were encouraged to take responsibility, with some helping to look after younger children during sessions. At the start of the camp, when we were putting up the tents, and again when we were taking them down, everyone was involved, across all the age groups.

It wasn't simply a case of adults doing everything for the young people. The young people themselves were part of making the community happen. They were given opportunities to contribute, to help others and to take responsibility.

I think this is an important part of what makes Jungschar different. Young people aren't simply recipients of youth work; they are part of creating the community they belong to.

Through this camp, I made long-lasting friendships, both in Switzerland and internationally, with people I would like to stay in touch with.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of STR 2026 and to have experienced JEMK for myself. I am also grateful to the Connexional teams in Switzerland and Britain, the Global Links team in the Methodist Church in Britain, the STR 2026 organising team, the JEMK Ost Region and everyone in JS Radix who helped make this experience possible (and those not mentioned by name, but you know who you are!). It was an experience I will remember for a long time, and I hope that the friendships I made will continue beyond the camp.

I also hope that this will be the beginning of further international links between Methodism in Britain and Switzerland, and that these relationships will continue to grow in the future, whether at an international, national or local level.

What I have taken away from this experience is the importance of relationships with one another in our communities. They are important no matter how big or small our communities are, and no matter how old or young we are.

In JEMK, I saw how being known, being present, being included and being alongside helped create a real sense of belonging. It reminded me that everyone has a place and everyone has something to contribute.

Most importantly, I was reminded that God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — is at the forefront of what we do, in the little things as well as the big things. Whether that is sharing a meal, singing together, helping someone younger, exploring the forest or simply making sure everyone is present before we move on.

For me, it was important to reflect on my journey in Methodism and in life so far. Sometimes we expect things to have to be the biggest things, but in reality, the small ones matter just as much. It was in those small, ordinary moments that I saw relationships being built, people being known and community being formed. When God calls us by name, it reminds us of our relationship with one another: to love God and to love one another as ourselves. Sometimes the destination is not the goal but taking the next faithful step with God.

God knows each of us by name. Perhaps one of the things we can learn from this experience is the importance of knowing one another, just as God knows us.

I arrived in Switzerland as a visitor, honestly not knowing what to expect, but through the welcome I received, I became part of the community, even if only for a short time. That in itself was a reminder that belonging can begin with something as simple as being welcomed in. I am sure this little piece of Switzerland will remain with me for the rest of my life.

Ben Rose – Engagement Coordinator, Children & Youth, Coventry Central Hall

Attached pictures are credited to:- 

B. Rose

U. Hänni-Hauser

zVg, STR26