Called to Continue

My time working within the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon came to an unexpected end when I was made redundant from my role as Schools Engagement Officer. Like many others across the Church during a season of financial and structural change, this was not an outcome I had foreseen or chosen. It was a difficult experience, marked by uncertainty and a real sense of loss — not only of a role, but of a vocation that had become deeply intertwined with my faith and identity.

My role as Schools Engagement Officer and previously Children, Youth and Families Officer had given me the privilege of serving across parishes, schools and communities, supporting clergy, volunteers and educators in nurturing faith among children and young people. I worked closely with schools — both church and community-based — and with families seeking connection, belonging and spiritual grounding. It was work rooted in relationship, trust and long-term presence, and I remain profoundly grateful for the opportunity to have served the Diocese in that capacity.

The Diocese of Swansea and Brecon holds a deep commitment to children and young people, often expressed quietly and faithfully through school communities, parish youth groups and family ministry. To be part of that work was both humbling and stretching. I saw first-hand the creativity and resilience of churches working with limited resources, and the dedication of those who believe passionately that the Church still has something vital to offer the next generation.

Experiencing redundancy within that context was painful. Ministry roles, particularly those connected to children, youth and families, are rarely just jobs. They are expressions of calling. Losing that role meant having to ask some difficult questions: Does this calling still stand when the role ends? Where is God leading now?

In the months that followed, what initially felt like loss gradually became space — a space for discernment that I might not otherwise have allowed myself. Redundancy forced a pause, and within that pause came new possibilities.

The Message Trust

It was during this season that I became aware of a role with the Message Trust. The Message Trust is a Christian mission organisation with a strong emphasis on reaching young people, particularly those facing poverty, exclusion, violence or isolation. Much of its work takes place beyond church buildings — in schools, alternative provision settings, estates, prisons and community contexts where young people may have little or no contact with the Church.

Stepping into my new role as Message Wales Operations Coordinator, I was struck by how closely the work aligned with so much of what I had held within my diocesan responsibilities. I could see from my roles within the Diocese and previous roles I had held within my life that God had been preparing me for such a time as this. The settings may look different, and the pace may be faster, but the heart remains the same: seeing young people flourish, supporting families under pressure, and helping communities rediscover hope.

My background in schools engagement and diocesan children and youth ministry has proved invaluable. Understanding safeguarding, partnership working, educational contexts, and the complexities young people face today has enabled me to bridge the gap between local churches, schools and mission initiatives. The Message's work is at its strongest when it operates alongside churches and dioceses — not as a replacement, but as a complementary expression of shared mission.

This move has not felt like leaving behind the Church in Wales or rejecting diocesan life. On the contrary, it has deepened my appreciation for the foundations laid during my time in the Diocese. Anglican structures, theology and pastoral approaches have shaped how I carry mission now, particularly in spaces where faith is unfamiliar, misunderstood or mistrusted.

For many young people engaged through The Message Trust, church may feel distant or inaccessible. Yet the values at the heart of the work — dignity, compassion, justice, grace and hope — are deeply Christ-centred and resonate strongly with the Church's longstanding commitment to children, youth and families.

A Continuation, Not a Departure

Redundancy is never something to celebrate, and it is not a story I would have chosen to tell. But in my own journey, it became a turning point rather than an ending. What felt like disruption became invitation — an invitation to trust that vocation can outlast job titles, and that God's call is often far less linear than we expect.

As the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon continues to navigate change and reimagine its future, my hope is that this story offers reassurance: that even in seasons of loss, God remains at work — calling, sending, and shaping new expressions of the same Gospel mission we share.

This chapter with The Message Trust feels not like a departure, but a continuation — rooted in the Diocese, shaped by its commitment to children, young people and families, and carried forward into new places where the Church's presence is still urgently needed.

As I continue this work with The Message Trust, I would genuinely love to stay in touch with anyone across the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon who is interested in what The Message is doing in Wales, particularly in relation to young people, schools and communities facing significant challenge. Please consider getting in touch if you are doing any outreach, as we would love to be involved. I would also be deeply grateful for prayerful support — for myself in the role and for the young people we work with, for our teams, and for the partnerships we are building with local churches.

Contact Sian at sian.smith@message.org.uk. To support the work of The Message Trust financially, visit message.org.uk/sponsor.