The Mission Covenant Youth of Sweden, SMU, is an open youth movement. Every individual member is free to take his/ her own position regarding the SMU profession that Jesus Christ is Lord. Therefore everyone can join.
SMU is one of the largest youth organizations in the country with around 62 000 members and 80 000 participants. SMU is the Mission Covenant Church of Sweden's association for children and young people.
Using different ways of working, SMU wants :
- to take the gospel of Christ to young people
- to take its share in responsibility for conditions facing people
- to work for the visible unity of Christ's church
- to encourage personal Christian faith and fellowship in the Christian congregation
- to assert the worth of the individual and develop the capa city for independent standpoints
- to stimulate people to responsible commitment in social and cultural life
CHILDREN ARE IMPORTANT
It is important to listen to children and to take their ideas and experiences seriously. This is an important starting point for SMU's children's work.
In SMU there are several ways to carry out children's work for 0 - 12 year-olds and Sunday school is the most usual. In practically every SMU association Sunday school work is carried out. It is here that children learn what Christian faith and Christian life are.
Other types of children's work are children's hour, children's choirs, music for infants and toddlers', childcare and various forms of open activity. In some of these groups children attend together with an adult.
Children "think" with the whole body and therefore a great deal happens when they meet together. Sometimes they listen to a Bible story, other times they take part in drama games or action songs.
The children's group is also a place where children and adults think about questions of life together. Children's imagination and curiosity are accepted and encouraged. It is here that children have the opportunity to meet adults who want to share their Christian faith an way of life.
EXCITING AND AMUSING DISCOVERIES
There are many exciting and amusing discoveries for an SMU scout to look forward to together with friends and leaders.
SMU scouts are divided in four agegroups:
- Scout cubs 7 - 9 years
- Scouts 10 - 12 years
- Teenage scouts 13 - 15 years
- Senior scouts 16 years and over.
The small group, the patrol, is important in SMU scouting. It is the patrol which makes decisions and acts together and through this gains knowledge in a variety of subject fields. This can apply to outdoor life as well as international issues, creative work, social matters, questions about faith and attitudes to life and environmental and peace issues. Many activities take place during hikes and at camp. Inviting scouts from other countries to come to Sweden or taking part in camps abroad are an important part of SMU scoutwork.It is the patrol that makes scouting alive. To be together with leaders and friends in the patrol, to take responsibility and experience fellowship that lasts are part of the profile of SMU scouting. SMU-scout is affiliated to the Swedish Scout Council and thus is part of the international scout movement WOSM and WAGGGS. The scout uniform is green with a brick-red scarf.
A SECURE FELLOWSHIP OF DIFFERENCES
TO BE IN THE CENTRE... Life as a teenager is in between. Exciting. Anxious? Fantastic! Uncertain. Feelings and expectations change.As a teenager it can be good to be in the centre for once and to know that one's own yearnings and thoughts are completely adequate. In SMU there is a wide variety of teenage activities. Questions can deal with faith, life, love, hope and hopelessness mixed with lighter features round the coffee or teacups and general chatting about the past week. It is important that you as a teenager are there and take part with what you have to contribute. Some who are a little older are always there as leaders but it is most exciting when we meet in between the big and the little, don't you think?
CONFIRMATION
Many local congregations of the MCCS arrange confirmation classes together with SMU. In the work with questions of life and the bible much time and space are given to teenagers' own questions and thoughts. The confirmation candidates themselves have the opportunity to discover or to grow in Christian faith.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
In order for SMU to function, masses of leaders must be willing to contribute with their knowledge and their time. About 13 000 leaders work voluntarily in SMU week after week. To help them in their task as leaders and to support them in their own development SMU runs extensive leadership training. Courses are arranged by local SMU associations and also at district and national levels.
SMU IN THE SCHOOL
School is an important part of the daily life of children and young people and influences their future. As a Christian organisation for children and young people, SMU wants to be a part of daily school life.
Contacts with the school are usually made together with other local churches (school church) and can include taking part in lessons, study visits, contact with Christian schoolgroups, work during break time, free activities, teachers' meetings and exhibitions.
"ONE YEAR-OLDS"
Each year SMU trains and appoints over twenty young people, so-called "one year-olds", as leaders to support the work in local SMU associations. In this way the SMU association and the congregation receive an extra resource for work amongst children and young people.
SMU IN THE WORLD
SMU co-operates with the Mission Covenant Church of Sweden and its sister churches in Ecuador, India, Japan, Congo and Zaire in the extensive work that is carried out. Many SMU-ers make their commitment concrete by going out to work as volunteers for a few years.
SMU IS PART OF AN OPEN CHURCH
SMU and the Mission Covenant Church of Sweden want to offer an open church. An honest fellowship where all are welcome to join. We want to talk about what we believe is the meaning of life. That we as human beings and the life we live are the most important of all. That all, whatever their age, sex or race, are equally important. That life is not just a short accidental occurrence but something more. That God loves us all. That we should live together in justice and peace.
Svenska Missionsförbundets Ungdom
Älvsjö Gårdsväg 3
125 30 ÄLVSJÖ
SWEDEN
FAX +46-8 749 55 60