Did you know that it takes just 40 days to create a new habit?

illuminate #LentChallenge – giving young people the chance to explore faith.

illuminateStroud is intentionally different and separate from the other youthwork at The Door. Being distinctly Christian is one of our main aims. At The Door we set out to be transparent about the things we do that are “overtly Christian” and which bits are inspired by our faith. This is not unique, we have services that are specifically for different “groups” of young people: Support Groups for the vulnerable, Door To The Future for care leavers to give two other examples. illuminateStroud is for Christian young people and those wanting to explore their own spirituality within a Christian framework.

Occasionally the worlds collide; the ebb and flow of the year in the UK is filled with celebrations and rituals which come from and still connect to the Christian Faith. The concept of Lent, is one of those times. The country, for a few days, digs back into its Christian roots. Pancakes are flipped and commitments to “give something up” are made. At times like these, The Door consciously chooses to bring illuminateStroud into the centre of what we do. It gives us an opportunity to open up the legacy of the event and help young people experience some of the deeply spiritual advantages that religious ceremonies and rites bring.

So what is the lent challenge?

This year we’ve launched the #LentChallengeChallenging young people (and adults too!) to spend some time each day thinking about faith. Through it we can explain the reasons why Christians around the world have been observing Lent. More importantly, it gives us the opportunity to explore how personal sacrifice and reflection can be a positive experience.

In a world where there seems so little stability, creating positive habits (or rituals) are excellent tools for improving mental health, motivation and achievement.

There’s still time to join in: Read more about the #LentChallenge and download the weekly challenges

It all started with pancakes!

Watch Isak and Willow’s attempt at week 1 of the lent challenge in an episode of #TheDoorTries