“T
eens are looking for more than a holding tank with pizza,” said Ed Stetzer. “They look for a church that teaches them how to live life.”
Even though they may hesitate to acknowledge it, teens do want insight and guidance when it comes to dealing with challenges. In a recent Bible study at Purdue University, I asked a group of college guys what they perceive as key barriers to reaching their goals in life. Their top three concerns were:
- Their ability to be a strong spiritual leader in their home
- Their ability to provide financially
- Personal discernment
The group also agreed that a church that helped guide their everyday life decisions was a vital resource.
Stetzer, a researcher with Lifeway, recently discovered that adult relationships were a key to keeping 18-22 year olds connected to church. Even though up to 70% of 18-22 year olds drift away from church, a real connection with multiple adults dramatically reduced that drift.
The Purdue group agreed. They want insight and somebody to walk with them in life. And if us older men are willing to invest in them, they will hang around and walk with us.
Why do you think adults aren’t connecting better when the youth express such interest?
Ed
Mentoring is going to be key to the success of the young and the adults.
However, most adults don’t feel they are qualified to mentor anybody, because they have issues that they are working on. The adults seem to feel they need to have everything right in their own lives before they can say anything to help someone else.
Guilt and condemnation holds a lot of people back from helping others.
Scripture tells us that righteousness is a gift that we receive from Jesus, as soon as we receive Him. (Rom. 5:17)
Adults have to believe they have something to offer others and start sharing. Even if a person made mistakes in their lives and are dealing with the consequenses, they still have something to teach and share with others. They can let someone know what road not to travel down.
The youth are crying out to the adults, to be real with them. Tell them about the mistakes and the victories in our lives. Not to tell them the “shoult nots” or use scripture to condem them.
The youth are looking for someone to tell them what they can do in life as a Christian. They want someone to guide them down the road, point out the pits and the mine fields as they go and be their to celebrate the victories along the way.
We can do it.
As a matter of fact, we as adults are looking for the same thing from other adults. Ed, That’s why I read yours and others blogs.
Peace
Wow Tyrone…I don’t know what to add. Your thoughts are excellent as they stand.
I love your lines:
Guilt and condemnation holds a lot of people back from helping others.
Adults have to believe they have something to offer others and start sharing.
The youth are crying out to the adults, to be real with them. Tell them about the mistakes and the victories in our lives.
As a matter of fact, we as adults are looking for the same thing from other adults.
Amen…amen…amen…amen
I agree with Tyrone. I think many of us feel like we don’t have it together enough to reach out. Maybe if we started reaching out we would be more motivated and focused on “getting things together” so to speak. We may be going at this backward. Serving usually makes the real servant heart, Teaching the best teachers….could mentoring be the first step in becoming a competent mentor? =)
An
Ann,
We often learn best by teaching others. I think Nike may be right…
Just Do It!
Ed