Dr Jurgens Hendriks is chairman of the DRC mega-church research group, investigating the reasons that some 80 DRC churches have been able to successfully expand in size when the denomination itself declined significantly between 1985 and 1996. The age of being a youth ranges from one country to another, however it would fall at the age when the individual is full of life. The document formulates this situation: superficial use of digital media exposes people to the risk of isolation, that can even become extreme: this situation is known under the Japanese term hididomori and is affecting a growing number of young people in many countries, especially in Asia. 13th Gen: Abort, Retry, Ignore, Cancel?. Non-ending proofs and evidence. My faith must stand questioning, but not having answers is OK. It must work. Often to the uninitiated, different is equated with sinful, but culture has both sinful and amoral elements to it. Throughout the world, the gap between rich and poor is growing steadily. Am blessed and inspired! By. Groome Christian Religious Education: Sharing Our Story and Our Vision. 3.Smoking cigars. Although that may be true, most parishes are places of connection especially if they have a full complement of clerical and lay ecclesial ministers who can make prayer and devotional opportunities available to youth as well as Christian service opportunities and other types of communal gatherings. 3. 221. Sociologically, an ominous challenge youth face today is living in a cultural context of liquidity (explained soon) which deemphasizes tradition(s) and, moreover, promotes a social media that further undermines communal traditions. And when we talk of averages, it should be noticed that the cyber-elite are all young and making lots of money on the Internet and in new IT-related growth industries. challenges of youth in the church today pdf. Ten years ago all these issues where buried in controversy. Joint appointments between churches, or between churches and youth agencies are strategic. They are capable of doing their homework with both TV and radio blaring in the background. Violence in schools: Violence is defined by the world health organization as the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting to injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation. him I would miss him. Culture can and must be retained in a Christian lifestyle. 1.Honouring your non-Christian parents 2.Drinking alcohol. Menu. Challenges and Lessons Learned from Mentoring. This is largely due to over-reaction of many traditional Christians to new expressions of faith and culture. Since the outbreak of the pandemicmore than ever beforeinternet-mediated technology now defines how people engage for good or for ill. Expressive individualism turns that around. phillip watson age. A whole new mind set needs to be adopted if the necessary youth ministry programmes are to be adequately funded. 1.Honouring your non-Christian parents: Having a hard time at home because of your faith? Abortion, homosexuality, poverty, capitalism, gender, sexuality, genetical engineering, affirmative action, revolution, ethnic cleansing are all old issues which will assume greater significance as the new century dawns. In every generation, all over the world young Christians face challenges. Never Mind the Millennium. Wrong and sinful elements of culture become transformed and replaced with a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with people: Love God, bear fruit in keeping with repentance, love your neighbour, forget the rest! should be the exhortation to young people converted out of a specific sub-culture. Generation 21 have had a jump start while anyone currently over thirty is still playing catch up when it comes to Information Technology. I am sure that we have heard the end of long scholastic debates about predestination, charismatic gifts and dispensationalism. They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. is. Personal preference must make way for accommodation; form for worship in both Spirit and Truth. Your email address will not be published. He said, Oh, just come down anytimewell still see each other. No, we wont! Arguably, more than non-Western peoples are facing this unravelling. One of the problems of youth work in general and South African youth work in particular is that statistics of these sort are not available. The congregants will be the ministers. As far as many of them are concerned, Christianity was a modernist experiment that has proved to fall short of answering some of the critical questions of postmodernity. #2. One of the chief characteristics of modernism was the elevation of the individual. Lets not fall victim to the oldest disease on the planet, the eight words that always seem to announce the demise of effective work WNDITWB We never did it this way before!. I love it. Also see: Important lessons to learn in your 20s to be successful. Local authorities endorsed these laws. Research done by youth students at the Baptist Theological College, Randburg, indicates that as many as 75% of people who become Christians do so before the age of 18. And not only are the quantities of youth workers significant but their levels of expertise and training is sorely lacking. We say easily not because it will be without difficulty but rather because the solutions are pretty basic and will take little more than intentional effort, conscious understanding and a willingness to adapt. Given this liquid post-modernity, where else will youth hear the message of forgiveness, love, kindness, and mercy other than the family? Churches simply have to work towards allocating 50% of their income to youth ministry, including youth ministry programmes outside of their local church, possibly through specialist service agencies who may have greater skills in penetrating unchurched youth in various sub cultures. Youth could be defined as the time or stage in life when a person is young which is usually between the time of childhood and adulthood (which could be said to be maturity). Generation 21 is going to live through the deaths of their friends over and over again in the next century. Why, one may ask? Indeed, in such a cultural context the anthropologist Bradd Shore makes the bold claim that the developmental trajectory of the middle-class American family is about to self-destruct. 2023, Bscholarly LLC. These concepts have been adopted by the New Age Movement, and in conjunction with secular humanism have taken on a specific form and meaning. 18. No-one continued to sing the hymns while getting drunk. A meal eaten alone is not a meal. As many adult baby boomers have learned from experience (although many still adhere to the American myth of individualism), it is not necessarily greener on the other side. The article is stimulating and very useful for christian leaders. 10. Unintended consequences: teen pregnancy and abstinence campaigns, The role of women leaders in the local church. What they do want to know is why they should choose Christianity rather than any other of the multitude of spiritual options available. Teens reaching other teens create an atmosphere of trust and affirmation that enables young people who might not otherwise hear a gospel message to hear, and relate, and find release18. For example, a quick flip through your TV guide will show the following in 1999: Buffy the Vampire slayer, X-files, Outer Limits, Touched by an Angel, Teen Angel (comedy), Nothing Sacred, First Wave, Sabrina the Teenage Witch (comedy), Father Ted (comedy), Mortal Kombat, Strange World, and Brimstone. Most young people today already have experienced the life of the Spirit as a normal every day part of their Christianity no longer is speaking in tongues an issue, or accepting a word of knowledge or laying on of hands to heal the sick. Whenever a youth(s) is given an opportunity to participate in politics, they usually give it their best with so much willingness, positivity and the intention to effect a lasting change with the opportunities they were given. Ultimately there is nothing sacrosanct about our worship services. D. Borgman. The pastor of the twenty-first century must reflect many of the attributes of an entrepreneur struggling to open a niche in the marketplace of religious ideas23. The youth feels the church. This will be most fully seen in worship, which to truly touch postmodern Christians will need to be eclectic. And its pretty close to the truth. Postmodern young people dont need to be convinced of the fact that there is a higher power nor of the existence of the supernatural. we are all thrown into an unstoppable hunt for novelty. In other words, all is liquid: family, community, faith, parish lifenothing is solid, stable. He is calling for a new re-formation of praxis. It is difficult to distinguish Christian Alternatives from their non-Christian counterparts but only when it comes to appearance. Parents on the other hand are being advised to always listen to their children and to pay attention to the changes they notice in them and address it immediately. Thats why drugging, New Age, experience, smart drugs, raving, identity in music, experiential learning are currently in vogue, at the close of the twentieth century. In the new dispensation the responsibility for upholding Christian values has been transferred from the state and secular authorities to believers and congregations. While truth may be transmitted from one mind (the speakers) to others (young people in the audience), experience shows us that this method, in itself, is infertile and powerless in the long term. In slowly losing ones narratives of family, community, and faith, the individual is left seeking a new identity and to be accepted into a new social community or local parisha task not as easy as the American myth of individualism makes it out to be. As the document states, several non-Western Bishop Conferences are wondering how they can accompany young people in dealing with this cultural change that is unravelling traditional cultures rich in solidarity, communal ties and spirituality, feeling they do not have adequate tools (p.11). Bill Clinton has made it a personal goal to clamp down on violence in the movies and on TV before the end of his presidency. The danger is manifested through isolation, laziness, desolation, and boredom (#35). 1. How I respond is just as important as the tenet of faith itself. What it doesnt mean is outward conformity to a previously agreed upon set of standards (action and conduct) for Christian behaviour. Its that stage in life when one is filled with vigor, freshness, good appearance, agility etc. For the past three years, I have worked as the Children's Director with a church that has experienced physical . Programme centred evangelism will focus on the production of quality programmes with the intention of drawing large crowds of young people. It just takes more insight, patience and often forbearance. This article focuses on two themes found in this first section of the document, tradition and social media, both of which challenge youth and provide opportunities. Petrol has always been sold 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Adults forging friendships with young people, entering their world and earning the right to model the life of Christ to them is what youth ministry is all about. Neil Howe and William Strauss. Dr Jay Kesler, quoted in Dean Borgman. I might text or phone him but that is completely different than seeing him in person. On the other hand, why should one spend time memorising, when hand held computers contain easy-reference word-search Bible concordances in a multitude of versions. Recent research by Jurgens Hendriks4 indicates that in 1980, 77% of South Africas population associated themselves with a Christian Church. Creation of jobs and employment opportunities through a Market System: In providing solutions for unemployment in the society, a market system approach should be taken which would stand to address the root cause of the unemployment problem being encountered in the society, instead of the symptoms which it provides. 6. They have always had an answering machine. Its arduous to seek out educated folks on this topic, however you sound like you know what youre talking about! power of grace; this is the experience of all members of the Church. Disciplinary actions against school violence: The schools should set up a disciplinary measure which would see that defaulters of the rules of the school and students/ teachers who promote violence be punished. I say conformingbecause as the late sociologist Robert Bellah often commentedin doing ones own thing one is not being different or radical but merely conforming to the American cultural value system of individualism (for most are doing the same thing). Christians everywhere must be prepared to give an answer for their faith in a gracious and humble manner. 23. Yet the document admits that even parishes have been affected by this liquidity in that sometimes, parishes are no longer places of connection (#21). To reduce the increase of drug abuse in the society, the youth should be sensitized on the effects of drug abuse to their body and the society. Christian alternative kids tend to clean up their act in terms of drugs, music, partying, anarchy, degradation, escapism, alcohol-abuse, occult involvement, rebellion, anti-social behaviours, anti-authoritarianism, hatred, defiance, misery, self-pity, terror, selfishness, suicidal tendencies, depression, destruction and condemnation. Problems of youth and their solutions Essay. So what does it mean? But most of us can't concisely describe it. The impact of social media in the lives of young people cannot be understated (#34). Students who are found to posses the trait of being unable to manage their anger should be counseled on anger management and character development. 2, Page 18. http://www.christianity.net/ct/7T2/7T218a.html. Thanks. Share with them these 10 Challenges for the Church of the Twenty-First Century. It is a direct descendant of the existentialism of the late nineteenth century where the affective took precedence over the cognitive. Alternative youth culture is a counter-culture, which rejects mainstream trends, and is characterised by (amongst others) a music style that is neither rock nor metal but has a mixture of both elements with a melancholic and dark dress style. At this stage the new convert isnt even sure of what his new family is like. I am a creative person with a dynamic personality, and have a helpful nature. . A shocked look crossed her face, as she exclaimed: Thats not in the Bible. 2. It turns out she thought is was part of Greek mythology. To judge the vast gulf between you and them, consider the following: They have only known one Germany. The research project was comprised of eight national studies, including interviews with teenagers, young adults, parents, youth pastors, and senior pastors. The Truth is Stranger Than It Used To be: Biblical Truth in a Post Modern Age. Imagine Charles Spurgeon as a twelve year old. Ecclesial groups, institutions and associations also run the risk of turning into closed circuits. The document promotes the importance of offering formation on this topic, especially the delusional powers of social media to provide community or a sense of belonging. An Investigation into a Current Trend in Youth Culture with a Biblical Apologetic, available on-line: http://home.pix.za/gc/gc12/papers/p2003.htm. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995. There are a number of excellent introductions to postmodernism from a Christian perspective. There have always been VCRs, but they have no idea what Beta is. If we set out sights on a target of 1 youth worker per 10 000 school going young people, we would need 1600 professional youth workers. This means that the gap between those beating the average and those sliding beneath it is also widening. .Paul writes in Ministry in a postmodern context requires us to once again find the Biblically mandated community/relational approach to ministry. More details available at: http://www.youth.co.za/census. Long one way sermons will no longer communicate. .Being a Christian in a non-Christian household can be difficult but also can be beneficial for your personal walk with Jesus. Postmodernism is characterised by paradox, especially in its expression. 11. . 14. Well the truth of the matter is it is absolutely true. 9. For faith development skills to take root our methodology must change. 2. Every culture needs to be impacted and penetrated by the gospel. Taking Africa for an example, there are nearly 200 million people in Africa who are within the ages of 15 24, and this number would increase by 2045, it goes to show that the youth unemployment rate will cause a serious problem in the society if appropriate measures are not taken to eradicate or reduce it. Therefore the youths should be given more political opportunities as the work with the zeal and strength which the old politicians lack. rather than a bus stop while waiting to move on to more mature pursuits. There is no agreed data, but estimates of AIDS infection range from 30% of young people to as high as 75% of young people in certain areas (in particular, young girls in rural KwaZulu Natal). Modernism is basically the world view which drew the line between science and religion, faith and superstition, truth and veracity. Youth have the opportunity to form a youth group in the parish and to become part of the liturgical, catechetical, evangelical, devotional, and recreational dimensions of the parishto infuse all aspects of parish life which challenge all of us to conform more completely to Jesus Christ. Instead of mourning the past lets capture the present and use it for the education in Christian values of young people according to the tenor of the times. 3. Wendy Murray Zoba. They need to be taught faith development skills which takes nurture, resources, relationships and professionals. . Youth work must be recognised as a profession (a vocation!) A Social Conscience for the Church. 4.Facing failure. What's worse is that their countless problems are making them rebellious too. Furthermore, Christian principles and biblical lessons were taught in schools. I remember the challenges I faced as a young Christian. The church as we know it cannot survive much longer. We seldom ask ourselves, young or old, what do I owe the family and community who raised me? 3. Communication among young people on the web is cultic in that it promotes only speaking to those who are similar to you. This paper was originally published in 2003 in the Baptist Journal of Theology (South Africa). South Africa is a violent country, but until recently violence was not seen as a direct youth issue. Because of God's heart for young people, it is important to recognize their value in today's church. South African teenagers, when asked to list the things that motivated them, rated love as the highest motivating factor3. Most people who have rejected Christianity have at least known what they were rejecting. Many of these studies document the consequences of such separation as mostly detrimental to individual and communal well-being. Political and social issues: Irrespective of the fact that the youths make up the most population in a country, they are the most marginalized when it comes to politics and decision making. The expression you sound like a broken record means nothing to them. So you modify your behaviour, temper, hurtful behaviour, then only do you go on to do things which avoid every appearance of evil, come out and be separate (inwardly at first, not necessarily outwardly as well) and avoiding things which does not cause a brother to stumble. All statistics of the United Nations is based on this definition. The only growing group is that of the Independent Churches, which doubled their membership5. The Battle for a Generation: Capturing the Hearts of Our Youth. Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998. Your email address will not be published. In my mind, there is no doubt, the greatest challenge to youth ministers today is time! An exception may be in the financial resources required yet even in this solution, it may mean a redistribution of resources rather than finding huge amounts of new resources. Grenz. Why do we do it then? Abstract This paper attempts to explicate the Challenges Facing the Christian family in order to communicating the vision of God to Youths in Africa. Generation 21 is spiritually hungry. Modernism required that everything be rational, observable and repeatable. They dont memorise scripture like we did in the old days.. Therefore, school violence may be explained as physical attacks which occur between students or by students to teachers or teachers to students. They have always been able to fax. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Soul Survivor9 movement in the UK is a good example of this. Any extracurricular activity sucks up their time like a sponge. Recommended: Countries with the most beautiful women in the world. "The chief end of religion is to glorify man so he can enjoy himself forever.". A friend, ministering at a small church in KwaZulu-Natal, recently spoke to one of his congregation, letting her know that his sermon topic for the coming Sunday was on Samson and Delilah. Hendriks states that we must realise that before 1994 the state was responsible for upholding Christian values. I have argued before about how the parish can help in this post-modern liquid society by providing community (Mosaic, 2014).

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