Understanding Today

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Understanding Todays Youth
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What Do Teenagers Want ?

• Love
• Acceptance
• Listening Ears
• Reminding that they are normal
• Understanding
• Fun

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What Do Teenagers NEED ?

• Acceptance
• Affirmation
• Encouragement
• A Listening Ear
• Understanding
• Prayer
• Reminding they are normal
• Help with their parents

• Challenges and Responsibilities
• Faith in action
• Someone other than their parents to hold them
  accountable
• Relevancy of faith to life
• Programs to help them develop as total persons
  (Luke 252)

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Six Basic Needs of Teenagers(The Gallup Poll,
George Gallup, Inc.)

• To believe life is meaningful and has a purpose.
• A sense of community and deeper relationships.
• To be appreciated and loved.
• To be listened toand be heard !
• To feel one is actually growing in their faith.
• For practical help in developing a mature faith
  that helps them to impact their world.

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What are some of the basic youth developmental
characteristics?
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Youth Developmental Characteristics (from Merton
Strommens Five Cries of Youth)

• Achievementthe satisfaction of arriving at
  excellence in some area of endeavor.
• Friendsthe broadening of ones social base by
  having learned to make friends and maintain them.
• Feelingsthe self-understanding gained through
  having learned to share ones feelings with
  another person.
• Identitythe sense of knowing who I am!
• Responsibilitythe confidence of knowing I can
  stand alone and make responsible decisions.
• Maturitytransformation from child into adult.
• Sexualityacceptance of responsibility for ones
  new role as a sexual being.

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What are some of the predictable changes during
the teenage years?
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Physical Changes(From Connected Committed and a
Little Bit Crazy ,Convention Press, 1996)

• Dramatic changes in physical attributes including
  height, weight, voice and coordination abilities
  due to hormonal surges in early adolescence.
• Short attention spans.
• Strong appetites.
• Other?

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Emotional Changes

• Developing sense of self-image and self-esteem.
• Egocentric and selfish.
• Dependent on parents but there is a growing
  desire for independence.
• Over-critical and can have unrealistic
  expectations.
• Moody relationships with others.

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Social Changes

• Peer acceptance is crucial.
• Will only have a few close friendships.
• Interest in the opposite sex begins to grow.
• Comfortable in small groups with a few close
  friends of the same sex.
• Begins to experiment with acceptable behaviors
  and test limits.

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Intellectual Changes

• Requires proofis less willing to accept others
  beliefs (especially from parents).
• Begins to think abstractly.
• Enjoys problem solving via alternatives and
  consequences.
• Able to make decisions based on their personal
  values.
• Idealistic and optimistic.

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Spiritual Changes

• Receptive to making a decision about their
  relationship with Christ.
• Able to make genuine commitments.
• Developing a more sensitive view of right and
  wrong.
• Mirrors parents view initially.
• Begins to develop personal values.
• Responds to the needs of others and is aware of
  social issues.

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What are some of the major decisions teenagers
will face during these turbulent years?
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Major Decisions Include

• Drinking
• Church attendance
• Shoplifting
• Pre-marital sex
• Where to work
• Smoking
• Use of drugs

• Whom to date
• Dating standards
• Friendships
• Cheating
• College selection
• Vocational direction
• Others?

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What are some of the things that cause stress in
the life of a teenager?
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Things that cause stress are

• Death in the family
• Injury or illness
• Moving
• Change in family situation
• Tests

• Lack of friends
• Homework
• Dating
• Competitive sports
• Grades
• Work/job

Can you think of any other causes of stress in
the life of teenagers?
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And the all important question
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Who do teenagers listen to?
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People Teenagers Listen To

• School teachers
• Adult friends
• Youth minister
• Sports stars
• Sunday school teachers

• Parents
• Peers
• Coach
• Guidance counselor
• TV stars
• Music stars

Who else can you think of that teenagers listen
to in their world today?
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Remember Belonging to a community is vitally
important to the emerging teenager. As Merton
Strommen states, our job is the ministry of
fellowship. Thus, personal relationships are
the key.
Sothe I ask youWhat does this say to you as
PARENTS and as a CHURCH community of faith?
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As teenagers mature, they become less
self-centered and are able to look beyond
themselvesand they begin to develop more mature
relationships.This ability will be greatest
during grades 11-12. Its at this stage that
discipleship can have its greatest impact in
their lives.
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Now lets look at the specific developmental
needs of each age groupingand look at some
suggestions for programming ideas targeted to
each group.
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Junior High Developmental Needs

• Substance Abuse Issues
• Self-Esteem/Self-Image Issues
• Peer Pressure
• Peer Influence
• Parent-Teen Relationships

• Conflict Resolution
• Suicide
• Drugs/Alcohol
• Mass Media Influence and Discernment
• Family Instability
• Dealing with Doubts and Ambiguity

Can you think of some other needs and/or issues
facing this age of teenager?
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Junior High Programming Ideas

• Lock-ins
• Retreats
• One-day outings
• Bicycle trips
• Hiking trips
• Overnight camping trips
• After-church socials

• Police department
• Hospital
• Cemetery
• Homeless shelter
• Soup kitchen
• Prision
• AA Meeting
• Others?

What do you see as a common thread with most of
these suggestions?
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Senior High Developmental Needs

• Socialization and Relational Skills
• Dating skills
• Money management
• Understanding of sexuality issues
• Communication skills
• Vocational guidance
• Conflict resolution

• Values clarification
• Leadership skills
• Parental conflict issues
• Self-discipline
• Marriage concerns
• SAT assistance
• Peer pressure issues
• Drugs/Alcohol issues
• Others?

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Senior High Programming Ideas

• Youth Week emphasis
• Youth Newsletter
• Career Fair
• Spiritual Gifts Inventory
• Mission tours
• Tutoring/Remdial programs
• After-school daycare
• Habitat for Humanity

• Work CampsImpact VA
• Campus Bible studies
• Summer day camps
• Parent-Youth Retreat
• Youth Revival/Concert
• Mission VBS/BYBC
• Nursing Home Ministry
• Hospital Visitation
• Food/Shelter/Clothing Ministry

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But the KEY to remember is thisWhat students
need most are

• Good ROLE MODELS to enable them to SEE how the
  Christian faith can intersect and change their
  world!

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That meansin order to make a REAL impact in the
faith development of studentsYOU have to also be
growing and struggling in your faith!

• YOU ARE THEIR SERMON!

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Why am I so passionate about youth ministry?
Because I know the statistics are not in our
favor!
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Did you know?...
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85 of students who graduate from high school
having never made a decision for Christ
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NEVER WILL!
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AND
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90 of decisions for Christ are made BEFORE the
age of 19!
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And God said, whom will I send?

• What will your response be?