Dear Pastor,
My mother is very religious. She goes to church every week to play bingo even if she has a cold.
Yours Truly, Annette, 9, Albany
Hot Topix:
“Abortion” – A topic that most parents and youth leader fail to discuss beyond the typical, “It’s wrong.” Or “It’s killing a baby.” Teens do not understand exactly what it is, the consequences of choosing this route, and so forth. Our teens are being raised to think that having an abortion “gets rid of their problem” because many want to have sex but none of the consequences. The majority of, if not all, the info they get comes from their friends and the media, not sources they should be taking life advice from.
Also, they need to understand that there are more serious and damaging consequences than getting pregnant or an Std. For instance, they are giving a piece of themselves away to that person they can never get back and that will be a factor in their subsequent also relationships/marriage. The video which I have provide a link to is proof of this lack of knowledge, feeling of no choice, lack of compassion, and the increasing problem.
Research the stats on teen pregnancy beyond what you will find in this week’s stats-o-the-week section and you will see the urgency. But don’t only address the problem (abortion); also address the behavior that leads to considering abortion. You will also want to bring up how it will affect their relationship with Christ.
Stat-O-The-Week:
The following stats came from www.grtl.org/statsandpolls.asp:
• ¾ of those having abortions say that having a baby would interfere with work, school, or other responsibility.
• Georgia has one of the 10 highest abortion rates in the U.S.
• 13 % of all U.S. births are to teens, of which 78% are unmarried
• 78% of women having abortions report a religious affiliation
• Abortion rates are highest among women 20-30 yr old, unmarried, white, w/ at least a h.s. diploma
Free Resources:
1. Connect: Real Relationships In A World Of Isolation
Pick this book up asap! Jonathon McKee has highlighted the most important aspect of youth ministry: Connecting with teens one-on-one. In an effort to educate and encourage youth leaders, volunteer and paid, McKee elaborates on the effect having youth leaders connect one-on-one with teens has on youth ministries and he does a great job. This is one you will be emailing and texting your fellow youth leaders about.
2. YouthWorker Journal
This bimonthly magazine highlights the latest youth culture trends, reviews for film, audio, and books, as well as very informative articles. This magazine rates number 2 on my top 5 ym magazines.
3. Movie Night w/ The Blindside:
Set up your classroom to look like the inside of a movie theatre by making up some posters, having someone take up tickets, and a refreshment bar. Use Ziploc baggies to bag up candies, chips, or cookies and of course have plenty of sodas and bags of popcorn. Allow each student to get one bag of popcorn, one bag of candy, and one soda pop. If you have a laptop and a projector use them to make the experience even better. Also make up flyers for your teens to hand out to their friends. This is a great outreach experience. Plan on having a short 10 minute talk after the movie where you discuss the Christian lessons in the film and of course share the gospel.
Encouragement For The Road:
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
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