By Pastor Tee, Pastor of Outreach

I was prayerwalking in the neighborhood today and asked God to reveal things to me. This is what came to mind:
1. American culture, in general, has abandoned showing adults as a mature authority for young people. Its more about ‘my truth’ and ‘my desires’ and not sacrifice, honor and respect. Its becoming harder to tell the difference between an adult and an adolescent.
2. Young people are becoming easier to influence by unseen larger consumer, cultural and political forces that don’t have their best interests. It’s easier to control them and get them to react to things.
3. Smartphones and online tech are making young people not physically fit, addicted to external stimulation and prone to anxiety. In spite of these negative effects, parents won’t restrict their kids tech usage and neither will the tech companies.
4. When values and rites of passage aren’t being passed down to young people, it’s harder for them to discover their true purpose. They eventually become lost and confused wandering around in an adolescent state and will embrace anything that makes them feel special.
5. Adolescence today, which is expanding upwards to 30 years old, unfortunately is a time for young people to make adult decisions but without adult consequences.

What are ministers/pastors supposed to do?

Take the harder road by being a presence and slowly building deep relationships with them. Have a vision for them 10 years out. Trust God for the increase. Model the proper relationship between media, tech and real life and keep God at the center. Help them engage in skillbuilding. I am believing that God is in the city working through people to get through to young people. There are young people making good choices. But those of us called to be out here must have tremendous heart and faith to lay a foundation that will last to reach those who need adults in their lives.