Over the summer we asked young people who attended the Evangelical Movement of Wales (EMW) camps to fill in a questionnaire about what it’s like to be a young person. We were able to find out what questions young people have about Christianity, the struggles they face and what they find difficult about being a Christian.
Here are some of the responses:
20% of the young people said mental health was a current challenge for young people. Anxiety and fear about the future, pressures in school and struggles with self-image were some of the issues raised.
39% had questions about how to live for God, how to read and study the Bible and how to have the confidence and knowledge to share their faith with friends at school.
25% mentioned their struggles with school life, being left out or having no local Christian friends their age.
With the awareness of social injustice, the worries of climate change and the constant pressures of social media, being a young person is becoming more and more difficult. How can we support them and encourage them through these formative years? What can you do to understand the struggles and joys that young people face?
Understanding the culture of young people
Here are three ways that will help you to better understand the culture of young people.
Ask good questions
The best way to understand young people and their culture is to ask them about it. If you’ve got young people who come to church, ask them good questions. Of course you can ask them how school is and how their week has been but don’t stop there. Find out who they are as an individual; their likes and dislikes, what music they listen to, what they watch. Ask them what their opinion is about current social issues; what do they think about world issues and people’s reactions? Young people have opinions about these things. Remember that it takes time to build a relationship. Start with simple things and over time show them that you care about their thoughts and opinions. This will show them that you love them and care for them and what an encouragement that will be!
Listen well and share your thoughts.
Actively listening will show young people that you are interested in them and that you love and care for them. Offer your opinion and share your thoughts. Remember, it’s a two-way friendship.
Show them Jesus and let them show you Jesus too
Ask young people what they’ve been learning in youth group, ask them about their own personal Bible reading and share yours with them. If they don’t have a Bible reading plan, why not suggest one? Don’t forget to follow-up with them about it.
What else can we do to help young people?
The EMW are creating an app for young people with reliable biblical content to help encourage them to explore questions about God, get to grips with the Bible and grow in their faith.
I have the role of organising the production of the app and the content for it. Please pray for me as I go about this. Please pray that as we make the app, create content for it, and as young people use the resources available, we would all bring glory to God.
My prayer for the young people in Wales is Colossians 2:6-7. Please join me in praying for them.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.