THEPARENTLINK
March 2013 FOR PARENTS OF TEENS
TIPS >>> PONDER THIS
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
Since emerging about 40 years ago, the field of youth ministry has touched many
lives. Yet as the wider church slowly fades into the cultural background, youth
ministry’s future is at risk. What does that mean for you and your kids?
Participants at Group Publishing’s first-ever Future of the Church Summit
explored this question. Neil Howe, author of several generational biographies,
emphasized that the millennial generation is looking for environments that:
Emphasize a sense of authentic community.
Offer a variety of ministry growth experiences.
Give people opportunities to do good deeds together.
Use a student-centered rather than a teacher-focused learning approach.
When summit participants crafted a vision for the church’s next decade, five
transformative themes emerged:
1. An emphasis on relationships.
2. A return to Jesus—as opposed to attendance, buildings, and cash.
3. A focus on community and the needs of the community.
4. An atmosphere infused with conversation.
5. More reliance on lay leadership, or “the priesthood of all believers.”
Today’s young people are dynamically shaping this church of the future.
THE VIEW Four out of five Americans
say they’re sure there’s a God,
and they identify with a faith
group. But only half (or less)
of them actually attend a
church.
Although 40% of Americans
say they attend church every
week, the actual number is
more like 20%.
In just the last five years, the
percentage of teenagers
attending church every week
has dropped from 20% to
15%.
About 4,000 churches shut
down every year.
—Hartford Institute
What changes do you predict for
the future of the church and
youth ministry? How do you
think they’ll affect you and your
family?
What do you look for in a
church, and how does that differ
from what your kids look for?
What are some ways you can
help your kids take ownership of
their role in the church?
Group magazine editor Rick
Lawrence, who participated in the
Future of the Church Summit,
offers this take on what’s ahead:
The rise in “unaffiliated”
Christians. If nothing
cataclysmic happens to reverse
the trend, more and more young
people will abandon traditional
church structures in favor of
organizations and gatherings that
offer “ownership” roles and
experiential relationships with
others.
The need to do good deeds. Kids
want opportunities to live out their
faith by doing, not by pondering,
great truths. Their faith language
is action, not contemplation.
A focus on Jesus. Ned Erickson
shares “The Progession,” which
perfectly captures the consuming
focus of effective ministries in the
future: “Get to know Jesus well,
because the more you know him, the
more you’ll love him, and the more
you love him, the more you’ll want
to follow him, and the more you
follow him, the more you’ll become
like him, and the more you become
like him, the more you become
yourself.”
The need for conversation. Our
families and churches should
promote two-way conversation
instead of one-way lecturing. Create
an expectation every time you get
together that conversation will be a
big part of what you’re doing.
The Simple Truth Bible (Simply Youth Ministry) offers 366 daily devotionals so young people can become rooted in God’s Word. They’ll find perspective on how each day’s passage fits into the big picture of the Bible—and their lives.
BIBLE FOCUS You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. … And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-20, 22
A Peek Into the Future Expert Insights for Parents of Teenagers
By Josh Griffin
RESOURCE
Although we can’t predict the
future, here are some thoughts to
ponder about what we know will
happen to the whole church in a
few years:
Kids currently in youth ministry
will be the parents at church in 10
years. So teach them well. Seek role
models if you’re in a single-parent
home. Nudge kids to show honor and
love, knowing that they’ll be in the
parent role in the not-so-distant
future. And help kids stay pure in the
meantime so parenthood doesn’t
happen earlier than it should.
Kids currently in youth ministry will
be the missionaries of the world in 12
years.
Young people will be taking the
gospel to the last people groups who
haven’t heard it and will be
translating the Bible into the final,
most obscure languages. So
encourage kids to experience
missions opportunities. Seek
scholarship money, if necessary, so
they can go on trips. And faithfully
model servanthood.
Kids currently in youth ministry
will run the church in 15 years.
Teenagers will eventually be the
pastors, elders, and deacons of the
church. They’ll be making game-
changing decisions about the
standards of the church and the
interpretation of the Bible. Kids
will be hit with a myriad of huge
decisions—including including ones
that our generation wrestles with but
leaves largely to them. So make sure
your kids are grounded in the Word.
Entrust them with leadership
responsibilities. And partner with your
church and youth ministry to make sure
kids are discipled well.
As evangelist Greg Stier points out,
“The more spiritually mature adults who
are willing to mentor their teens and
other teens, the better!” By integrating
the power of parents with the power of
church and youth ministry, we ensure a
bright future for our teenagers—and for
the entire church.
—SimplyYouthMinistry.com
MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
MAINSTREAM MUSIC
SKRILLEX
Background: This 25-year-old
electronic musician and DJ got his
start in the rock band From First
to Last, under his real name,
Sonny Moore. He left in 2007 and
went solo, playing electronic
music under the name Skrillex.
He’s released numerous EPs and
is also in demand as a producer.
Skrillex has won three Grammy
Awards and an MTV Video
Music Award. Unfortunately, his
songs often include cursing.
Albums: Leaving (2013),
Bangarang (2011), Scary
Monsters and Nice Sprites (2010)
What Skrillex Says: When
talking about his newfound fame,
he says, “Well, I don’t want to
sound overly humble because
that’s almost egotistical in its own
right, but I feel like I’m not trying
to do anything. I’m just existing
and making the music I want to
make.”
Explore: Skrillex has entire
albums available on YouTube and
Spotify.
CHRISTIAN MUSIC
PLUMB
Background: Plumb is the
stage name of Tiffany Lee,
whose first album came out
15 years ago. Her sound
varies from alt-rock to
contemporary to pop, with
some dance and electronic
remixes. Plumb was about to
retire in 2000 when she
received a grateful fan letter
regarding “Damaged,” her
song about a girl coping with
abuse. Realizing the effect her
music had on real people, she
decided to keep singing.
Albums: Need You Now
(2013), Blink (2007),
Candycoatedwaterdrops (1999)
What Plumb Says: About
her new single “Need You
Now,” she says, “It took me a
long time to realize that
putting all of my faith and
hope and trust in God and not
myself is where I find true
peace.”
Explore: Check out Plumb on
Spotify or other music
services.
MOVIES
Movie: The Host
Genre: Suspense, Thriller
Rating: PG-13 (for some
sensuality and violence)
Synopsis: In this new
franchise from Twilight creator
Stephenie Meyer, an unseen
enemy threatens mankind by
taking over bodies and erasing
memories. A young woman
must risk her life to save loved
ones.
Our Take: Like Twilight, this
is a love story, so expect teen
girls to flock to it. But if it has
the same kind of unhealthy
viewpoints about love that
Twilight did, be sure to
debrief.
Movie: The Incredible
Burt Wonderstone
Genre: Comedy
Rating: Not yet rated
Synopsis: A successful Vegas
magic duo (Steve Carell and
Steve Buscemi) secretly
despise each other. But they
must learn to reconcile if
they’re going to hold off an up
-and-coming street magician
(Jim Carrey).
Our Take: The three stars
have serious comedy chops, so
we hope this movie gets a
PG-13 rating.
VIDEO GAMES
Tomb Raider—EA is rebooting the wildly popular adventures of Lara Croft, this time returning to her
early days of adventuring. If the trailers are any indication, there will be a lot more people-killing and a lot
less tomb-raiding than past editions—which is a shame, because the tomb-raiding was a lot of fun. (Rated
M; Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Gears of War: Judgment—This is a prequel for the incredibly successful “Gears” franchise. In this third-
person shooter, players fight against the alien onslaught, so expect plenty of alien gore. (Rated M; Xbox
360 exclusive)