Source: Google Images
Family
Source: Google Images
Another reason we can NEVER honestly and correctly say that we know what our adolescents are going through is this one basic truth: the family, which is the basic unit of care for a child/adolescent is VASTLY different today from any other time in history. How the family looks, is structured, functions, behaves and interacts are not familiar to those of earlier generations. This fact teamed with the lengthening of adolescence, the younger and younger age of adolescent onset and the unprecedented stresses and temptations adolescents face makes this tightrope a dangerous one indeed. Families now, as we all know, more often than not, include single parents, stepparent, step siblings, and foster siblings and parents. Please, whatever we do, do not forget the foster and homeless adolescence. They do and should comprise a segment of our populations. When we truly and fully fulfill our Christian call to welcome the poor, lost and unwanted, these at-risk and hurting youths will form an even larger part of our Christian Community.
Modern Family Values
- Adolescents are dreamers, struggling to fulfill those dreams.
- Adolescence value their own survival. They irrect walls and boundaries between themselves and their families as well as other adults in order to protenct themselves.
- Men/Father figures value worldly success and stability. Despite the reality of the changing family and women in the workforce, men still feel personal and societal pressure to be the "man" of the house.
- Women most often value relationships and need to be valued/needed. Despite these values, women in the home are disconnected from their children. How do we reconnect emotionally, physically and relationally?
Source: Google Images
Family Ministry
I have to tell you, I learned a lot about the adolescent family in Hurt 2.0, by Chap Clark. Perhaps we as the church can provide family counseling, parental training and other therapeutic services. More crucial, perhaps we could make a point of planning ministry, activities, mission opportunities and community serve including something for every member of the family. All people have strengths, and so everyone can be used to further the Kingdom of God. We will be a healthier church when we have healthier families. We exist and thrive as communities, NOT individuals.
Adolescents need to remain in the main body of the church, and not always taken off to Sunday school. After all, how can they learn to be adults, adult Christians and adult Disciples of Christ unless adults model what this looks like to them? Imagine adolescence seeing their parents, extended family and church members worshipping together? I have no doubt that Jesus would smile on the site of the entire family united in the church.
Perhaps Youth Ministry should become Family Ministry. If not, we need both Youth and Family Ministries. We all know adolescence need time to socialize and express themselves without the presence of family, but they need family contact a lot more than they have it.
I have to tell you, I learned a lot about the adolescent family in Hurt 2.0, by Chap Clark. Perhaps we as the church can provide family counseling, parental training and other therapeutic services. More crucial, perhaps we could make a point of planning ministry, activities, mission opportunities and community serve including something for every member of the family. All people have strengths, and so everyone can be used to further the Kingdom of God. We will be a healthier church when we have healthier families. We exist and thrive as communities, NOT individuals.
Adolescents need to remain in the main body of the church, and not always taken off to Sunday school. After all, how can they learn to be adults, adult Christians and adult Disciples of Christ unless adults model what this looks like to them? Imagine adolescence seeing their parents, extended family and church members worshipping together? I have no doubt that Jesus would smile on the site of the entire family united in the church.
Perhaps Youth Ministry should become Family Ministry. If not, we need both Youth and Family Ministries. We all know adolescence need time to socialize and express themselves without the presence of family, but they need family contact a lot more than they have it.
For information of Hurt 2.- and other sources, please go to the AM Resources Page.