They will find that place. It may be in school activities, sports or studies. It may be in art, music, or some other aspect of the media. For some it will be the church. Hopefully this article and the ones in the following issues will give you a picture of youth ministry that challenges young people not only to believe in Jesus Christ but to follow Him, proclaiming the gospel to their generation.
Teenagers begin to discover their identity outside of the home.
Through the elementary years life for the most part revolves around the family. This is a natural process of growing up. When kids begin to take their identity from this youth culture this is not only unnatural but is very destructive to the individual. A healthy identity can only come from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, as you begin to identify yourself as a child of the Kingdom of God, a new creation work berthed by Christ and molded by the Holy Spirit. The church must stand and proclaim this truth in power to our teenagers, offering them the reality of the love, acceptance, forgiveness, and peace that comes in knowing Christ.