1 minute read
Are We Listening?
I was a teenager once—a long time ago. I grew up in Adelaide, the youngest of five children. For most of my teenage years, I attended what was then called Adelaide Adventist High School in the suburb of Prospect. My parents sacrificed significantly to send me and two of my siblings to an Adventist school. It seems more than a lifetime ago. We rode our bikes the 4 kms to and from school, rain, hail or shine. No mobile phones. The only computer we had was a calculator. But they were good years with great friends and dedicated and caring teachers.
Today’s teenagers are growing up in a completely different world, one that is digital, experiential and post-pandemic. It was important for me that adults listened to us back then and so much more important that we are listening to our teenagers now. If we are looking at how to transform the Church into a ministry that youth want to be part of, it really starts with their voice, not ours. The research organisation Barna Group conducted a huge international research study in 2021 involving 25,000 random teens from 26 countries including 1000 from Australia. Part of the study centred around three core questions:
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• What do you think about Jesus?
• What do you think about the Bible?
• Are you interested in social justice?
Most teens seemed okay with Jesus but there was a drop off in those who saw the significance of the Bible. However, there was a big jump in those wanting to make the world a better place. What is also clear from the study is that teens in general do not have a sense of identity, purpose and connection to community. Relationship with God and Church have so much to offer them.
The top four things that teens are worried about are mental health, climate change, their future jobs and extreme poverty.
Thank God for churches around our Conference that are actively engaging with juniors, teens and youth. Thank God for Pathfinders, Adventurers and Youth ministry. My question to myself and you is: when was the last time you had an in-depth conversation with a teenager not part of your family?
