THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST-UKTHE CHURCH OF PENTECOST-UK YOUTH MINISTRY YOUTH MINISTRY

YOUTH WORKERS ACADEMYYOUTH WORKERS ACADEMY[MANCHESTER, 16/05/09][MANCHESTER, 16/05/09]

THEME: THE LIVING GOD AND THE YOUTH TODAY (Mk 12:27)THEME: THE LIVING GOD AND THE YOUTH TODAY (Mk 12:27)

TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING TODAY’S YOUTH CULTURETODAY’S YOUTH CULTURE

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ben DebrahSpeaker: Rev. Dr. Ben Debrah

OUTLINEOUTLINE

• IntroductionIntroduction

• The cultural gapThe cultural gap

• The lifestyleThe lifestyle

• The impact of post-modernismThe impact of post-modernism

• CommunicationCommunication

• A Biblical case studyA Biblical case study

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

• YOUTH:YOUTH:1.1.Being young;Being young;2.2.The period between childhood and maturity; the rigours The period between childhood and maturity; the rigours

or lack of experience, etc; characteristics of this;or lack of experience, etc; characteristics of this;3.3.A young man;A young man;4.4.Young people collectivelyYoung people collectively

• YOUTH CULTURE:YOUTH CULTURE:The collective cultural practices of young people, setting The collective cultural practices of young people, setting

these groups apart from the dominant or “mainstream” these groups apart from the dominant or “mainstream” society. Such practices may oppose the norms of adult society. Such practices may oppose the norms of adult life and are often symbolised by distinctive styles of life and are often symbolised by distinctive styles of clothing or taste in music.clothing or taste in music.

Intro (Contd)Intro (Contd)

• YOUTH SUBCULTURE:YOUTH SUBCULTURE:This involves a flexible and rapidly shifting This involves a flexible and rapidly shifting

pick-and-mix approach of the different pick-and-mix approach of the different available youth styles to suit the individual available youth styles to suit the individual taste of the youth (not just the collective taste of the youth (not just the collective taste of groups or gangs)taste of groups or gangs)

• ISSUES:ISSUES:Race; gender; education; health; sexuality; Race; gender; education; health; sexuality;

economy; family; society/politics; crime; economy; family; society/politics; crime; Religion; The ChurchReligion; The Church

THE CULTURAL GAPTHE CULTURAL GAP

• GenerationsGenerations: A cohort of people born in a certain date : A cohort of people born in a certain date range and share a general cultural experience of the world. range and share a general cultural experience of the world. 2020thth-21-21stst century generations listed in chronological order: century generations listed in chronological order:

1.1. InterberbellumInterberbellum2.2. GreatestGreatest3.3. SilentSilent4.4. Baby boomBaby boom5.5. Generation JonesGeneration Jones6.6. Generation XGeneration X7.7. MTVMTV8.8. Generation Y (Millenials; Class of 2000; Echo boomers)Generation Y (Millenials; Class of 2000; Echo boomers)9.9. Generation Z (about 1995-2010; children and parents Generation Z (about 1995-2010; children and parents

embrace technology together; A new generation starting embrace technology together; A new generation starting about now)about now)

LIFESTYLELIFESTYLE

• General Perceptions:General Perceptions:YouthYouth AdultAdultNot adult/adolescentNot adult/adolescent Adult/grown upAdult/grown upBecomingBecoming ArrivedArrivedIdentity yet to emergeIdentity yet to emerge Identity fixedIdentity fixedPowerless/vulnerablePowerless/vulnerable Powerful/strongPowerful/strongLess responsibleLess responsible ResponsibleResponsibleDependentDependent IndependentIndependentIgnorantIgnorant KnowledgeableKnowledgeableRisky behavioursRisky behaviours Considered behaviourConsidered behaviourRebelliousRebellious Conformist ConformistReliantReliant AutonomousAutonomous

LIFESTYLE (contd)LIFESTYLE (contd)

• Politicians/policy-makers perceptions:Politicians/policy-makers perceptions:1.1. Thugs (steal, vandalise, attack people, Thugs (steal, vandalise, attack people,

disrupt, etc)disrupt, etc)2.2. Users (take drugs, drink, smoke, get pregnant Users (take drugs, drink, smoke, get pregnant

to jump housing queue, hedonistic, self-to jump housing queue, hedonistic, self-seeking, etc)seeking, etc)

3.3. Victims (no jobs, poor education, Victims (no jobs, poor education, dysfunctional families, etc)dysfunctional families, etc)

4.4. Control (using surveillance, incarceration, Control (using surveillance, incarceration, increased emphasis on control within increased emphasis on control within education and training)education and training)

THE IMPACT OF POST-THE IMPACT OF POST-MODERNISMMODERNISM

• The main tenet of post-modernism is: “There The main tenet of post-modernism is: “There are no universal truths”.are no universal truths”.

• Now here are the multi-billion pound Now here are the multi-billion pound questions:questions:

1.1. How then do young people maintain their How then do young people maintain their distinctiveness without appearing distinctiveness without appearing segregated?segregated?

2.2. How do young people integrate in this multi-How do young people integrate in this multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-faith society, cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-faith society, without losing their unique identitywithout losing their unique identity

COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

• IDEAS:IDEAS:1.1.Design appropriate and specific messages to Design appropriate and specific messages to

target unbelievers, as well as discipling the savedtarget unbelievers, as well as discipling the saved2.2.Involve parents/guardiansInvolve parents/guardians3.3.Take interest in their “world”Take interest in their “world”4.4.Provide ‘home/family’ in churchProvide ‘home/family’ in church5.5.Let the Jesus story be real, practical and Let the Jesus story be real, practical and

applicable to them (i.e. communication)applicable to them (i.e. communication)6.6.Provide hope (in the faithfulness of God)Provide hope (in the faithfulness of God)7.7.Pray for the miraculousPray for the miraculous8.8.……....

BIBLICAL CASE STUDYBIBLICAL CASE STUDY

GENESIS CHAPTER 34GENESIS CHAPTER 34• Jacob’s unique familyJacob’s unique family• Dinah and her generationDinah and her generation• The world of the dayThe world of the day• Cross-cultural relationships/religionCross-cultural relationships/religion• Characteristics of a “young man”Characteristics of a “young man”• Parental responsibility, maturity, and Parental responsibility, maturity, and

communicationcommunication• Integration vs asimiliationIntegration vs asimiliation

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

• Affecting today’s youth requires and Affecting today’s youth requires and understanding of their worldunderstanding of their world

• Impacting youth needs a “cross-Impacting youth needs a “cross-cultural missions-minded” approachcultural missions-minded” approach

• Communicating the gospel through Communicating the gospel through the proclaimed and practised Word is the proclaimed and practised Word is essentialessential