Youth are facing a host of generational and substance abuse issues that make dealing with them different from in the past, according to speakers at a recent youth ministers seminar held in Mobile.
“I just don’t think it’s like it was decades ago,” said Richard Ross, youth ministry consultant with LifeWay Christian Resources, who led the seminar at Dauphin Way Baptist Church. “Thirty years ago with young people the big issues were chewing gum in class and should Baptists dance or not.”
Medical conditions
Ross said some church youth groups have teens with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) that is the result of their mothers drinking excessively while pregnant. Others suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), while Ross said “hundreds of thousands” of crack babies are reaching their teenage years.
Olivia Nettles, an Alabama licensed professional counselor (LPC), said the result with all three groups is the youth have impaired impulse control. “…A normal child will think about the consequences before they act, but these kids don’t have the ability to control impulses, so they are unable to control themselves,” said Nettles, a nationally certified counselor and assistant director for child and adolescence outpatient programs at the Mobile Mental Health Center, Inc. in Mobile.
As a result, she said such youth are unable to control their anger and may strike other students, curse, say mean things or refuse to stay in a classroom when they are upset. “They can cause real problems, especially in a church group,” she said.
“There is no reason they can’t be involved, but they need some accommodation. If they don’t have a positive activity to be in, they end up getting into things they don’t need to be into,” Nettles added.
She said such teens usually respond well to one-on-one situations in youth ministry, rather than always in the large group. Thwarting negative behavior becomes more difficult when the history of the teen is unknown, so Nettles recommends youth ministers get to know parents or guardians of the youth. She said this can help determine the source of misbehavior. Nettles cautions behavior resulting from teen depression may be similar to FAS, ADHD or drug-dependence behavior.
Structure needed
“Make sure that you have a good structure for planned activities and a positive discipline system. These kids just can’t handle free time,” she said.
Ross agreed on having strong structure, whether teens misbehave because of serious problems or the normal rebellious stages most teenagers go through, well-structured youth ministries are essential to stop inappropriate behavior.
“Teenagers who have grown up in the church need structure and guidance. And for the increasing number of teenagers with no upbringing in the faith this is undoubtedly true,” Ross said.
He said discipline can be enforced through a contract signed by youth and parents that address issues such as activity and trip behavior, respect toward leaders, physical discipline and vandalism.
Doug Shelton, minister of students at First Baptist Church, Semmes, said he believes in “purpose-driven” youth ministry.
“Every activity must have a purpose or we won’t do it,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a profound purpose; it can be as simple as fellowship, or it can be evangelism or discipleship, but there must be the knowing why you do it, before you do it.
“With all youth, regardless of whether they’re rowdy or not, let them know up front that you trust them and expect them to behave,” Shelton said. “Most of the time they want to please you and will live up to your expectations.”
Another issue in relating to youth is relational difficulties that can result from generational differences between students and leaders, according to Gary Zustiak, professor of youth ministry and psychology at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Mo.
Zustiak said today’s youth often have instant information and gratification propensities. Some search more for meaning than truth in life, which has the potential to entice them into cults. He said youth tend to lack real heroes and a belief in their ability to make a difference in politics, social issues and other issues.
Another consideration cited by Ross in dealing with youth is that volunteers should not be overlooked as negative influences. He said the volatility and unpredictability of adults in our society means new youth workers should be carefully screened, approved by church leadership and committees and sign off on rules themselves.
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