As seen below, the story of Holden provides an image of youth abandonment. In the shadow of youth such as Holden lies the question: is there such thing as adolescent abandonment within the church?
For the good part of youth ministries past, the youth have been placed into what can only be described as a “youth church service,” far away from the “adult service,” further adding to youth abandonment because youth are again being forced away from any type of adult community. Research has shown that while youth services fulfill the needs and desires of youth to have their own safe space where they can be youth, it has a massive side affect, it can future disconnect youth from the church body. By the time youth graduate from high school many do not feel a part of the larger church body. So therefore, upon graduating from high school and being forced into the “big church service,” students do not feel like they belong.1 Upon entering into the larger church service, youth quickly do not feel at home because not only do they not see the person they called pastor for years, but they do not see anyone that they know or anyone who knows them. For anyone, entering into a church where they know no one can be lonely, but it is even lonelier for a person going through the transition from high school to post-high school.
It is both heartbreaking and mindboggling that one of the loneliest places for youth; a place where they feel almost completely disconnected from adults, is within the church. One would think that the church should be a place where students can feel completely welcome and embraced, yet sadly; the intuitional church looks much more like society. Therefore, it is no wonder that once youth are cast out of youth group into the larger church body; they flee toward any type of community that will invite them in.
In the book, Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers, Chap Clark states that through his research he has found that one of the main reasons youth go to parties is because they are seeking community with others. This should break anyone’s heart.2 Why is it that youth have to venture into the dark places of high school and college parties to find community instead of into the church?
May the church be a place where youth find community, not only with other students, but also with adults. May the church not be a place of abandonment, but of hope and God’s redemption displayed by the body of Christ, our Lord.
(In the next posting we will explore how the church might change to no longer be a place of abandonment.)
1 For great information and research on this topic see http://fulleryouthinstitute.org/college-transition/
2 Clark, Chap, Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers, (Baker Academics, Grand Rapids, 2004), 158- 168
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