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Atlantic
Within the denomination where I serve, there are
constantly more churches looking to bring youth pastors on
staff.
The large youth events in this area are continually
growing, and there is an ever-deepening desire among youth to serve Christ
through integral mission.
In a culture which is steadily moving away from faith
in God, it’s really encouraging to know there is an undercurrent
flowing in the opposite direction.
I have the firm belief that God is building something
here which will impact our nation and our world!
Dale Stairs is director of the youth ministry program
at Acadia Divinity College.
Quebec
Traditionally, Quebec has been an extremely religious
society; but that religion was completely rejected by the previous
generation. The result is that young people have grown up with virtually no
influence from religion, church and God.
I believe this is why Quebec youth have the highest
rates in North America of suicide and abortion. However, rejection of
religion has not caused a rejection in the belief in God. Recent studies
indicate Quebec is one of the most God-believing provinces in the country.
Many have simply never had the opportunity to connect this belief in God to
anything of relevance to life.
What an incredible opportunity to engage the youth of
this province, in real and creative ways – without any church
‘baggage.’ They are determined to find a better way for
themselves and their children. They simply do not know where to find it
– and we can offer Jesus to them. What a blast!
Allan Heron is the Montreal-based executive director
of Youth for Christ/Youth Unlimited.
Ontario
Living in the land of the relationally starved, we
often walk by the needy and destitute.
We see evidence of their hunger on FaceBook and
MySpace.
The average starving teen sends 70 text messages a
day, in the hope of staying connected with someone, anyone. They have
little direct contact with parents, or any adults.
However, most of us pass our days barely noticing
their plight.
Canadian kids are starving for relationships.
Who knows how our ministries might change if we gave
listening to people priority over the latest cutting-edge programs?
Pouring into people worked for Jesus. Who knows? It
might even work for us.
Paul Robertson is a youth culture specialist with
Youth Unlimited in Toronto.
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Prairies
When I was a young adult, I knew where I was going in
life. I knew who I was – and I was relaxed about my future.
I’m not seeing our current youth showing the
same confidence. Traditional family units are breaking down all over
– and the pieces left over are the shrapnel of our youth, lying
confused and broken.
There is a loss of direction, because they see adults
losing a sense of self in terms of personal value.
Rural kids are moving into Winnipeg – creating a
transient culture of youth who desire connection, without roots to fulfill
that desire. But ministries are emerging to meet these needs.
YC Manitoba is bringing together youth from
across denominational lines. Local Bible colleges are sensing the need to
become more discipleship focused and practical.
There is a sense of anticipation. This has become a
bit of a ‘mantra’ for many of us: “God, what are you
planning?”
Rob Haslam is a youth pastor in southern Manitoba, and
director of Canadian Youth Worker.
Pacific
There are some really great things happening among
youth and youth workers in B.C. More and more youth workers are
catching the vision of laying down denominational and doctrinal
differences, to capitalize on commonalities.
There seems to be an increasing hunger in young people
to do more for the
kingdom of God – to rise up together to make a greater impact in their communities.
Youth gatherings such as ONE have focused on
harnessing some of that passion – to see if God would move us to a
new level of kingdom work.
On the downside, I’m also witnessing the reality
of a generation which is deeply wounded from the breakdown of the family.
This is occurring not only in the secular world, but also within the
church. Youth workers today are seeing more and more teens turning to all
sorts of destructive behavioural patterns to release or numb the pain
within them.
As a result, there is an urgency for youth workers to
become better equipped to facilitate healing for these youth.
Mika Kostamo is a youth pastor at Cedar Grove Church
in Surrey, B.C.
Options Spring 2008
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