Regardless of an upbringing steeped in faith and devout adherence to religious practice, it seems that the youth of today are easy victims of the vices found in society. The question: if force-fed doctrinal beliefs throughout their formative years, how then do kids develop their own take on faith and spirituality? 

Last month, there was complete pandemonium as people paced expectantly through the lobby, waiting for the doors to the Signature Grand ballroom to be opened.  Staff scattered, setting up the last-minute details of the event, then  finally…

 

Youth from Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties gathered by the hundreds under one roof to see one man - Grammy-nominated and Stellar award-winning gospel artist Tye Tribbett. 

Hands raised high in adoration - a sign of complete surrender in worship to God. Filled to surpass its maximum capacity, the Grand Ballroom at Signature Grand in Davie, Fl. transformed into a tabernacle where God himself dwelled. The Faith Center Ministries youth night's theme made a bold statement: "Nullifying the prediction, rewriting the dream."

 His sermon that night,  "Snap Out of It!," spoke  directly to a generation that has been numbed over by the traditions and "business-as-usual" state of religion. That night, it was a call for young people to turn away from the distractions of our time and serve God wholeheartedly.

 

Growing up in the church, Tribbett knows all too well the story of "churched" youth who become casualties of the church "system" that says if they are reared in the house of God and not on the streets, then they'll be just fine. 

 

But, according to a  study conducted by the Fuller Theological Seminary, 100 percent of all church youth group graduates have used alcohol, 69 percent (nearly seven out of ten) had a sexual encounter, and 20 percent had 20 or more sexual encounters in the last twelve months.

 

Furthermore, when church kids go off to college their desire for experimentation and acceptance increases dramatically.

In a recent study conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, 36 percent of students confirmed that their spirituality level was lower after three years in college. It also revealed that the amount of students that attended religious services dropped by 23 percent. 

 

 

Wild Out When Leaving the Parent's Nest

What is it that causes young believers to forsake their faith upon leaving their parent's nest?

Shnydine Honore grew up as a very active youth participant at Bethel Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fl., where her father was the senior pastor. She sung in the choir, was part of the praise dance team and a member of the young women's ministry. Yet, none of this prepared her for what she would experience just a few years later.  

Shnydine moved away from home to study Psychology at Palm Beach Community College.

"After moving into a new environment, I quickly realized that I had no restrictions. I was in control of my life and I was finally able to do what I wanted at that time," says Shnydine Honore, who currently lives in Washington, DC.

Just think. A good, wholesome, sheltered Christian kid moves out of her parent's house, away from her church safety net and the first thing she is exposed to is an ABC party - a growing trend on college campuses. It is an acronym for Anything But Clothes.

Known as one of the most fun and creative party themes around, ABC party-goers show up with costumes fashioned out of newspaper, plastic bags, beach towels, beer boxes, and aprons.  

According to The Princeton Review, the ABC parties are well known as some of the top parties at institutions like Penn State, University of Florida, University of Mississippi, University of Georgia and Florida State University.

"If young people's faith is not strong, they will become bombarded by a life that looks attractive, but that can indeed cause them to compromise what they believe in," said Richard Beckford, a pastor at New Life Fellowship Center in Lauderdale Lakes, Fl.  

 

It was exactly what happened to Shnydine. 

After starting college, Shnydine grew tired of religion. She wanted to explore the world around her and ended up breaking many of the Bible's commands while doing so.  

Likewise, as the youngest daughter of a pastor, Shnydine, now 24, recalls what her relationship with God was like as a youth.

"I always wanted to please my family.  At times I felt that they weren't allowing me to grow as an individual," said Shnydine. "With all the rituals that I had to do -  pray, attend church, and be active in ministry -  none of it made me closer to God. I later learned that it is all about my own personal relationship."

Consider Amish youth. They are also introduced to the sacred very early in life. They are taught to pray, they receive Biblical instructional classes and are kept away from most modern conveniences.

In his sermon, Tye Tribbett argued that the very technology that the Amish church shuns in favor of a more austere lifestyle has captured the focus of the world's young people.

With technology being such a phenomenon for this generation, he, like many, argues that it plays a significant function in youth becoming distracted from what's important.

The American Heart Association's study has found that one-third of teenagers spend close to 40 hours per week in front of the television and about 7 percent are exposed to more than 50 hours of 'screen-time' per week.

Still, there is a school of thought among some Christian ministers that says technology can be used to actively engage young people in their faith.

"When Martin Luther was on his quest for enlightenment, he used print media. It was used for expansion.  This shows us that advancement is good.  If we find that on Sunday mornings, some youth are using their cell phones, let's enhance their [faith] involvement with blogs, social networks and reach out with technology," said Beckford, a Youth Christian Education and Worship Pastor. "As a church, we ought to express that we appreciate the change and we will work with the technology so these gadgets can benefit them as an individual."

However, Beckford posits that gadgets and gimmicks will only lead these youth so far, the real answer:  "Spend time with them. [Kids] remember people, not programs," he said. 

"It's important to expose youth - give them space and opportunities to have one-on-one encounters with God as much as possible. Young people that have those meaningful encounters don't walk away. We invest in things like powerful retreats, speakers, and tools to understand how to live for the Lord. Bible studies and testimonies also help," said Campbell.

As for Shnydine, she is essentially starting from scratch, working on a personal exploration of God for herself -- instead of for her parents. She is currently enrolled in Biblical courses at her place of worship.

"Attending Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church, Washington, DC has been a blessing. I am finding my place in God. I am surrounding myself with like-minded people and entering a new dimension," said Shnydine. "I'm pressing forward to where I need to be…I'm not running [away] anymore; instead, I'm moving toward what God has for me."