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Over the years, I have been to a number of conferences, youth groups and church events designed to disciple kids. To my disappointment, at each event I’ve noticed important areas missing from the conversation.
Going into the Child Discipleship Forum (CDF), an annual conference hosted by Awana each fall, I didn’t have high expectations that they would do better. In fact, there were three main areas where I expected to see gaps. I call these gaps disconnects: the experience of a teenager that adults don’t understand.
And, though I marched into the conference ready to defend teenagers worldwide, within two days, the CDF speakers left me with absolutely nothing to call out. I was seriously blown away at the amount of wisdom and insight everyone shared. Awana connected meaningfully with my areas of concern for my generation, and I had nothing but praise for everyone I heard speak.
For the next few moments, I’d like to share about my three disconnects and how CDF addressed each in a powerful way.
Disconnect 1: Adolescent Feelings That Become Barriers to Belief
For many, the teenage years are the most emotional, feeling-driven years of our lives. Because we have strong opinions and stances and the world tells us to trust in only ourselves, it makes it harder to reason or even interact with us. We have our own ideas and ways of thinking. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it often feels like adults overlook it.
When asked what’s most important to know to stay close to Jesus, Mike Handler, co-founder of CDF, said, “Your feelings are not your ultimate truth.” This really caught my attention because it directly addresses this disconnect and it’s something so many kids need to hear.
Your feelings are not your ultimate truth.
Mike Handler, co-founder of CDF
In my own experience, I’ve learned that people don’t simply believe in Jesus because of logic and reasoning; rather, they surrender because they want an intimate connection with God.
However, there are exceptions. While at CDF, I interviewed Nancy Pearcey, professor of apologetics at Houston Christian University. She shared how she was converted because of pure logic and reasoning, while in fact, all her emotions seemed to be turning her away from Christianity.
Pearcey was raised in a Christian home but walked away from Christianity because, in her mind, she couldn’t find logical reasons to believe. It wasn’t until she visited L’Abri (a Christian community in Switzerland focused on philosophical study) that she began to truly desire a walk with God. Through that experience, she realized He is objectively true.
CDF also featured Dr. George Barna, founder of the Barna Group and a well-known Christian researcher, author and professor. Barna explained his statistical findings in a way that shed a new light on important cultural topics. I thought it would be an emotionless, irrelevant talk on how kids are not interested in the Bible anymore, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
With creativity and humor, Barna revealed some fascinating cultural trends. Instead of just telling us that 98 percent of teenagers are not close with God (though that is an alarming stat), he revealed how 97 percent of 8- to 12-year-olds believe there is an objective truth, but only 43 percent of 13- to 18-year-olds agree.
I was intrigued, because, yet again, here was evidence that my age group veers toward emotion-driven perspectives instead of searching for objective truth. Some of my own friends believe the only truth is what you believe for yourself. I appreciated how Barna acknowledged this troubling trend, one that doesn’t seem to be addressed enough.
Disconnect 2: Adults Rarely Addressing Unprecedented Levels of Distraction Correctly
Teens can get easily distracted, and we often turn inward to our own little worlds. That’s not really breaking news. I’ve certainly felt this in the inner war between my flesh and my soul, the tug between texting and schoolwork, the struggle between me and my family. But at CDF, I heard honest, clear steps to develop my spiritual and mental focus.
Clare Morell, a fellow at The Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., spoke about the reality of social media in our lives today. The only way to reset poor screen habits, she advised, is to restrict them completely for 30 days.
I’ll admit, when I heard that, I did get a little defensive. There’s no way I could put down the phone for a month. I couldn’t get through life without it! Not because of social media, but because so many areas of life now depend on screens. We communicate, research, read, take pictures, order food, set reminders, use calendars and even learn and turn in schoolwork through screens. I can’t set mine down without falling behind in school.
It made me realize how much screens are integrated into our lives, even as kids. My takeaway from this advice was, as much as possible, to commit to occasional 30-day periods when I will restrict my phone usage to only what’s absolutely necessary: a digital fasting of sorts to reclaim my focus.
I pray for my generation to be trained and disciplined about phone usage, knowing how to navigate screen time safely without tripping over the problems phones can bring.
Matt Markins, president of Awana and co-founder of CDF, emphasized time with God as the most important thing in life. When I talked with him, Markins used the example of McDonald’s practice of buying land before it had the buildings to put there. This, he said, corresponds to our time with God.
We can’t just say we’re Christians and then expect to see God’s fruit in our lives. We have to set time aside, or buy land to build on. The more time we spend with God, the more we get to know Him, the more we recognize His voice and the more we’ll want to spend time with Him.
Robert Gallaty, senior pastor of Long Hollow Church in Tennessee, shared some relevant solutions to make more time with God. He suggested we each create one place for ourselves that symbolizes only us and God.
When I heard this, I recalled the movie War Room, where a mother clears out her closet to have a little space that was only for her and God. She covered the walls with prayers and Bible verses, a little room she had chosen to make holy by setting it apart for God.
Disconnect 3: Different Pressures, Standards and Ways of Living
Entering CDF, I wondered if the adult speakers would address topics that are relevant to my generation. After all, teens face different pressures than adults. While our lives as adolescents are similar in some ways to adults, they are also very different in others! But I was encouraged to hear so much biblical truth that can bridge gaps and bring generations together.
John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, mentioned that one of the best things a young person can do is to “hang out with old people.” He talked about the importance of family and peers and also how older people simply have more life experience and knowledge. They’ve seen what works and what doesn’t.
This makes seniors some of the most helpful people to spend time with and learn from. It’s helpful for my generation to remember that today’s seniors once navigated the teenage years, as well, and there’s a reason for what they say.
Speaker Dee Dee Mayer, university chaplain at Pepperdine University, agreed that older people are often a great source of wisdom. But she also recommended finding a trusted person younger than you as well. We often think we can only grow from people older than us, but there are things we can learn from everyone. Having a variety of ages and life experiences in your trusted group can improve your circle of understanding and wisdom.
Josh Mulvihill, the executive director of church and family ministry at Renewanation, implored the CDF audience to “saturate yourself with God’s Word and God’s people.” He said this was the most important thing we can do to stay connected to God.
Whatever you fill your life with, he said, naturally causes you to think about it, talk about it and dwell on it. That’s why it’s so important for us to be among the family of Christ and in God’s Word. It will shape the way we live and think.
I came into CDF looking for gaps and left filled with gratitude.
I’m grateful there are older men and women of God who are thinking deeply about the problems that my generation is facing. I’m grateful they’re taking time to meet about it, talk about it, build around it and put plans into motion that will help me and my peers. It’s often said that teens are “the next to lead,” but I’m grateful that many who are leading now are pouring truth and godliness into us.
When the time comes, my generation will be successful if we do the same.
Sharon Swamidass is a high school student and aspiring author. She loves Jesus and dreams of the day she’ll see the impact God made through her. She spends much of her time lost in stories and learning how to defend her faith.
