1. THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST-UK YOUTH MINISTRY YOUTH WORKERS ACADEMY [MANCHESTER, 16/05/09] THEME: THE LIVING GOD AND THE YOUTH TODAY (Mk 12:27) TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING TODAY’S YOUTH CULTURE Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ben Debrah

2. OUTLINE Introduction Introduction The cultural gap The cultural gap The lifestyle The lifestyle The impact of post-modernism The impact of post-modernism Communication Communication A Biblical case study A Biblical case study

3. INTRODUCTION YOUTH: YOUTH: 1. Being young; 2. The period between childhood and maturity; the rigours or lack of experience, etc; characteristics of this; 3. A young man; 4. Young people collectively YOUTH CULTURE: YOUTH CULTURE: The collective cultural practices of young people, setting these groups apart from the dominant or “mainstream” society. Such practices may oppose the norms of adult life and are often symbolised by distinctive styles of clothing or taste in music.

4. Intro (Contd) YOUTH SUBCULTURE: YOUTH SUBCULTURE: This involves a flexible and rapidly shifting pick- and-mix approach of the different available youth styles to suit the individual taste of the youth (not just the collective taste of groups or gangs) ISSUES: ISSUES: Race; gender; education; health; sexuality; economy; family; society/politics; crime; Religion; The Church

5. THE CULTURAL GAP Generations: A cohort of people born in a certain date range and share a general cultural experience of the world. 20 th -21 st century generations listed in chronological order: Generations: A cohort of people born in a certain date range and share a general cultural experience of the world. 20 th -21 st century generations listed in chronological order: 1. Interberbellum 2. Greatest 3. Silent 4. Baby boom 5. Generation Jones 6. Generation X 7. MTV 8. Generation Y (Millenials; Class of 2000; Echo boomers) 9. Generation Z (about 1995-2010; children and parents embrace technology together; A new generation starting about now)

6. LIFESTYLE General Perceptions: General Perceptions: YouthAdult Not adult/adolescentAdult/grown up BecomingArrived Identity yet to emergeIdentity fixed Powerless/vulnerablePowerful/strong Less responsibleResponsible DependentIndependent IgnorantKnowledgeable Risky behavioursConsidered behaviour Rebellious Conformist ReliantAutonomous

7. LIFESTYLE (contd) Politicians/policy-makers perceptions: Politicians/policy-makers perceptions: 1. Thugs (steal, vandalise, attack people, disrupt, etc) 2. Users (take drugs, drink, smoke, get pregnant to jump housing queue, hedonistic, self- seeking, etc) 3. Victims (no jobs, poor education, dysfunctional families, etc) 4. Control (using surveillance, incarceration, increased emphasis on control within education and training)

8. THE IMPACT OF POST- MODERNISM The main tenet of post-modernism is: “There are no universal truths”. The main tenet of post-modernism is: “There are no universal truths”. Now here are the multi-billion pound questions: Now here are the multi-billion pound questions: 1. How then do young people maintain their distinctiveness without appearing segregated? 2. How do young people integrate in this multi- cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-faith society, without losing their unique identity

9. COMMUNICATION IDEAS: IDEAS: 1. Design appropriate and specific messages to target unbelievers, as well as discipling the saved 2. Involve parents/guardians 3. Take interest in their “world” 4. Provide ‘home/family’ in church 5. Let the Jesus story be real, practical and applicable to them (i.e. communication) 6. Provide hope (in the faithfulness of God) 7. Pray for the miraculous 8. …..

10. BIBLICAL CASE STUDY GENESIS CHAPTER 34 Jacob’s unique family Jacob’s unique family Dinah and her generation Dinah and her generation The world of the day The world of the day Cross-cultural relationships/religion Cross-cultural relationships/religion Characteristics of a “young man” Characteristics of a “young man” Parental responsibility, maturity, and communication Parental responsibility, maturity, and communication Integration vs asimiliation Integration vs asimiliation

11. CONCLUSION Affecting today’s youth requires and understanding of their world Affecting today’s youth requires and understanding of their world Impacting youth needs a “cross-cultural missions-minded” approach Impacting youth needs a “cross-cultural missions-minded” approach Communicating the gospel through the proclaimed and practised Word is essential Communicating the gospel through the proclaimed and practised Word is essential