As summer arrives and school routines take a break, we, as parents, grandparents, guardians, and mentors, have a unique opportunity to strategically foster healthy spiritual habits in the next generation.
According to OneHope’s Global Youth Culture study focusing on North America, over half of surveyed teens identify as Christians. However, only 8% regularly engage in spiritual formation habits like reading the Bible. These teenage years are a critical period filled with challenging questions about life’s direction, beliefs about God and the Church, and finding their place in the world. The choices ahead are both exciting and daunting. As believers, we can guide teens through these pivotal years.
To plant spiritually healthy seeds in the next generation, we can start by engaging them in Scripture. It's God's words, not ours, that can challenge young hearts and spark a new fervor for a life that influences others' destinies. Involving teens in community service and mission trips allows them to witness firsthand the transformative impact of God’s word on lives. Helping them understand their role in God’s Big Story emphasizes that each person has a unique gift to further His kingdom.
Creating giving opportunities is another way to foster spiritual growth. Programs where teens can contribute by packing food, decorating backpacks with messages of God’s love, earning money for missions, or praying for global communities can be very effective. Encouraging them to use their talents is crucial. Just as my father was given a platform at a young age, recognizing that God’s plans are grander than we can imagine can inspire teens to utilize their gifts for a greater purpose. Sharing inspiring God stories from our rich heritage can bolster their faith and motivate them to take action.
Teenagers, despite their energy, have limits, making it crucial for us to lean on God for strength. Scripture reminds us of this: “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31).
The next generation holds tremendous potential. Let’s be intentional in cultivating healthy spiritual practices and empower them to influence their neighborhoods, communities, cities, and the world.