Spiritual Service and the Spiritual Servant (9)
Spiritual Service and the Spiritual Servant (9)
Youth Care (Part B)
Caring for youth requires ensuring their care before reaching the stage of youth itself.
A young person who deviates seriously provides practical evidence that spiritual values were not deeply planted in his heart during childhood, or that he did not receive complete care when he was a boy. Rarely does deviation occur suddenly, for it usually finds in him readiness without resistance from firm principles. Therefore, care for youth begins in childhood, continues through adolescence, and develops until it reaches the youth stage.
We must also pay attention to the influences that affect youth.
External Influences:
The young person leaves his home for a wider community where the influences differ and vary from the family atmosphere—such as friends, studies, environment, clubs, media, and the overall societal atmosphere.
The influence of friendship.
This influence is very deep, especially if his friends have strong personalities toward whom he feels attraction, entering their circle and perhaps becoming a reflection of them. How true are the words of a writer who said:
“Tell me who your friend is, and I’ll tell you who you are.”
Since we cannot guarantee the quality of friendships our youth encounter in the wider society, let us create for them friendships within our spiritual community—in the Church, in youth meetings, in spiritual activities, in church clubs, in Sunday Schools, and in university fellowships, thanking God that these groups are under the Church’s care and guidance.
The influence of Sunday School on youth.
We notice that the number of Sunday School students is large in the elementary stage, but begins to decrease in middle school and even more in high school. What are the reasons for this?
Curriculum and speakers:
Perhaps the decrease is due to the curriculum, the speakers, or the level of teaching.
We may not be respecting the youth’s mind or age when we present to them lessons as though they were still children!
We must not forget that we live in the age of computers and the Internet, where technology has provided vast information and raised the intellectual and informational level of youth. What we studied in the 1940s about stages of development differs greatly from those in the 1990s. Therefore, curricula and teaching methods must evolve to match this intellectual growth.
The young person comes to church to find nourishment for both his mind and his spirit.
This nourishment does not suit the old rote-learning method. He wants to be convinced by what he hears, and conviction comes through dialogue. Thus, leaders of youth meetings should divide their time between a lecture and a discussion about what was heard.
The discussion should be open because the era of accepting things automatically has changed.
Even quoting a Father’s saying or a Bible verse is no longer enough—youth want to understand the spiritual, logical, and rational foundations behind them.
Sadly, even the principles of virtue—especially in Western countries—are no longer taken for granted; they too require reasoning and explanation. The Ten Commandments also need intellectual conviction—why did the Lord command this? What is His wisdom in it?
The boundaries of lawful and unlawful, right and wrong, all need explanation.
It is not enough to say, “Smoking is forbidden”; one must prove it. The same applies when speaking about television, songs, movies, or magazines, and all other means of entertainment.
In all of this, we must allow room for questions and never reject them, no matter how strange they seem, remembering the words of Saint Peter the Apostle:
“Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness” (1 Peter 3:15).
This leads us to an important point:
The type of speakers or servants required for youth classes.
Not every servant is suitable to teach or speak in youth meetings.
The value of a youth servant depends on his personality, the quality and quantity of his knowledge, his ability to persuade and answer questions, his way of dealing with youth, the attractiveness of his manner, and the respect the youth have for him.
If these traits are not present, the number of attendees may easily decrease because the meeting no longer satisfies them!
Therefore, youth servants must be of a special, chosen type, trained and aware, understanding the psychology of youth.
They should understand youth mentality, problems, and needs, speaking to what is inside them rather than imposing external matters that are far from their world. A servant might live in one atmosphere while the youth are in another.
A servant must not confine youth within his own personal convictions.
For example, he might forbid television entirely, while the youth ask:
“What about the valuable information some programs provide? What about the news? What sin is in that? What about sports programs—we love sports! What about educational lessons?”
A servant who is not extreme in his thinking will be fair and balanced in his judgments, distinguishing between what is beneficial and harmful. He will also focus on the element of time spent on television compared to other responsibilities, and on self-control in choosing what is beneficial. In this way, youth respect his reasoning and intellect.
But judging that everything youth enjoy is sinful is no longer acceptable; they feel the servant refuses understanding and that they cannot live in a forced ascetic atmosphere.
Free time:
Youth also need a solution for their free time.
We cannot tell them that their only activities should be spiritual ones—meetings, libraries, hymn lessons, Coptic language, or praise sessions—for not all youth are at that level of desire or focus.
Therefore, recreation and entertainment are necessary.
This may include sports if the church has a club, or indoor games.
Many churches have sports teams that compete with other churches and are awarded cups and medals.
Recreation may also include drama and theater.
Many churches have successfully presented plays about martyrs, heroes of faith, desert fathers, or notable pastors and benefactors. These plays were so successful that they were recorded on film or video and even exported to diaspora churches.
However, I must note that films about martyrdom should avoid showing scenes of torture that may distress children.
Other youth activities:
Scouting groups are also valuable; they exist in some churches and engage youth in meaningful activities that teach responsibility. They help maintain order during church events, train youth in leadership, respectful interaction, good appearance, and humble performance of duty.
We must recognize youth talents, develop them, and provide outlets for them.
Some youth are gifted in music; the church can train them in musical instruments to accompany hymns and spiritual songs. Thus, choirs have been formed in many churches and have succeeded in festivals and events. Youth also learn that music can serve spiritual purposes and that sacred music is deeper and more meaningful than worldly music.
Some youth are talented in writing—stories, riddles, competitions, poetry, or composing hymns—and they should be encouraged and given opportunities to develop and share their work.
Others may be gifted in art, and the church can guide them to paint in spiritual contexts—illustrations of Bible stories or saints, or even iconography training if they have the talent.
Some youth are skilled at model-making—creating models of the Tabernacle, an altar, or a church, or crafting Sunday School gifts. Whether they work individually or as a group, they should feel that their talents can serve God, benefit the Church, and occupy their free time meaningfully.
We must guide youth to use their talents in a spiritual direction without deviation and show that the Church embraces, supports, and develops them without forcing a single path on everyone. Each may serve in his own way, but always spiritually.
Much of this talent-based work is suitable for summer activities, while some can continue during the school year on a smaller scale so as not to interfere with studies. Many churches hold celebrations for academic achievers and present them with certificates of appreciation.
Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, published in Watani Newspaper on May 22, 2005.
