Youth Care
Youth Care
In our concern for youth, our care must be comprehensive: spiritual, cultural, social, athletic, and recreational as well… We deal with them without ignoring their psychology, intellect, and the nature of their age.
In this regard, we place before us the following points:
1- The rise of the current cultural level
We are now in the age of computers and the internet—an age in which the cultural and intellectual level of the entire generation has risen. Therefore, it is not permissible that the curricula we present to youth be at the level of what we used to present in the past.
If the Church does not give youth what satisfies them intellectually and spiritually, they will not attend church under the pretext that they do not benefit.
Therefore, we must care about preparing youth servants.
The youth servant has certain characteristics: among them, that his personality be attractive, such that youth see in him a certain example; that he be widely read and deeply knowledgeable in many areas, not only in spiritual topics; that he be able to answer any question directed to him in a convincing manner; that he be a student of youth psychology and aware of their problems; that he be broad-minded and not irritated by what sometimes comes from our youth in adolescence; and that he not be rigid in his thoughts, dealings, or understanding of matters…
Youth are at an age that suits dialogue, not indoctrination.
Indoctrination may be suitable for childhood, although today we even find children who engage in dialogue and do not accept everything. How much more so with youth…
Youth want to be convinced of the information presented to them, even if it is considered axiomatic or self-evident in the eyes of their teacher. They sometimes compare religion with what they know of scientific theories, and the youth servant needs to study the relationship between science and religion, or at least thoroughly study the issues presented to him in this regard.
The same applies to doctrinal problems raised by other Christian denominations, which require strong and convincing responses. Here, the youth servant should study comparative theology and comparative religion, keeping before him the verse that says: “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet 3:15). In this way, he equips his youth students with deep understanding and firm steadfastness against all doubts.
Youth absolutely do not like closed-mindedness in thinking.
That is, to confine them within a circle you are convinced of, while they want to ask. You cannot tell them, “This is forbidden” or “This is not spiritually acceptable” without explaining why it is forbidden or unacceptable. Be certain that what you convince them of intellectually will be more firmly established in their minds and hearts…
Take an example: the subject of television. If you tell him it is forbidden, he will present to you types of programs that you cannot say are forbidden; indeed, there is no doubt that some contain benefit. Therefore, he must distinguish between what benefits him and what harms him. Then he must have self-control to limit himself to what benefits and avoid the rest. Then comes the issue of time—how much time television takes from what he needs for other, more beneficial matters. At that point, you discuss with him the issue of balance in using time for what is essential and fundamental, what is beneficial, and what may be harmful… By this approach, you are convincing to youth, while at the same time fair and open-minded. He feels that you are not forcing him to live within a circle you are convinced of, and that you are not distancing him from what the world offers of knowledge and inventions from which we can take the beneficial and leave the harmful.
Likewise, you can discuss with him other similar matters such as radio, other forms of arts, and reading… This leads us to another point: the cultural aspect of youth life.
What have we prepared for youth culture?
There should be in the Church a library containing books useful for the culture of youth, as well as for boys and children.
The Church undoubtedly cares for purely religious culture in terms of spirituality, Bible study, books of interpretation, doctrine and theology, Church history, the lives of the saints, and liturgical books… and the like…
What prevents the presence of other books in general culture?
Youth want to know and to read, and should not be confined to the scope of religious culture alone. If we do not provide them with cultural books to read, they will go to other sources, and then they will fall outside the Church’s guidance and supervision. We should note that the first catechetical school taught philosophy, logic, medicine, and music alongside religious sciences… So why should our libraries not contain cultural books?
We can provide youth with culture in many medical areas, starting with books explaining the harms of smoking, drugs, and masturbation, and discussing venereal diseases, then obesity, diabetes, and blood pressure, along with other books on psychological and mental illnesses, fear and anxiety, as well as books in psychology and sociology.
What also prevents the presence of encyclopedias, series of “knowledge” books, medical encyclopedias, technology encyclopedias, and “How does it work?” books about many inventions and devices and how they function? All of these are beneficial and entertaining culture at the same time. Indeed, reading such books occupies his mind and keeps him away from many evil thoughts.
Also books about antiquities and heroes of history, and about journeys—whether Coptic antiquities or the most famous antiquities in the world. Just as youth study Church history and its heroes, why not study famous figures in the world—how they arose and grew, what their qualities and virtues were, and what deficiencies in some led to their fall and loss?
There are also books about curiosities and amusements: books about butterflies and their types, colorful fish, animal wonders, kinds of birds or insects, and the virtues of some creatures such as doves, camels, bees, and ants, and the wonders of animals in very hot regions and frozen regions like the poles…
In summary, we want to form the mentality and personality of youth so that they can speak on any subject with sound understanding and comprehensive culture, and not sit in society outside the Church speaking “like one of the foolish women” (Job 2:10).
Knowing youth talents and developing them
Sometimes committed youth suffer from the problem of “free time,” because worldly youth spend their time in many amusements and pleasures from which church youth refrain, leaving them with a void that needs to be filled beneficially rather than becoming a source of problems. Here comes the matter of talents.
We must discover the talents of youth and occupy them with what benefits them.
Some youth have talents in music, drawing, poetry, acting, story writing, and other talents…
We cannot say that music is forbidden. The prophet David was accompanied by a large musical choir that played his psalms, including Asaph and Heman. In Psalm 150 he says: “Praise God… praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes… praise Him with timbrel and dance… praise Him with loud cymbals.” David himself was skilled in playing the harp, flute, and ten-stringed instrument, and he played for King Saul so that he would be soothed (1 Sam 16:23).
Therefore, there is no objection to teaching youth music, or that those with musical talents form church choirs to chant hymns or play some tunes on musical instruments in celebrations and various occasions outside the liturgical rite—thus satisfying their talents instead of directing them outward.
The same applies to those with acting talents.
A church troupe can be formed to act religious plays suitable for filming, which can be recorded on video or produced as films. Some religious films have succeeded and spread, such as the film of Saint George, the film of Saint Anthony, the film of the child Abanoub, and others…
On this occasion, I advise avoiding martyrdom films that depict types of tortures which tire children—and even some adults.
These films also provide an opportunity for young women to tailor suitable costumes, because filming a story set, for example, in the fourth century requires knowledge of the clothing used at that time for kings, soldiers, and common people. Church girls can tailor and make them instead of spending thousands on purchasing them.
All acting supplies can be kept in the church drama group’s storage to be reused in another play.
Thus, we occupy time, utilize talents, and make youth feel that the Church can embrace, use, develop, and give space for their talents to appear…
In addition, other talents can be used within the scope of acting: photography to turn a play into a film; electrical skills to distribute lighting during performances; drawing skills to prepare scenery, especially stage backdrops; as well as talents in arranging the stage and its furnishings.
In church art and Bible study
I remember when we were servants in church education, we used to give youth an opportunity in summer activities to carry out a project such as the “Tabernacle,” studying all its details and crafting it, making all its contents—altars, church utensils, priestly garments, and vessels—while reviewing and studying everything mentioned in Scripture about it. Thus, Scripture blends with art, and both occupy time beneficially within two realms: religion and recreation.
Likewise, photography enthusiasts can be given opportunities to photograph Coptic antiquities such as monasteries and ancient churches, and some church mysteries. Thus, we occupy youth time and benefit from and develop their talents.
Among aspects of youth care are clubs, celebrations, and seminars.
The club is important from the athletic perspective, as it channels their energies and desires for various sports provided by the Church. However, the club must have precise spiritual supervision: regarding time so they do not leave late at night; regarding calmness so voices do not rise into noise that neighbors complain about; and regarding their conduct with one another.
A club without spiritual supervision causes more harm than benefit, because youth then become accustomed to error within the Church’s embrace and take lightly the Church’s dignity. Since youth behave naturally in the club, it is possible to observe their mistakes and address them. Periods of games can be interspersed with spiritual programs including a spiritual word, hymns, and competitions.
Trips are also beneficial recreational programs for youth. Their success depends on the type of trip, its destination, its program during travel and at the site, and discipline during the trip so that mistakes do not occur. It is good for the Church to contribute to part of the trip’s costs so it does not become a financial burden on parents and so participation is available to all.
In addition to clubs and trips, there are seminars, debates, and research.
A seminar includes more than one speaker, presenting more than one idea or method. Debates place one idea against another, and the listener judges. Both stimulate youth thinking and train them not to rely on a single viewpoint or style.
Research involves youth extracting objective material using libraries and references. Such research, or parts of it, can be published in the Church’s youth magazine.
Youth are a trust placed upon us; they are the future of the Church. We must care for them in every aspect: their health, intellect, psychology, spirituality, and talents, and develop them. We have often said this phrase:
A Church without youth is a Church without a future.
Therefore, we must continually ask ourselves: What have we done for the sake of youth? We do not judge them; we work for them, for they are our coming generation.
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