At the beginning of most YF meeting times, as we are waiting for everyone to arrive, we play a game called “Reverse Charades.” This is how it works: A post-it note with a name written on it is stuck to the forehead of one of the kids or adults in attendance. The name usually represents a person, famous or not, or even a character in a book or movie. It is then the job of the person wearing the note to guess who they are by asking everyone else questions. The catch is that the “audience” can only answer Yes or No. It’s a good game. It gets the teenagers interacting and I think it helps them to think about asking questions. Lately, I’ve been thinking about that game and how it really can apply to life in general.
We all have a need to know who we are. Teenagers especially have that need. They are in that time when they are just wading in the waters of forming their character and who they will become. They are questioning and many times they don’t get a specific answer, just an obscure “Yes” or “No.” It’s a hard time and sometimes as adults and as Believers we don’t make it any easier for them. We can’t give them pat answers to their questions. We can’t always give them those “Sunday School” answers and think we are truly fixing the problem. We have to reach out in love. We have to serve. We have to minister.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to do just that with a group of teenagers who definitely need those answers. We minister to a very unique group. Kids from all backgrounds, economic levels, and even students with families who don’t support their faith. It’s a challenge most days for sure. It’s a challenge that I hope that you will join us in taking on. Here are some ways that you can help:
1. Pray, Pray, Pray! These students need your prayers. They need God to open up their hearts and their minds to His leading in their lives. They are definitely searching, let’s use some prayer to help push them in the right direction.
2. Talk, Talk, Talk! I know many of the teenagers that are involved in our programs aren’t regular attenders, but they do show up every once in awhile. Say Hi, shake their hand, ask them a question. Teenagers are very wary of such interactions and you might get some weird looks, but don’t be put off. They need that. They need to know someone is actually acknowledging them. A couple of words goes a long way.
3. Help, Help, Help! Maybe you have limited time or even limited experience with teenagers, but think about using some of that time constructively. I’ve shared with you 40 Assets in the past few months and I will begin to speak more actively about it, but take a look at that list. Where can you fit in? What Asset can you provide one of these students? Even if you only have 15 minutes a week to sacrifice, ask me how you can put it to good use in the life of a teenager.
If we can do these three things, hopefully we can help tell them what is exactly on that post-it note and not leave them continuing to question.
