Ministering To The Youth Of The "Me First Generation"

Many people have called today’s youth the "Me First Generation" and a recent report by Josephson Institute of Ethics would appear to verify the name.

The report was based on a study of the goals of young people today, compared to the goals of the kids of the ‘60s and ‘70s. The report noted that the number one goal of 69% of the kids a generation ago was "to help others." Today, 75% of all kids list their top goal as "being very well off financially."

Even many of today’s youth in the church have many of these same self-centered, materialistic attitudes. Certainly, such attitudes are not in keeping with the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ and the Bible and need to be addressed by the church and Sunday school.

The Sunday school has a responsibility to help young people gain proper attitudes toward money, material possessions, service to God and Christian responsibility for the needs of others. Here are a few ideas…

1. Hold a study of Christian attitudes about money and possessions. Several good books and course resources are available in this area. Contact your local Christian bookstore for more information.

2. Help your youth to see the needs of the people in the world, both at home and abroad.

3. Take your youth to a work camp where they can gain "hands-on experience" from working to help others.

4. Get your youth involved with existing service projects and groups in your area.

5. Help your youth classes conduct a fund raising project to raise money to help the needy.

6. Help your youth examine their own attitudes concerning giving of both their time and money to the Lord and to other people. This might include a project to encourage tithing or other specific commitments to giving by the youth.

(This article appeared in the "Spring, 1991" issue of "The Herald.")