Teens
Teens
Your second decade, between age 10 and age 20, is the most important and can be the most difficult ten years of your physical and spiritual life. During this decade, you experience physical, mental, emotional, sexual, and spiritual changes and decisions that impact your future years. If you are 20 or more years old, think of yourself on your 10th and 20th physical birthdays. You transitioned from a child to an adult. You no longer talk like a child nor think like a child nor reason like a child. you put the ways of childhood behind you.
Spiritually, your second decade can have the most life-changing decision of your physical life.b Surveys of Christian adults over years indicate that 75 to 80 percent came to faith in Christ (born again – spiritual birth) before age 20. Most spiritual birthdays occur or are confirmed during the ten teen years. Born again teens, including preteens or “Betweens” ages 10,11, and 12, are the future of the church. Celebrating Spiritual Birthdays during these years is important to spiritual growth and maturity. Born again teens celebrating their Spiritual Birthdays and sharing their Spiritual Birthday Stories can reach other teens for Christ and impact their schools and churches.
Born again preteens experience significant change and adjustment between elementary and middle school. Born again early teens (13-14-15) experience similar challenges entering high school. Teens BC (Before Cars) are much different than Teens AD (After Driving), Most states grant the legal right to drive and to work at age 16. Driving and work provide the ability for teens to become less dependent on parents and more self-responsible. The legal age of majority (adulthood under the law) is 18 years in all except three states.
Born again teens must be given more recognition and emphasis in church ministry. The teen years are also when many youth stop attending church services with their Christian family. Youth sports and other competitive activities scheduled on Sunday conflict with church participation. Born again teens need the support of Moms, Dads, and Youth Leaders to maintain and mature in their Christian walk and witness. Celebrating their Spiritual Birthday and Spiritual Journey, including athletic and school achievements, giving credit to God, will help born again teens be unwavering in their faith during these challenging years.