There seems to be a growing disconnect between parents and their teenagers. Culture plays a big role in this, but I believe the church owns an equal stake in the problem. In many churches, students are banished to the dungeons of our campuses where their nose and worship can't be heard. "Not in our church!" you might think, or scream at your computer screen slamming your fists down and spilling your coffee (be slow to anger). And maybe this doesn't take place in your church, but it does in most. Our students are disconnected from the church that provides for them. This is mirrored in the home and it's a tremendous problem.
Our teenagers wish their parents were engaging, in an appropriate manner. They want their parents to be relevant and involved, without pressure or judgment, but with love and grace. There are certainly aspects of their lives they're longing for: converstations, examples, knowledge. Ask your students, "What do you wish I knew?" "What do you wish you could say to me?"
It's up to us as leaders and parents to intergrate the church generationally. Our young adults are leaving the church by the bus load (or by the freshman class load). Is it our fault? Perhaps. I wonder how things would different if our students felt like they belonged and were wanted. Maybe we should give it a try.
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