Training teenagers to live a godly life has always been important work, even the fun parts like playing Chubby-Bunny. But in our digital media on demand culture, you need to provide more clarity.
Thanks Emily, I couldn’t agree more. I work for a parachurch ministry and receive a lot of push back around a no phone policy mostly from parents.
Do you have any advice on how to best communicate with these parents without it sounding like I’m judging their parenting and saying they are wrong about technology?
Thanks, Campbell. I'm working on a post that I think addresses this a little more head on for ministry leaders. Be on the look out for it in the next week or two. In the meantime, I'd point to places where phone free policies are going well: schools!!
If you live in a state with a no-phone policy in schools, try to find a teacher or two and ask them how it's going (99.9% of the feedback I hear is nothing but positive!) If you're unsure, check out this website: https://www.smartphonefreechildhoodus.com/phone-free-schools-database
Share with parents that phone free schools are flourishing and you want the same things in your ministry. If you don't live in a phone-free school district or state, then take note of how many schools & states are heading this direction. Sharing with parents that the tide is turning in this way can be very impactful.
This is so good. I have read it a few times. I also sent it to a youth pastor of a megachurch in my town. I recently listened to the book, Scrolling Ourselves to Death. In the book, one of the writers mentioned self-promotion. I think that's also a sin that we don't even think about when we are posting photos of ourselves online. It would be a good topic for youth pastors to discuss with their teens.
"Developing a discipleship relationship with a teenage boy should not mean playing Fortnite" - that is plainly true. However, and forgive me if this sounds harsher than I’m intending it: your assessment of Fortnite and the current state of games here is weak enough that not only will it fail to persuade, it may poison the well for the rest of what you’re trying to say.
Thank you for your critique. Seems like I have much to learn still. I've not played these games myself and should have done a better job researching it before making such generalized statements. Let's keep the conversation going!
Thank you so much for this, Emily. Every Christian youth leader needs to read and think and pray about what you've said here.
Thanks Emily, I couldn’t agree more. I work for a parachurch ministry and receive a lot of push back around a no phone policy mostly from parents.
Do you have any advice on how to best communicate with these parents without it sounding like I’m judging their parenting and saying they are wrong about technology?
Thanks, Campbell. I'm working on a post that I think addresses this a little more head on for ministry leaders. Be on the look out for it in the next week or two. In the meantime, I'd point to places where phone free policies are going well: schools!!
If you live in a state with a no-phone policy in schools, try to find a teacher or two and ask them how it's going (99.9% of the feedback I hear is nothing but positive!) If you're unsure, check out this website: https://www.smartphonefreechildhoodus.com/phone-free-schools-database
Share with parents that phone free schools are flourishing and you want the same things in your ministry. If you don't live in a phone-free school district or state, then take note of how many schools & states are heading this direction. Sharing with parents that the tide is turning in this way can be very impactful.
When we remind parents that ph
Thanks, looking forward to that!
You also might appreciate this post: https://open.substack.com/pub/dearchristianparent/p/that-time-mary-and-joseph-lost-jesus?r=3huc9s&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
This is so good. I have read it a few times. I also sent it to a youth pastor of a megachurch in my town. I recently listened to the book, Scrolling Ourselves to Death. In the book, one of the writers mentioned self-promotion. I think that's also a sin that we don't even think about when we are posting photos of ourselves online. It would be a good topic for youth pastors to discuss with their teens.
Thanks Laura! I appreciate you sharing this with youth pastors. You might like my review of Scrolling too! https://open.substack.com/pub/dearchristianparent/p/book-review-scrolling-ourselves-to?r=3huc9s&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
I believe it was your review of Scrolling Ourselves to Death that prompted me to listen to the book!
"Developing a discipleship relationship with a teenage boy should not mean playing Fortnite" - that is plainly true. However, and forgive me if this sounds harsher than I’m intending it: your assessment of Fortnite and the current state of games here is weak enough that not only will it fail to persuade, it may poison the well for the rest of what you’re trying to say.
Thank you for your critique. Seems like I have much to learn still. I've not played these games myself and should have done a better job researching it before making such generalized statements. Let's keep the conversation going!