What is the good news to young people now?
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2021 Slovenia Tune-In Project
What is the good news of the gospel to young people right now? We conducted interviews of young people across Slovenia and discussed common themes and patterns to help us better understand the next generation.
Results: Insights & Gospel Responses
Free Resources for conducting interviews and learning to listen well
Results: Insights & Gospel Responses
Each insight and response seems to build on the other. Insights and responses aren’t mutually exclusive nor comprehensive.
Consider the following as questions to be pondered and asked within your local context, rather than hard conclusions or generalizations.
For example, “I wonder if this is true about those in my youth group… and if so, how can I love them well, like Jesus, with the truth of the gospel?”
INSIGHT #1:
There is a general awareness that we all have an internal struggle that needs attention and health.
Mental health is a trend right now. Actual knowledge among youth on the topic of mental health seems to vary widely. There is a wide spectrum ranging everywhere from the overuse and misuse of trendy catch-phrases from those informed only through social media to the other extreme of deep concern (especially highlighted during the pandemic) and incredibly intense and even traumatic personal experiences (therapy, suicidal friends, etc.).
Either way, with mental health awareness and common terminology, there seems to be a general understanding among youth that things inside of us are “messed up” and need to be cared for or need “help” moving toward health.
RESPONSE #1:
Let’s pay attention to how we talk about “sin” and affirm this internal struggle!
Oftentimes we refer to “sin” as a “legal and moral action or offense against a Holy God,” which it is. But the emphasis can often lie solely on the action, rather than on the heart, which is the root cause or source of the action (Mark 7:15). We may want to pay attention to where youth are aware of their own internal brokenness and affirm that it exists.
It may also be helpful at times when defining sin, to use the language of “brokenness of the heart” and as an issue or struggle inside of us that needs healing and rescue. This also leads to the obvious opportunity to point out that they need something external to rescue them or to bring them internal health, eventually pointing to the hope of Christ.
Furthermore, it is also worth considering that the youth in Slovenia seem to be quick to go to places of shame (this is a bonus insight #1b).
For example, conversations about sin can quickly lead to “shame on you” for that illegal action or offense or end with them concluding, “I should just do better.” However, affirming the internal struggle that youth are experiencing and agreeing with their awareness that they actually cannot, in fact, “do better” or act “differently” without something in their heart being made new or brought to health, could be incredibly freeing and refreshing news!
Additionally, we can be transparent about our own brokenness and talk about how Jesus came to bring freedom and health to us and that freedom and health is available to them as well! This leads us to our next insight and response…
INSIGHT #2:
Youth are hit with a lot of general info and people telling them how to live and improve their mental health.
Being that mental health is a trend right now, there is a lot of buzz and noise on social media full of a variety of general advice and information. Additionally, based on the design of algorithms, this social-media content is structured, designed, and even developed not to freely give wisdom for life, but to gain the most likes, views, followers, and shares. Youth are overwhelmed and have highly developed filters for processing this information and advice because they are keenly aware of the fact that those creating the content want their attention for their own profit.
RESPONSE #2:
Talk personally about Jesus, introduce young people to Him, don’t simply recommend the gospel as an abstract set of truths to adopt.
But we don’t just have a general set of truths to adopt, we have personal experience. The gospel is the person of Jesus and we know Him. He lives in us and we walk with Him, and he shapes and transforms our lives every day. We may want to consider opportunities to talk personally about Jesus and our experiences in real-time as we’re walking with Him each day. These kinds of real-time stories point to the intensity and the reality of the salvation that Jesus offers. Being honest, raw, authentic, and vulnerable with our experience and our story often gets past the fine-tuned “they’re out to get something from me” filters that youth have developed.
INSIGHT #3:
Youth want safe spaces to process and have meaningful and authentic conversation.
Possibly due to social media overdose, pandemic, and the mental health trend, many young people voiced their longing for authentic spaces where they can be with their friends, have true life experiences, and even process their thoughts and feelings in a non-judgemental environment.
Additionally, and even ironic in light of their own admission that they can’t often help or change themselves, youth expressed a desire to contribute toward the common good and improvement of society and the earth.
RESPONSE #3:
Create and cultivate safe spaces for deep and meaningful conversations, in relationships and in the programs we design.
Consider creating a safe space for conversations about heart stuff, mental health, family/parent relationships, whether that be in a program or just in regular relationships and conversation.
Become knowledgeable about mental health and gain a general understanding of the trends and advice out there so you can be aware and engage the topic in a meaningful way with youth and in a way that points to the hope of Jesus.
For example, in thinking about camps, the types of activities we offer and even promote, can go far beyond “fun and games.” The invitation can be more than simply, “come have a good time at camp.” It seems here that we have greater opportunity to be more bold and open with our intent to have deep and meaningful conversations during these activities, to advertise it even. This could include activities or events that include or are centered around experiential learning, outreach events, service projects, and types of activities that promote the “good of society.”
Additionally, we could offer a group experience that allows space for debriefing afterwards, talking about how it went in terms of: personal growth, fears, team strengths, weaknesses, challenges, being pushed, “doing real life hard things while talking about real life hard things”, communication, personal development, etc. Activities that follow this two part “experience” followed by a “debrief” model meet both desires for meaningful connection with people as well as a space to process thoughts and emotions in a safe environment.
Additional Insights / Curiosities
Youth are hungry for safe places where they can feel heard.
Question: What space do they see as a “safe space” - how do they cope with the loneliness?
Youth are longing for normalcy after Covid lockdown/quarantine.
There is a sense of loss of identity. I.e. Pre-Covid, would consider themselves introverts and now they are longing for connection and being with people.
There is hope for the future: school, money, approval, jobs they actually want to do and are passionate about, helping others, being “normal” in society's eyes (getting married, making my family happy, etc.)
About the “Tune-In” Project
Tune-In Project
Josiah Venture
Spring 2021
About the Project
What is the good news of the gospel to young people right now?
The past 12 months of pandemic have been challenging for so many young people. And yet, it has also made them more open to connection and conversation now than they may have ever been. Young people have been distanced. They have been locked down. They have been in bubbles.
We have been too.
We have a unique opportunity, afforded to us by a year of pandemic, to engage young people in meaningful conversation and to see, perhaps more clearly than ever before, the ways the gospel is good news to them. As we press into ministry in the post-pandemic era, we have a chance to tune in to who they are, how they are doing, and what they are thinking about. We believe that the gospel is good news to every young person. Tuning ourselves to the sound, shape, feel, color, and texture of that goodness will help us. It will refresh us. It will guide us. It will make our ministry more effective.
This is why we are doing the Tune-In Project.
These are Our Objectives
To have meaningful conversations with non-Christians
To train staff and give them experience in the skill of asking questions
To tune-in to the thirsts, pain, blocks, and hopes of young people…especially right now after a year of pandemic
To respond to what we discover in our ministry
Important Things to Know
What questions will we use for our interviews?
We will all use one standard set of questions (or, protocol), translated into your language, as a guide to the interviews.
Will we be trained?
Yes, everyone on your team is requested to be at two meetings: the first is an interview training and the second is to reflect on what was discovered through the interviews.
Who will we interview?
There are two criteria to the selection of interviewees:
Ages 13-20 (each team can narrow the focus further if preferable)
Non-believers (since the point is to tune into the experience of young people we don’t yet know)
How will I find people to interview?
At the interviewee training, we will provide ideas, strategies, and examples of what to do to find people to interview. In addition, you will spend some time thinking as a country team about strategies best suited to your team.
How do I hold an interview during the pandemic?
Many interviews will be done through a technology medium: Facebook, Zoom, Skype, Facetime, WhatsApp, etc. In person meetings are of course preferred if restrictions allow.
How do I know who is appropriate for me to interview?
We will provide guidelines for everyone in the project about the dynamics and challenges of interviewing young people.
What if I get stuck or have questions along the way?
Reach out to your country’s Tune In Project leader. If they do not know the answer, they’ll know who to contact.
What We Will Accomplish
We want this project to help us get out and talk to young people we have never talked to before, to help us get better at listening and to develop habits of listening, to be a blessing to young people by bringing the presence of Christ as we honor and provide space for them to think about their lives, to gives insight into how the gospel is good news to young people at this point in their lives and at this time in history. Primarily, we want this project to help us tune-in to the young people God has called us to reach with the good news. That is what we want to accomplish.
Tune-In Interview Resources
An interview tool you can use and adapt for understanding the next generation and learning to listen and therefore love well.
“Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.”
― David W. Augsburger, Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard: How to Hear and How to Be Heard in Equal Communication
