I read a very disturbing article in Time magazine yesterday. The article stated…
At a recent medical conference in Chicago, a team of radiologists from Nationwide Children’s Hospital presented intriguing X-ray evidence of a psychological phenomenon — what they believed was a new form of self-injury among teens and adolescents. Eleven out of 505 patients whom the team had treated in more than a decade had inserted objects — from chunks of crayons to unfolded paper clips — under their skin in a behavior the Nationwide team labeled “self-embedding.”
This article just reminded me there are millions of teenagers and young adults around the country that are experiencing tremendous emotional pain that causes them to act out in unhealthy ways. Whether it’s cutting, embedding, or drug and alcohol abuse they are often looking for escape and or attention.
I think one of the most difficult areas of ministry in the church is student ministry. I know there are thousands of student pastors out there that have a deep love for reaching out to hurting teenagers.
Today, I just wanted to say “thanks” for all you do. I was in student ministry for three years and know it can be a thankless, lonely, and challenging ministry. If you’re in a church that has a student pastor, will you take a few minutes today to send him a note encouraging him? Do you know some of the leaders in your student ministry? Thank them, too.
We’re really blessed here at Cross Point to have an incredible student pastor in George Stull who oversees the student ministries as well as Pat Rowland who oversees our entire family ministries department. I pray for them often knowing the issues they’re dealing with in our teenagers are constantly evolving. I know it takes a lot to stay focused on how to best reach out to them.
To all of you working in student ministries: Keep up the great work out there! You’re making a difference in the next generation! God knows they need you.
It breaks my heart that people feel so much pain internally that they feel the need to harm themselves physically. I can just hear the lies of Satan whispered all around it. To be someone in youth ministry (as in any other ministry) is certainly a calling and gifting from God. We live in a lost world, but fortunately, God has given us hope. Thank you to all who devote their lives in title or in deed to ministering to others.
Pete, I just wanted to say that your 3 years in student ministries made a difference. Not only in my life, but in lots of other lives in Morgantown. Those three years of hard work changed alot of lives for the better, and I know I am thankful for them.
feelin the love. thanks Pete.
pete,
thanks for the shout out to us youth ministers. i needed that, at the end of my current tenure as a youth pastor at my church. last sunday is this one, and i’ll definitely be praying for them constantly after i leave.
it is at time a thankless job, but one completely rewarding. i have learned most of all, that God is faithful, as i have done youth ministry.
thanks for the words.
peace
My heart is so after this generation. Thanks for encouraging us all to go after them even when its the hardest and scariest thing to do. They truly need us.
pete,
thanks for posting this article and helping with the awareness of these issues. if you or anyone else is interested in how to get involved in helping these individuals find healing in their life, check out a brand new ministry just started; Interpression Ministries. (weblink: http://interpression.wordpress.com) if there are any questions, feel free to click on the contact page to get a hold of us.
thanks again!
Kyle
I receive e-mails from teens often who are self-injuring. I talked to one today on Real Teen Faith. It’s a growing issue. Thanks for addressing this.
Making me cry twice in one day is totally not fair. I can’t imagine the pain someone must be in to do such things.
I get bothered when I hear pastors talking about “paying their dues” in youth ministry until they got the “main” gig. Sad. I love when I meet a youth pastor who is truly passionate about reaching young people. Youth ministry is hard. I’ve been there, and on my way back in. It’s hard, but worth every gray hair.
Thanks for the reminder to keep encouraging them.
Another form of escapism our teens are turning into life-long addictions is pornography consumption. Youth leaders and parents, I beg you. Ask the question. Most of the teens that show up on our site (http://teensagainstporn.com) feel totally isolated and alone in their struggles with porn.
Parents, get eye-to-eye and ask the question. “Are you looking at porn online?” If you need guidance on what to say and when to say it, check out http://www.theporntalk.com.
Youth leaders, get up on stage and ask your kids, “Are you looking at porn online?” James 5:16 is an awesome place to start with this topic. Confession precedes healing.
peace|dewde
@dewde, Strong challenge. thanks!
I attended a conference where they addressed the issue of self-injuring and I was blown away to learn the connect between their soul and their wounds. The speakers pointed out that many of the hurtful experiences that are driving these kids to hurt themselves are rooted in shame and guilt and regret. And that by cutting or injuring themselves, they are reaching for some sort of absolution or peace. But they don’t realize that the sufficient Blood has already been shed.
Isn’t that profound? Our band was performing at this conference and after that session, I had an entirely new appreciation for some of the worship lyrics that we were bringing to the stage.
Youth leaders ignite! Keep a candle burning for the emerging generation. They need hope and a path back to the true source of forgiveness.
@Sailor Scott, Wow, I had no idea. Thanks for giving us a little more insight on this topic.
My first job in coffee was as an AGM at a shop that catered to teens as a ministry outlet. I took the job because it was out of restaurants but soon learned I loved coffee and even as much of a pain in the — they were I loved working with them. Maybe because I have a hard time thinking of myself as an adult? I was amazed at the types of kids we got. In the middle of 3 wealthy schools and another that was a last chance before “juvie”. And wouldn’t you know the wealthy & those not so wealthy all the same issues w/ parents and life etc… Letting ourselves be used by God we were able to see one 17yr old decide parenthood over abortion, choose life over suicide after finding an extremely DESPARATELY lonely poem, and others that to this day still want to come up to me and let me know what’s going on with them, which is WAY cool as I was the hard— & the heavy around the place. Some other things that shocked me was the increasing prevalence of oral sex replacing the peck on the cheek as a ‘Thank You’ for something by HS students? Even spent a whole Sunday youth srvc talking about it. Different.
THANK YOU & PLEASE continue what you’re doing youth workers!!!
Also maybe check out http://www.XXXChurch.com These guys did a youth conference I helped with and they are amazing at reaching youth with the message of ‘Respect Yourself’.
Whoa. Youth ministry is a challenging proposition. On one hand, those kids need to know that they are unconditionally loved and accepted, scars and all. On the other hand, you don’t want that acceptance to be misconstrued as your acceptance of self-destructive behavior. It’s difficult enough to convey that to an adult. Then there’s the almost unavoidable traps of clicks, teenage angst, sex, drugs, pressure to perform at school and for their parents. As a youth pastor or youth sponsor, not only do you have to address the concerns of the kids, but also to some degree their parents. More and more, people’s lives are just plain messy. And if a kid’s parents’ lives are messy, you can bet that that mess overflows into the kid’s life. Big, gigantic thank you to all you brave souls out there in Youth Ministry!
Thanks for noticing the other ministries in your church.
It is people like you who help those youth leaders stay in their ministries.
Thank you, too.
Self-embedding is a recent off-shoot of self injury. It’s interesting, that’s for sure. I read an interesting article also, if you’d like to take a look at it:
http://drdeborahserani.blogspot.com/2008/12/self-embedding-disorder.html
Thanks for writing this.
P2, I think we have an AWESOME youth pastor – George!!!! WE LOVE HIM and LOVE the work and effort he puts out at CPCC. HE (along with Pat) has brought a whole new dimension and meaning to the word CHARGE!! I LOVE the way us parents are so connected now!! And a big “shout-out” has to go to the Hewitt’s for taking on such a big responsibility at keeping it all flowing smoooooothly like they do!
Appreciate the encouragement. I’ve been in “parachurch” (how I hate that term) youth ministry for three decades, and have seen churches evolve from stale chocolate chip cookies and watered down kool aid to seriously treating youth and youth pastors seeing that it is possible that youth ministry is a lifetime gifting.
And, yeah, it gets worse every day for our young people; but, thankfully, the light always shines the brightest against a dark background.
Appreciate your ministry thru the blog…blessings to you, yours, and the Body you shepherd
Hey Pete!
Thanks for bringing this topic into light on your blog. It is a subject near and dear to my heart!
I have been blessed to be called to Youth Ministry. I am only a volunteer, for now, but hope to go back to school next year to earn a degree in Biblical Teen Counseling.
I am challenged and amazed by these kids daily! Their pain is so real and manifests itself in so many ways. Dewde brought up the porn issue and he is so right! I was shocked to discover that pornography is not just a ‘guy’ thing anymore. Many young women are becoming addicted daily.
I am blessed to attend a church that is radically fighting for the teens in our community. We live in a small town of approximately 6000 people. Our church attendance is approximately 350 a week. Since September, we have seen over 100 teens come through our Jr. and Sr. High combined ministry on Wednesday nights. What a miracle!
Please pray for our youth everywhere. They are the future of our communities, country, churches, and God’s Kingdom.
thanks for the thanks
Thanks for shining the light on this and many other issues. You know how when you go to the doctor, he’s all about prevention instead of curing? That’s a good metaphor about where the Christian church should be. Kids that engage in behaviors that separate them from Christ, are probably from homes where chaos was the norm or masks were worn. The church should be on the front lines when it comes to the prevention of divorce or abuse. The only way you can get there is accountability within groups of the same gender. The best gift you can give the devil is a church member’s attitude of; well it’s not my problem and someone else will handle it. The fracturing of the basic building blocks of a church(the family) is where Satan does his best work. What God needs more than ever is for us Christians to gather around sick families and bring them into an emotional healing and growth process.
Hello there Tommy Sanacore right here, excellent post concerning Self-Embedding Latest Issue for Teens | WithoutWax.tv by Pete Wilson. There appear to be a problem with your online web page if visited with internet explorer, certain contents don’t load correctly… IE is still the market frontrunner and a significant percentage of people will lose your own wonderful posting for this reason drawback.