Whenever one relocates, there come moments when the reality of what you are doing sets in. Those moments can be lonely and even frightening. Today, I would also add depressing … kind of. Let me explain myself a bit.
Today I attended a “Safeguarding Children” seminar, which is designed for persons working with children or teenagers to help develop our understanding of the legal system, what we can and cannot do, our legal liabilities and responsibilities, and recognizing and reporting abuse. “Is this really necessary?” I wondered when I first learned of the conference. “Well, it must be, or my pastor friend would not be recommending it to me,” I reasoned.
According to this social worker who was the primary facilitator for the training session, British children are the most neglected and abused children in all of Europe. (Isn’t THAT an encouraging way to begin?!) Of the four categorries of abuse discussed (emotional, neglect, physical, and sexual), sexual abuse is the most “secretive,” for obvious reasons to those of us who are in the business of counseling.
Further arresting my attention, concerning teenagers in particular, was this – in the northern England district where this particular (and Christian) social worker is based, six of every ten teenagers has some kind of sexually transmitted disease. Hair styles and tats are not even a blip on the radar screen!
Although the seminar’s facilitator and her assistant performed their tasks marvelously, it was depressing, frankly. The legal, practical, and social environments make reaching, evangelizing, and discipling teenagers extremely difficult. It will be a dauntingly treacherous task with many legal and social “land mines.”
The task before me is far greater than the philosophical and theological perspectives alone. Those must be employed within the confines of this culture – so this ride could become quite interesting as we rise to accept the challenge as Christian leaders!
So, let me ask you a question – Do you pray? If so, would you pray for God’s guidance of my mind, attitude, and actions as I continue formulating and implementing a course of action to engage the culture … in particular the volitle youth culture … to which I’ve been called? I would find that encouraging and I would be grateful.
Cheers!
