Kids used to pass a note to classmates in school wanting to know if their classmates liked them or not. At some point in your life, you have probably read, written, or at least heard about the note a student gives that says, “Do you love me, check yes or no?” If you’re a student today, you’re more likely to get a text message from another student saying “What’s the news?” Both the note and the text carry the same meaning as they both serve as a check-up on the status of the relationship. DTR or “define the relationship” is also a popular term that describes the same notion.
Back in the day, a boy would call a girl to ask her out. Today, students can check up on each other through social media outlets, pictures, and posts. There is a lot of teen slang found in texts and posts today. To begin decoding the new language, you can start by googling “teen slang and text.” Netsanity.net has produced a decoding guide and says some acronyms are fun and harmless, some you just need to keep an eye on, and some are warning flags.
A popular game as of late is the game app Fortnite. Students have fallen in love with this game because it offers them two things: (1) Competence and (2) Connection. Students want to achieve the highest levels and most points in games because games make them feel good about themselves. Students like challenges and overcoming challenges. Achievement is important to the next generation. Perhaps you are not challenging your student enough. Provide them a vision big enough to latch onto.
I recently heard of a dad who couldn’t understand why his good Christian daughter enjoyed dating a pothead. Problem is the dad had not painted a brighter and bigger picture for his daughter to admire than her boyfriend could offer. The dad then decided that his family was going to get involved with building an orphanage in Africa. Guess what? The family did and the daughter dumped her boyfriend. Besides the challenge, I’m sure the event made the daughter feel more competent as well. Dad had raised the bar and his daughter passed the test with flying colors!
But games also provide students with talking points. Since “everyone is playing,” students can easily initiate or jump into conversations with friends. Students are really just looking for acceptance. They have achieved their game goals and they talk about their story of doing so along the way. This way, students stay plugged into the game while staying plugged up with their friends.
I met a veteran youth minister today by the name of Drew Hill. Drew shared a story that will stick with me. He said he went to his daughter’s soccer game. She was the goalie and made a bad mistake allowing the ball to go across the line. As her father, he yelled from the sideline, “Honey (that was her real name), I love you. Keep your chin up.” It’s easy to be there for our students when they win and the frenzied crowd is all around them at the end of the game. But who will be at the locker room when the game is over to support them when they lose and the crowd has disappeared?
What’s the news? The news is that God loves you. God is not mad at you. He is not out to get you. He has provided you with his own Son’s death. What more could he give? Students are looking for love through messages, games, and sports. Will you let them know that God accepts them as they are? When the news students get isn’t good, when they can’t beat the game, when they feel they’re the reason the team lost, will you be there to offer them an alternate story? We have good news and it is the gospel!