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A Note to Parents from Stacey

Dear Parents of Our Youth:

I’ve been very encouraged lately by the current group of middle and high school students we have involved in youth ministry here at Grace!  I often find myself thinking about what a great group of kids they are and how privileged I am to spend any time with them.  The truth is they are a great group of kids because they have great parents who are raising them well. Now we all know that’s to God’s credit and for His glory, it’s important to say that.  It’s also important to say you are godly men and women who set a daily example for your sons and daughters and I know that’s an ongoing choice you have to make each morning and every evening.  I’m not a parent but I’ve been close enough to several families to observe how difficult and challenging parenting can be.  I have a ton of respect for you as parents and it brings my heart great joy to watch you fix your eyes on Jesus and encourage your kids to do the same.  I don’t think there’s a more important virtue you could teach them.

Another thing I’ve had on my mind a lot lately is the Sexual Sanity Seminar that’s taking place next weekend – March 20-21st here at GCC.  I’ve been plugging this seminar at Crossroads for several weeks now, encouraging middle school students and especially high school students to embrace the awkwardness and attend this seminar.  If you think about it, society in general is bombarded with sex. I think we can all agree on that.  What about our teens though?   I fear that our answer to that question as Christian parents and youth leaders may sound something similar to this, “They’re church-attending kids so they’re in this special bubble that keeps them safe and protects them from the harmful ways of the world.  They’ve got Jesus so sexual temptation isn’t an issue, especially not at their age.”   Here’s what I think is true: Our teens have to face this topic more than we’d like to admit and to believe otherwise is a bit naïve.  If you think about the popular TV shows teenagers are watching, the music they are listening to, the movies they are paying money to see in theatres, the easy accessibility of the internet and social networks they have accounts on – all of these channels don’t exclude sex, they expose sex.  Even if you do your best to create rules and monitor their exposure to these channels at home (which I think is important and valuable), when they go out that front door and walk through the halls of their schools or spend time with their peers in different social circles, you better believe sex will be exposed there too.  Even for our church-attending youth, this topic is extremely relevant.

I know talking about sexuality is difficult as adults, and the thought of sitting next to your son or daughter to talk about sexual brokenness seems unbearable and even worse!  Wouldn’t you rather experience six hours of awkwardness and discomfort with your son or daughter attending this seminar with you than allow society and teen culture to be the only voice they hear on this topic?  Wouldn’t you rather they hear the truth of God’s Word and the hope of the gospel than leave them feeling alone and hopeless in their struggle and temptations?  Wouldn’t you rather they be a part of this conversation now rather than wait until it’s too late?  Wouldn’t you rather they learn how to help their sexually broken peers who are struggling than leaving them feeling ill-equipped and unsure of how to support them?

It seems like a no brainer to me!  Six hours of awkward is more than worth it for the truth, hope, and practical tools this seminar will provide you and your son or daughter.  Will you join me in my efforts to ensure our teens don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity?

In Him,

Stacey Powdrell

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