How do you deal with the fact that society/culture continues to keep young people from growing up?

We have found ourselves in a society where our students are growing up in high school with little responsibility and then heading off to college as adults.  Then within the first week they realize that they don’t know how to cook, do laundry and the next thing you know they are headed back home for the weekend.  Once there, mom steps in and takes care of all her students needs.  While her student takes off and spends time with friends.  Comes home grabs their stuff and heads back out the door to school.

I believe this is a common scene among college students today.  When graduation comes and there is no job waiting for them they have a simple escape plan to go back home until there is a job.
So, what can we do.  As parents I feel we need to help students find some basic principles of responsibility that will help them create some sort of work ethic.  Teach them to do laundry and be responsible for work around the house.  Talk them through what you see in those who are successful and possibly read a biography of some great leader of the past.  They will see the sacrifices that all great leaders have made, it does not come easy or without cost.

As a Student Minister what can you do:

1. that they can play in your ministry.  Help them find value and ownership by having some responsibilities with certain retreats, camps, weekly programming, worship teams, office work and etc.
2. Have students work with you as you are getting ready for an event or program.  This will help them see all that goes into making things happen.  As well as it will show them what kind of work you do and how much time it takes and the sacrifices that are made for you as a leader to minister effectively to students.
3. Focus your senior small group towards conversations that will get them ready for school.  I have had some small groups of seniors learn how to do laundry, manage finances and all sorts of things.

These are just a few of the things that I think will help as you try to develop students who are able to stand on their own and grow up as they need too.  Let me know your thoughts and ideas…

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