Too often this month, the headlines have screamed with the anguish of violence by and against teenagers. This culture of violence is not how we want it to be!
Yesterday, once again, shots fired by a teen rang out across a school building, filling students, teachers, parents, and community with fear and grief. Whether in the halls of a Parkland, Florida high school or the streets of our cities, our youth face or commit violent acts every single day. We are numbed by the repetition and by the thus far ineffective action.
If this latest horror has made you angry, we at NNYM are with you.
If the violence in our culture moves you to grief, we at NNYM are with you.
Today is the day to take action in your community.
The National Network of Youth Ministries exists to help youth leaders in every community connect to develop local strategy, tailored to where you live and what the teenagers in your area face, to have an appropriate and unified response. This often doesn't exist until tragedy strikes.
Today, we call youth leaders and adults who care about teens to take the steps needed to connect locally, to pray together, learn about and from one another, discover community resources and devise a strategy to serve teenagers, support them in times of crisis and their everyday lives.
If we at NNYM can assist you, we are ready.
Here are three places to begin:
- Invite local youth leaders, parents, teachers, and other concerned adults to gather to pray and support one another. Determine your community's needs.
- Contact local crisis response personnel about your community's plan. Inquire about available training.
- Brainstorm with other youth workers to determine a plan of mutual support for the students in your area should a crisis situation arise in or near your community.
Above all, know that all of you who serve students, as well as every student, parent, teacher, coach, and school staff member is in our prayers. God has placed each one of us where we are to make an impact, "for such a time as this." (link to Esther 4:14) In unity, we can rise to this challenge.