Technology Transforms Gospel For Teens

Some Ministers Engage Youth With iPods And Christian-Themed Video Games

(CBS)  Tens of thousands of kids turn out for praise-filled Christian rock concerts. But does the message stick once the music stops? That's the challenge facing youth ministers who've come to a convention searching for new ways to engage today's teens, CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes reports.

"We had some wrong thinking about youth work for a long time, that fun and games and flashiness somehow brought transformation and we're realizing it really doesn't," says Mark Ostreicher of Youth Ministries.

The fears were confirmed with a recent poll, which found that 61 percent of people in their 20s said they had participated in church activities as teens, but no longer do.

"Now we have to rethink and realize that we have to go to them," Ostreicher says. "We have to find ways to creatively enter the world of a teenager in ways that are more meaningful for them."

In many churches, the youth minister was a part time or volunteer position. His instruments? A guitar and a bible. But as the convention shows, preaching to kids is a full-time career, requiring sophisticated tools.

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Youth Specialties' Mark Ostreicher talks about using technology to connect today's teens with God.

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Technology is transforming the way gospel is spread — from iPods, which allow teens to listen to the word even when they're not in church, to video games with Christian themes for kids who want a little Jesus with their joystick. It's all meant to grab the attention of a generation that gets what it wants, when it wants it.

Youth minister Lincoln Skinner uses every high-tech tool he can find to pull kids in. His high schoolers have a MySpace webpage, where Lincoln drops in with messages about upcoming events.

"We are always on MySpace. We always have our iPods. We always have our cell phones," says Dylan, a youth group member.

Josh Tynan listens to sermons while he skates. He says attending a traditional service on Sunday can be too nerve wracking.

"During worship, am I raising my hand? Am I singing? Am I standing? Am I too loud? Am I not supposed to be sitting right now?," Tynan asks.

Tynan's downloaded sermons, or podcasts, have become a way of life and not a one-time concert event. Using the Internet can make an especially intimate spiritual connection. That's why observers say "Godcasting," as it's called, is catching on.

"When it is just you and God, you know, it's a lot easier to open your heart to what he has for you," Tynan says.

It's a message for many that technology tailors to one.

[missamerica4]

finnbjorn:
Quote- CBS 'fears' that young adults are falling away from 'the word',

It appears you are the only one who "fears " anything.
You should examine yourself and find why such vile hate pours from you. Your writing is as twisted as your reasoning, what there is of it.
Quote:The Word has prevented the United States educational system "

You mean the educational system spoken of by our founding fathers?
"In Benjamin Franklin's 1749 plan of education for public schools in Pennsylvania, he insisted that schools teach "the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern."
Or
%u201CWhat students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ.%u201D
--George Washington in a speech to the Delaware Indian Chiefs May 12, 1779

Quote:The Word has regularly been used to assault the most Basic Rights of Women and Minorities, including the Rights to Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Nonsense, without the Word we would be left to people like you who demand that everyone think as you do.
Without those Christian folk who sacrificed their lives and all known comforts to come to America and settle for the express purpose of being able to love and worship as they pleased YOU would not be in American.
Perhaps YOU are the one in the wrong country....
"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible."
--George Washington

[missamerica4]

%u201CThe name of American, belongs to you%u2026[and] with slight shades of difference, you have the same religion.%u201D
--George Washington's Farewell Address

You have made some good points. Some people are denied religious freedom. But still are religious. That is recognized by God for going to Heaven when He died on the cross and arose for their sins. Just believe that is all needed and follow His ways to go to Heaven--even in a unfree society. Unknown to people is you can't buy your way to Heaven by acts or works. And give God credit for any achievements you make--he is guiding you as the Footsteps in the Sand you can find at bookstores. Also God knows if people are not exposed to his teachings say in the old testament. We have a fair God who will judge accordingly so don't give up hope of Heaven. It's too great to miss out on. Hell will be hell more than you realize now. Missionaries risk their lives to spread the word and it takes effort on peoples parts once the seed is planted. God Bless. I know its corny but the true Christian God will and is blessing you and their is a reason for His actions --in good and the bad. Matthew 6:26. Don't lose faith. Earth is short. Heaven and Hell is forever. Pass Gods test in this short time we have on earth. Please believe in Him and the cross/representing Easter--so important to even those of little faith. Take care. Ask for forgiveness. If you are truly sorry you will be forgiven even for the worst sins.

[finnbjorn]

Dear ccbbss6,

It's a free gift to those lucky enough to be aware of it; however, 26 billion people lived and died before Jesus was even born. What about them? Are they to be damned merely due to the fact they were born before Christ died? According to John 3:18, they are, for: "...whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." As I already stated, most people born afterword lived and died, or are living in circumstances that make the Book inaccessible or incomprehensible. Is the Saudi to be damned because the King will not let him read the Book? Are my friends to be damned simply because they can't understand how this abhorrent message is one of universal love? I decided to denounce the Book of my own Free Will, Satan had nothing to do with; and, I want the consequences of that choice for myself, whatsoever they maybe; and furthermore, if you are right and I am damned, then I go to Hell gladly; and, if Satan can find no better use for me than torture, so be it; but, I would fight for him, for: at least he believed in giving all of us a fair chance.

Cheers!

[feelfree1]

See what I mean?

Yikes!

VV

Its unfortunate many will find the True Christian God when its too late. Christians will see their family again in Heaven. But others may not get to the pearly gates for their beliefs and actions today. And the thing is Heaven is a free gift--absolutely free gift for believing Christ died on the cross for all our sins--even for the worst sins you can imagine. You can still go to Heaven if you believe this and follow His ways. Too many believe in Christ and the evidence is too great for Him not to be real. Read the book LEFT BEHIND. Can you honestly say you are going to Heaven this moment or are you not sure. To be sure believe what I just said. I agree formality is needing updating at churches to contemporary. Make it fun to go to church--it does not have to be stuffy. Best wishes with your decision this moment to follow the true Christian God--even the worst sinners can and will be saved if they believe--no kidding!! God Bless!! That means me. That means all of us can be sure we are saved by simply believing what I have said. Good luck!! KNOW you will definitely go to Heaven. Rather than not know.

[feelfree1]

High tech cult indoctrination.

Sounds very dangerous.

[grumpas]

I am more than familiar with what revkrisperry is talking about! I had that *** shoved down my throat from the time I was a child! I was never so happy to grow up and leave that misery behind! Everything was a sin! It was a sin to even breathe! I really feel sorry for the poor kids who get sucked into this abyss! Because that is what it is a abyss where you are made to feel guilty over every human emotion! The religious never learn to take the training wheels off and walk on their own! They have to rely on the Bible to make their choices for them! They never learn to think for themselves! My sister and I's experiences as children followed us throughout life! Neither one of us have much use for religion today! It's the root of most evils in this world today!

[finnbjorn]

In response to other comments on the page that appear to be merely in rebuttal of the first:
Given the population of all people living and dead to be estimated at 46 billion; and, that 26 billion of them lived before Jesus was born; and, that roughly 70% of those born afterword were born beyond the reach of the so-called "Good News"; then, according to John 3:18, which reads: "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.", 40 billion people are currently damned, mostly because they were born in circumstances that made knowledge and/or understanding of John 3:18 impossible; and furthermore, the six billion who are saved are not, as a group, any more virtuous than the 40 billion who are damned; but rather: they simply believe that the Book containing John 3:18 is Truth, and accept Christ as their Savior. If you can find fulfillment, deliverance and redemption by being friendly with this idea that nearly 9 in 10 deserve to be damned by nothing else but the chances of birth, then I think you're better off keeping it to yourself. I, for one, do not hold with such monstrous notions.

[finnbjorn]

CBS 'fears' that young adults are falling away from 'the word', by which is meant the Word of John 1:1; and, as the only geographic location mentioned in the article is Anaheim, CA we can presume that it is meant that CBS fears that U.S. Citizens are falling away from the Word of God in Christ. I didn't realize that CBS was a Gospel-spreading Christian news agency. Heretofore I had operated under the presumption that CBS sought to make a Fair and Objective reporting of News; but this article shows that CBSs' editors and reporters are disturbed by the idea that U.S. Citizens might try to exercise their 1st Amendment Right to Religious Freedom. The Word killed an innocent man in Salem, MA, who was convicted of witch-craft and pressed to death with stones. The Word has prevented the United States educational system from competing with the world by doggedly working to keep advances in Scientific Understanding from entering the classroom: everything from Darwins' Theory of Evolution, without which the whole Science of Biology is nothing but a collection of mystifying data, to basic reproductive health. The Word has regularly been used to assault the most Basic Rights of Women and Minorities, including the Rights to Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. United States Citizens are falling away from the Word, you say? I say: Hallelujah! Maybe Our Democracy has half a chance of breaking Free of the Chains of Theocracy after all!

[wb4qiz1]

Jesus said in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Believing also means that one should express the life of Christ in one's life. I for one know personally over a thousand persons who live a Christ-filled life. I am proud to know them! They are humble and gracious people who share the love of Christ with others.

Unfortunately, Newster1 has seen the worst side of the Christian life. Jesus lived a life of self sacrifice and love. One must never throw out the church because of a few have never truly turned their life over to Christ. Yes, Christians will sin, every does at some point in their life. That's why Christ came to forgive and help us turn our lives around.

In my almost seventy years, I would not trade my life in Christ for anything in all the world. I have a joy that greater than this world can offer. My life could not be more fulfilling! I have a future that will be more so!!! I will continue to tell others of the love of Christ and to follow Him as long as I live.

[revkrisperry]

I am saddened by the comments and perspective that newster1 has of Christianity and the Church today. As a 32 year old Youth Pastor, I can tell you firsthand that kids are not getting an earful about being "sinful, filthy, dirty, unworthy slime who are directed to stone people to death." This view is simply not the message that I share with our young people and is certainly not the gospel message that I find in Scripture. Our kids are being raised up and equipped to not only be leaders in the Church of today, but are coming into an environment where they are being encouraged, equipped and empowered to be leaders in their school, community and yes, in our nation. These kids aren't being forced to come and participate, they are eager because they find a community that is crazy about them and are accepting, not critical of them or their friends. Don't be afraid, there is nobody that I know waiting to cast the first stone. We're all broken in some way and in need of deliverance and redemption. I find not only redemption, but that God has a plan and purpose for all of our lives!

[savedbygrac2]

Christians are Christians by choice not by brainwash. It appears that some are making judgments without knowing anything about real Christianity. It's a relationship between each person accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Pedophile Priests have nothing to do with a true and real relationship with Jesus Christ. As the kid on the skateboard put it, it's a real friendship between you and Christ. Nothing and no one can judge that relationship or interfere with it. Please learn about real Christianity before responding in such a naive manner.

[nothappyatall]

There ya go, BRAINWASH the teens into this murderous violence filled hate filled Christian cult so they too can learn they are just sinful, filthy, dirty, unworthy slime who are directed to stone people to death, that it's ok to own slaves, that the woman is the property of the MAN, and above all- that this same church has for decades protected pedophile priests knowing full well what they were doing.

NICE!