Teens illustrate what they need spiritually

Posted: 11/18/05

Teens illustrate what they need spiritually

By Miranda Bradley

AUSTIN–A roomful of parents and youth Bible study leaders waited to hear Bryan Hall of Woodlawn Baptist Church in Austin teach on how to encourage a teen's spirituality. They didn't realize their lesson would come primarily from the teens themselves.

The seminar, held in conjunction with the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting, opened with an exercise where each person was asked to list what they would like their teens to take with them to college.

Hall then opened the door to awaiting teens, luggage in tow.

“Let's hear what they had to say,” Hall said.

Seventeen-year-old Alicia Sherrill held up a bottle of water representing purity.

“Help me understand the value of this,” she said. “Teach me to always strive to have this with me.”

Each teen shared simple items that had a deeper meaning.

“I hold in my hands a court order,” 16-year-old Liz Andrasi said. “This is to ensure that I am a witness to others. It is important for parents to share their experiences with us. It's very cool when my parents tell me who they are praying for so that I will know how important it is.”

Later Andrasi held up a small tree, which symbolized a strong root system.

“We need to have strong roots so we can search out and know what we believe for ourselves,” she said.

Included among the items was a gift box, to show the enjoyment of giving and a gavel for respect for authority.

“The bottom line,” Hall concluded, “is it has to be in our lives for our kids to learn it. It can't just be a Sunday or Wednesday night thing. God has to be part of who we are every day. That is when our kids will grab hold of it. They'll want to do it too because it's authentic.”