Youth

Former fashion model Nicole Weider is leading a Change.org campaign demanding that Cosmopolitan Magazine be sold in a non-transparent wrapper to adults, in order to prevent children from buying and reading “filthy” material.

The petition has already gained nearly 18,000 signatures since its launch. Weider hopes to get the attention of the magazine's biggest advertisers and the Federal Trade Commission chairman.

“I have girls writing me letters how Cosmo has negatively affected them,” Weider told The Christian Post. She said he has received over 200 letters from girls about pressure they feel from the magazine to have sex at a young age. more >>

Mission-Net director of communications Henriette Froehlich spoke with The Christian Post recently about the group’s conference that took place in Erfurt, Germany, from Dec. 28 to Jan. 2. A total of 2,500 participants from 40 nations participated in the biannual conference that is the only pan-European mission conference for young people.

Froehlich spoke about the Mission-Net Congress and Christianity in Europe.

CP: What was the overall message of the Mission-Net Congress? more >>

A "celebration service" for the life of Jessica Joy Rees, a Southern California girl who spearheaded a national campaign to help children suffering from illness while she herself had inoperable brain tumors, is planned for Wednesday at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.

This past Thursday, Rees’ family announced that the 12-year-old had lost her nearly yearlong battle with cancer. On Facebook, they posted:

"Dear friends...we have prayed and prayed and prayed for sweet Jessie to be healed here on earth but God's plan was to use heaven for healing. Jessie earned her wings today and is with Jesus now!!! No pain..complete vision...spreading joy. Please pray for our family as we walk out of the valley of death and towards the mountain top … Please join us in carrying on her joyful spirit and Never Ever Give Up attitude." more >>

As celebrations for the Girl Scouts' 100-year anniversary continue with the introduction of a new cookie for its 2012 Girls Scouts Cookie Season, one teen member from California, is calling for a nationwide boycott of the nonprofit organization overs its admittance of transgenders.

In a press release sent to religious publications and pro-family groups, a group called HonestGirlScouts.com shares a video of a 14-year-old girl giving her reasons as to why she is calling for Americans to boycott Girl Scout Cookies and voice their disagreement with the organization's inclusion of males who identify as females as troop members.

In the video, the teen lays out her argument for why the Girls Scouts of America should be pressured to change its policies regarding the admittance of youths from kindergarden to 12th grade born males but who identify and live as if they are females. more >>

One of the year's biggest youth evangelism events ended today when Passion 2012 closed its 4-day conference at Atlanta's Georgia Dome. Louie Giglio, the movement's founder, urged the audience of 42,000 college students to advance the Gospel of Christ in all that they do.

"Can we just stick a pin in the balloon that says, 'What is God's will for your life?" Giglio asked the roaring crowd in the part-church-service, part-rock-concert gathering as part of his closing remarks. "You don't have to wait to participate fully in the plans and purposes of God. It's now that God can use you."

Giglio said he founded the Passion movement in 1995, convinced that an untapped audience for the Gospel lies in the world's college students. This year's speakers included Passion conference regulars Francis Chan, John Piper and Beth Moore. It also featured music from Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall and other prominent Christian musicians. more >>

Theology is coming back into fashion in youth ministry, says the head of Dare 2 Share Ministries.

“We tend to underestimate the brain power of teens,” Greg Stier told The Christian Post. The church has often thought youths weren’t ready for or didn’t care about theology and the deeper meanings of their faith.

But now key leaders in youth ministry are looking for more strategic approaches to reach teenagers. Stier said they are realizing “the importance of theology and making sure teenagers not only understand but also embrace their Christian faith.” more >>