Youth

In his message for World Peace Day 2012, Pope Benedict XVI re-asserted his fight against moral relativism, which he has previously blamed for Britain’s summer riots.

In his new message for the upcoming World Peace Day, to be marked Jan. 1, Pope Benedict focused his attention on the youth, urging them to observe their morals and work for the common good of society.

“Today, a particularly insidious obstacle to the task of educating is the massive presence in our society and culture of that relativism which, recognizing nothing as definitive leaves as the ultimate criterion only the self with its desires,” Pope Benedict said in his message Thursday, as reported by Vatican Radio. more >>

Christian high school students were challenged this week by The Friends of Israel to consider giving their lives to vocational ministry – a big push in church culture these days.

The Friends of Israel, an organization that focuses on ministry in Israel, held its annual Youth Ministry Fest at Gull Lake Ministries in Hickory Corners, Mich. The event ended Thursday.

In light of a recent Barna group study which found that “three out of every five young Christians (59 percent) disconnect either permanently or for an extended period of time from church life after age 15,” the youth fest was especially important for Friends of Israel Church Ministries Representative Tim Munger. more >>

As sexting becomes more and more popular among teens today, ministry leaders are faced with new challenges to help their youth groups not fall prey to the rising trend.

Pastor Neal Benson, who serves as the pastor of discipleship at South Hills Church Community in Henderson, Nev., and has been leading students for over nine years, told The Christian Post that students often regretted their actions.

“I recall speaking with a high school sophomore (with a female leader in our presence) to discuss the pain she has felt from sexting,” Benson shared. “There is embarrassment afterward when the entire school (maybe not the whole school) has seen you naked.” more >>

Ben Breedlove has people across the world talking about God after he left a YouTube video before he died that described his experience of heaven just weeks before. Breedlove died Christmas day in Austin, Texas, from a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The 18-year-old had built a following on YouTube that advised young teens about different issues of growing up.

Within the videos, the teen also talked about friends, family, church and his relationship with God. However, his last video sent a message so touching, that thousands of other YouTube users have responded with their own videos, sentiments, and prayers. At the end of his message the teen recounts his vision of heaven just weeks before and then asks, “Do you believe in Angels or God? I do.” more >>

City officials in Tennessee are looking to shut down a church-run nightclub in Chattanooga, alleging that the ministry is to blame for ongoing violence among youth in the area.

Chattanooga city attorneys filed a complaint Wednesday morning in Hamilton County Circuit Court looking to close Club Fathom, a youth outreach ministry of Mosaic Church led by pastor Tim Reid, a local news station reported.

Among those opposed to the nightclub are Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield and Police Chief Bobby Dodd, who both expressed a growing disdain for the organization. more >>

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow’s actions off the football field are once again sharing center stage with his on-field heroics after news spread that he will be hosting a trip for a promising prep star, who had part of his leg amputated, to the Broncos’ game against the Buffalo Bills this weekend.

Jacob Rainey played quarterback for Woodberry Forest School in Virginia and was often compared to Tebow in style. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound player had the attention of college coaches and many others in the football community for his skills.

But Rainey suffered a severe knee injury and a severed artery when he was tackled during a scrimmage on Sept. 3. After several surgeries, part of his right leg was amputated just one week after the injury occurred, according to news reports. Despite the end of Rainey's football career, his perspective on life has been an inspiration to those who know him and to those who have been following his story. more >>