Harsh Reality

Burt sent us this interesting article in World Magazine about young people in the UK- ages 16-25 (the age group we will be primarily working with). Here's the paraphrased version, but you really should read the whole article here.

Generation vulnerable
10 CommentsWritten by Anthony BradleyJanuary 7, 11:21AM

Based on interviews with 16- to 25-year-olds conducted on behalf of The Prince’s Trust, younger generations in the United Kingdom are becoming “increasingly vulnerable.” Young people in the United Kingdom increasingly are describing life as meaningless and are struggling to understand why life matters. This type of confusion sets the stage for them to rely upon false systems—such as drug and alcohol abuse, gangs, and non-marital and risky sex behavior—to give life meaning.

Among the key finding from the survey that YouGuv conducted for The Prince’s Trust were:

12 percent of young people in Wales claim life is meaningless.
26 percent say they are often, or always, down or depressed.
39 percent say they are less happy now than they were as a child.
21 percent feel like crying often or always.
44 percent say they are regularly stressed.
Those not in work, training, or education are twice as likely to feel their life has little or no purpose.
Across the United Kingdom, young people feel relationships with family (56 percent) are key to overall happiness.
Friends (52 percent), emotional health (29 percent), money (16 percent), and work (14 percent) are also important.
According to the survey, 9 percent of Scots believe that life is not worth living at all. If you are a person who believes that life is not worth living it will likely lead to severe depression.

As Christianity in America continues to follow religious trends in the United Kingdom, the church should be even more committed to sending Christians with the good news into as many public spaces as possible so that we will not find ourselves reading about such a report concerning our young people. Because the sad reality for youth in the United Kingdom is that without the active work of the church fulfilling her mission there, youngsters in that region will continue to be lost.