lifeasmission

I haven’t posted much here about my girlfriend Maria, but I intend to begin remedying that unfortunate situation right now.

There is so much about Maria that I respect and admire - such as her sense of calling to “at risk” teenagers. Maria has primarily grown up in the city of Oslo in Norway, a city not so unlike major cities in the states in many ways (though quite different in others). So, when she thinks of “at risk” teenagers, she is thinking of kids who have been neglected at home, have experienced abuse or violence, have been victims or users of drugs and alcohol, or are tied up with gang culture. These kids are quite certainly “at risk” in so may ways. Her compassion for teenagers in these situations is both amazing and inspiring. She has been a pioneer in the field of youth ministry in Norway and has had numerous opportunities to speak and write on the subject.

Our relationship has given me occasion to broaden my perspectives and horizons in countless ways. One of these ways is in terms of rethinking my past experience in youth ministry any my lingering burden for the sorts of people that I have worked with previously. After talking about Maria’s sense of calling with her and getting to see her in action, I have come to realize that my sense of calling is also to people who are “at risk,” but in a much different way.

Whereas Maria’s draw is to an urban context, mine is more to a suburban one. Teenagers, and people in general, are also “at risk,” but not usually from the sorts of things I mentioned above. Rather, in the suburbs, teenagers are “at risk” from much more subtle and appealing forms of oppression, persecution, and pain. The teens I am used to working with are “at risk” from their parents demands of success and achievement. They are at risk from pressure from peers to fit in, to look a certain way, and act a certain way. They run the risk of being completely overrun by the overwhelming and oh-so-pervasive powers of consumerism, individualism, and materialism. Different than in cities where there is often little church presence or witness, suburbs tend to offer a plethora of church communities in all imaginable varieties. Consequently, suburban teenagers (and everyone else in the suburbs for that matter) are at risk from getting just enough of a dose of church and Christianity so as to inoculate them from the real power of the gospel.

I suppose when you get right down to it, everyone is “at risk” from something to some extent, but I was just struck by the realistic way in which suburban teenagers may be counted among those who are poor and oppressed on account of the subtle, but evil powers which are mightily and pervasively at work within suburban contexts.

Back to Maria - I love that we have in common this desire to help people experience the freedom and liberation found in Christ regardless of what they are at risk from or oppressed by.