World Events

With the news cycle showing us events of global tragedy and despair that are too big for our souls to handle, kids and teens need a safe place to talk about what's happening, ask questions, and share how they feel.

As a church, we believe parents and caregivers are the primary discipleship voices in your child's life, and we want to equip you to confidently navigate conversations as you point your kids and teens to Jesus.

Here are some tips for leading those conversations with your kids and teens (more here and here):

INITIATE THE CONVERSATION

When speaking to kids about a tragic event, starting conversations can be intimidating, and we tend to avoid them. While it’s a common belief that bringing up complex subjects might cause unnecessary harm, studies tell us the opposite. Hearing about or seeing frightening images on the news or online can be very unsettling, and not addressing it can cause more anxiety for kids and encourage them to look elsewhere for help.

ASK QUESTIONS

Ask questions and respond in developmentally appropriate ways. Knowledge of your kids’ maturity level and how they perceive the world will serve as your guide. They will often ask questions that lead to what they can take in. Here are some potential prompts:

• What do you know about what's happened?

• What are your friends saying about this situation?

• This must feel scary. Do you want to talk about it?

LIMIT MEDIA EXPOSURE

The best person to deliver difficult news to kids is a trusted adult. However, in the age of a 24-hour news cycle, our kids often hear and see stories through devices first. With current graphic war content posted on social media, be mindful of what your kids and teens are exposed to and provide limits. The videos and stories young people are being exposed to via social media are crueler than their souls can contain.

HELP THEM TAKE ACTION STEPS

Young people are action-oriented and want to be a part of solutions. One of our ministry partners, Convoy of Hope, is a great place to find ways to help in global crisis.

REMEMBER TRUTH

Some verses that help bring us back to the truth of who God is during scary times:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-11

With this in mind, be alert, and keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18