TALES...COWBOYS, JUDAISM, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

TALES FROM THE WEST TEXAS DUST 12/25/2001

"COWBOYS, JUDAISM, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT"--A WALK FOR YOUTH (PART III)



Trinity Fellowship Church Senior Pastor Steve Rogers and Youth Pastor Wally Chavez (Photo courtesy of Trinity Fellowship Church--Plainview, TX)

PLAINVIEW (Special): And now for the conclusion of our interview with Wally Chavez:

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101: In your job, you consistently have to work with and minister to the needs of young people in your area. What seems to be the major pulse on what is going on with youth in general in our nation and world today? What do you hear most from them about what they're seeing and hearing? And what do they seem to be thinking about the most?

Chavez: Well, the issues that keep coming up--the topics when you talk about youth--a lot of people usually say things like, "Yes, you're right--they need a lot of help" They're growing up in a world that is sick and is something that we've never had to live with." A lot of people will agree with the fact that teenagers are hurting. And I believe that the reason that teenagers are hurting so much is because there has been very little leadership in the hope and in society at all.

There's a tremendous breakdown in the family--and we've seen it. Every Wednesday, we have our young people that we visit with and get to know. And the breakdown of family is very evident in their lives. And so they're having to turn to people, to things, and to unhealthy lifestyles to compensate for that and to find acceptance and direction. The problem with that is that it eventually leads them down a path of discouragement, of defeat, and a lot of them--death.

And so the pulse is--you're right...kids are struggling today. But we also have a lot of people saying, "Hey, we really believe in what you're doing and what ya'll are doing to reach our young people." And by the way, I'll say this--I'm the youth pastor. And we have a pastor that has love that says, "What ever we need to do to reach our kids, let's get it done"; and we have a church that supports us with their finances and we have youth workers, over 20 adults who constantly give into this project.

101: Older folks (even those like myself who aren't as far removed from their youth as others) usually seem to operate (rightly or wrongly) out of a presumption that "...our young people are falling through the cracks." Each of our modern generations seems to say that of the younger generation--from past controversies over Elvis Presley's dance movements to things we see today on MTV with "shock rockers" like Marilyn Manson and those who are active in the rap music scene to some, this may lead some to believe in a sort of "Chicken Little" scenario that our youth are going down the toilet while others may give a response equivalent to "So what?" How would you personally respond to these presumptions and responses? And do you feel that our youth are truly heading downhill fast--or is there hope still left for them?

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