Nicole (26 Jan 2011)
"To Daniel:  Preaching in High School"

 
Daniel,

I am definitely not a teenager, but I was definitely a very wicked person and always had this idea about Christians.   In my head I always viewed them as wearing "mom" jeans, oversized glasses, t-shirts with tons of flowers, moppy looking hair in a pony tail, overweight, driving mini vans, and listening to boring worship music.   I thought that these people did not live in the real world and did not know how to connect.   I kept thinking is I did not want to be around them because they did not care about me and my likes, just that they wanted to judge me and push their goody two-shoes ways on me.   And I kept thinking, why do I want to be a nerd like them? 

When I got saved I was totally floored!   I had no idea the depths of God and His enormous creation ability.   He has made so many types of people for His kingdom that I am amazed.  I was viewing only a small section of people in a church and then labeling them.   And I think it is because the way Christians as the whole in the US are marketed are this way - to older adults in their 40's who have families and like the worship type music.   This is how it was in the 1980's and 1990's.   However things are changing. 

In my opinion there is a HUGE divide between the teenagers today and the commercialized Christianity in America.   I go to the book store and I see teenagers totally tattooed, the jet black Betty Page hair cuts, and gothic clothes.    If you want to witness to teenagers, I think to get them is through the music.    If you can get to their level and find out what music they like, I know the Lord has something just for them.   You know it is a step.   Getting to that worship type music may take them a while.   For me, I have been saved 13 years and I really do not listen to the commercialized Christian worship music.   Maybe it is my immaturity or maybe I just wasn't created to enjoy it?   I do not know.   However I know that the youth are definitely way more jaded than I am and that is totally scary. 

But I think you can talk to people about music and then you can either make them a CD or buy them one after you are friends.   Get on their level and make them know the Lord loves them and created them unique.   Once they realize Christians aren't so uncool, they might ask you for another CD.   Music is what changed me.    It is definitely a way to meet new people in different groups.   And you will be known as a person who can intermingle with everyone in any setting and that definitely is a testimony to the love of the Lord.  

If you are a pastor or youth minister, it would be awesome to have a "lock-in" for the kids and play different music for them.    Let them skateboard, whatever and have the music for them as an alternative.    A lot of these have live streaming radio.   Or create your own Youtube playlist and hook it up through HDMI from the computer to a large church video screen.   You can even make your own youtube videos for the kids.  And on the videos you can show not to take the mark of the beast, what Heaven and Hell is like, etc..    Music is where the youth are at!    The adults may cringe because the music may be a step down spiritually, but for these kids it is like taking that hand of the Lord for the first time.   It is a scary unknown world and this is their first step, walking over the bridge.  Take a survey of the youth and tell them to be honest of the music they listen to.....if they met God face to face, how would they worship Him in spirit and truth?   How were they personally made to worship God? 


CHRISTIAN DANCE MUSIC

http://www.tastyfresh.com/

http://www.christiandancemusic.net/

http://www.godsdjs.com/

http://www.nsoul.com/

http://www.christianmusic.com/genres/christian-dancetechno-music.htm


CHRISTIAN RAP MUSIC

http://holyrapmusic.com/

http://www.last.fm/tag/Christian+Rap

http://www.live365.com/genres/christian%20rap


CHRISTIAN HARD ROCK MUSIC

http://www.christianhardrock.net/

http://www.christianrock.net/

http://www.fuelradio.fm/index.php