Youths are great people and most significant segment of people in the Church, without them the church labors in vain. Their Potentials in the church are beyond the measure of human calculations. Youth ages are the critical period of transitions when an individual moves through the rites of passage from childhood to adulthood.
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Youth is defined in term of adolescence. Adolescence came from the Latin word ‘adolescere’, which means, “to grow up”. It is the period of life between the advent of puberty and maturity. The period ranges between 12-24 (early adolescence 12-14, middle adolescence 15-17 and late adolescence 18-24). It is a time of storm and stress during which childhood personality are broken up, and new ones are formed almost overnight.
Youth are those members of human race, who are too old to be children and too inexperienced to be adults. Many of them have the stature of men and the attitude of boys; they have the bodies of women but the idea of girls. At times, they are running when they suppose to walk. Notwithstanding, it is a period clothed with divine atonement and beauty. In fact, youth are seed loaded with treasures with a purpose of fulfilling itself.
Many definitions of youth have been offered, but they are not adequate, because youth is a complex interaction of physical, mental, emotional and social factors that affect the entire personality. There are general characteristics that run through all the categories of youth- early, middle or late adolescence.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
A predictable sequence of physical changes occurs both male and female transiting from childhood to youth age. This includes changes in body proportions, rapid skeletal growth and appearance of hairs in the under arm, on the chest, private place. At the time, boys widen in the shoulders and develop thicker muscles, they begin to experience change in voice; they now begin to speak in tone that is deeper than the girls are. Another occurrence in male youth is production of semen (wet dreams) ejaculation and a sharp increase in the frequency of erections.
The average girl who has been shorter than the boy has become taller and gradually heavier. They expand in the hips and experience enlargement of breast with the onset of menstruation. However, at the late adolescent, the growth rate decreases and they assume adult proportions. At this stage, the female actually stops growing, while the male keeps growing until age 22.
These physical changes have psychological implication on the youth. They may feel awkward, self-conscious, and dissatisfied with the physical appearance. Girls who feel awkward about using sanitary pads or young males who have erections at the most unexpected times where their peers easily observed, are bothered by these physical influence. The boys may find it difficult in controlling sexual urge.
MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS
The mental power of youth at early stage is rapidly unfolding with an awakening self awareness and an increased desire for knowledge. They love to read and talk, especially to each other. They advance on intellectual fronts; they dream and use imaginations a lot. The reasoning power and judgment are growing, but are limited by experience.
At the middle adolescence, the horizon expands. Earlier, he/she was concerned with self and his/her personal wants, but now in attempt to discover the world beyond him/her, he/she dreams of ambition and look at the future as a vast field to be conquered. He/she holds strong opinion, perhaps through hastily form. He/she is so curious, he asks not only “what?” but “why?”
However, in later adolescence, mental capability is more developed. They are constructive in their thinking and love to debate. They begin to formulate concept of meaning of life and question about those things they don’t know, like sex, drugs, careers, vocations, religions, etc. at this time they think more about their future and how to achieve their set goals. The opinions of others influence them, particularly friends and those they see as role models.
EMOTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Youth age is a time of search for personal identity. They ask these crucial questions: “Who am I?” “Where am I going?” “Why am I here?” The emotions are the only way the youths use to express their frustrations they are passing through because of changes. These emotions include pride, shame, love, hate, discouragement, fears, angers, joy, bitterness, etc. they could be happy at one time, the next moment they are upset and quarreling.
Youth between fifteen and seventeen feel they are grown up. They do not want to be considered as one of the children, their emotion about home is mixed up and they crave for freedom. They have considered their own particular gifts and interests, they have found ways of achieving self-respect, either through school or other pursuits, so that their emotional independence are recognized by their parents. They are not given to worries, they seldom cry. They enjoy laughter and social situation; they are friendly, cheerful, and more outgoing.
The later adolescences are more stable emotionally, due to time and exposure. They always aspire to conform to adult emotional pattern. Self-control and a sense of belonging as well as morality means much to them. They are less afraid to face new situation. However they are usually put in dilemma by the different standards set by the home, the peer group and the church.
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS
Social implies human being living together as a group in a situation requiring dealing with one another. Just as the plant grow with the help of mineral water and man develops by the help of food nutrient, so the family members grows socially when there is mutual love, acceptance, understanding, and security.
Since love is the basis for acceptance, the early adolescence is desperate to make new friends. They gradually shift their allegiance from their parents to peer group, they crave for more independence and they want to belong to a group. For their recreation, they want games that they can all participate in at the same time.
The middle adolescence has increased in “boy to girl” relationship; petting is a common practice among this group. They need friends with whom they can exchange ideas, share things and go to places. The late adolescence rise to gain social self-consciousness. Their life begin to narrow and deepen, but in the wider area of employment, home life, worship and service to humanity.
SPIRITUAL LIFE
The rapid growth, changing mood, and fact gathering minds of the early adolescence often constitute problem for Sunday school teachers. Sometimes the question for which the teacher feels they should have the answer; they may seem not interested in it. Some react to conviction with violent opposition and postpone surrender. However, thousands male and female youths answer the call of the spirit in this period, and come to term with the problem of sin.
The middle adolescence posses a crusading spirit that waits to be challenged. However, the challenges must be significant, because a dull and boring service will drive them away. They respond to the evangelistic appeal with genuine emotions and idealism.
The late adolescence responds to Christian leaders, if they make sense relevancy and competency. This young people at this period are awakening, and when the home and the church capture their awakening soul after their siege of doubt and indecision, they are saved to a life of devotion and commitment to service.