I was a youth pastor in my mid
twenties when the twin towers fell on 9/11. The killings at Columbine were
still fresh in my mind. I was furious with evil emotionally charged. I did and said some crazy
things when I was in the High School that day talking to students. CRAZY
THINGS!
When historical tragedy takes place
how do you deal with it? What do you say to students? This blog is about the
do’s and don’ts in speaking about immediate current events.
1. DO - Take Care of
You. Deal with the
issue inside of you first. When the news came across the radio about the
shooting in Connecticut I cried, I then bawled and then I was angry and then
cried again. Before you go speaking about the issues, you need time to process
what has happened first.
2. DO NOT - Be Over ZEALOUS! During these times we can call our
students to some big commitments or call them to an action that is not
necessarily God’s idea but is emotionally charged. Encourage your students or
even as a youth group to pray and seek God out in how you all can be an answer.
Mental Note: What God says to you is for YOU not your students. What you are feeling convicted or called to do is for you alone and does not mean God is asking your students to do the same. God will speak to your students. Ask them what He’s saying to them.
3. DO – Get all the facts. Think
like a Chief police officer instead of a reporter. Don’t speculate or assume
anything. Wait till the reports are in before speaking to them. And make sure
your information is accurate as students will share what they hear you say.
4. DO NOT – Speak to
What You Do Not Know.
Be careful how you use your platform as you can guide your audience to a certain/your conclusion which could lead
to judgment and misguided information. Judgment
is then cast on to people like the shooter and their family when you don’t have
information on them. That’s wrong. You don’t know their story. You didn’t walk
in their shoes. Stick to the Facts.
5. DO – Help students
Process. 2 Kings 1:16 “Is there no God in Israel to answer your
question?” Have students turn to God. They too are emotionally charged.
Some angered, others fearful, and some may be indifferent because they don’t
know what to do with the information. It can be so easy to turn to media for
answers or for them to turn to you. God speaks through His word so guide them to
it.
6. DO NOT – Be Overwhelmed
or Give Into Despair. What you do matters. Like the butterfly effect in the Chaos theory, small
change can result in large differences at a later state. Let your
students know every bit of good counts. Kindness and prayer is powerful. Prayer
walks around their school makes a difference. Saying hello to someone they
don’t normally speak to has an effect. The time you spend with students over
lunch is making a difference. Be aware of how much media you and your students
absorb. Time spent on your knees instead of in front of the tv will help bring
a clear perspective on faith, hope and love.
--------------------------------
A member of the Canadian
Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) Alison has dedicated her time to
developing her gift of Public Speaking so that her listeners would believe the
truth that she shares and to raise up other strong youth communicator’s in
Canada. She has been speaking full time for four years and is currently
enrolled in Youth Speakers University. Speaking Tips are from Alison’s Public Speaking Enhancement Workshop for any inquires message her today. http://www.inspiringteengreatness.com
No comments:
Post a Comment