Our youth have it tough. Addiction to technology, rampant mental health issues and antisocial disorders, increasing rates of teen suicide, and more plague this upcoming generation. Today’s parents have no premise for raising this highly unique generation which has 24-hour access to an infinite amount of content and information with no distinction between opinion and fact. They also have experienced a global pandemic and have to navigate the rise of new addictions and issues related to our virtually connected society - social media, screen time, untraceable cyberbullying, and more.

News outlets, research studies, influencers, and talking heads all infiltrate our world with the same message: “Today’s generation of youth is in absolute crisis.”

In addition, a staggering decline in this generation’s relationship with Christ has been fueled by the permanent shutdowns of churches and youth groups during the 2020 pandemic. Assisting in this decline are “millennial” parents who don’t have a relationship with Christ and/or don’t attend a local church. But the most egregious participants adding to the decline are the flagrant restrictions social media outlets, public schools, and our own government place on Christ-centered and faith-based messaging. For the first time in United States history, the present generation is a “post-Christian” generation meaning less than 50% of United States citizens identify as Christian.

Sadly, our youth hear the same messages of hopelessness about their generation as we do. However, God instructs us in 1 John 4:1 about how to discern between what’s true and what’s false. My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. (MSG) 

God’s Word also speaks directly to teens and youth:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
Timothy 4:12 NASB

But the LORD said to me, “Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD."
Jeremiah 1:7

In 2002, I felt God’s call to youth ministry. Since then I have served as a youth counselor, mentor, and coach in various volunteer positions. In 2020, I was hired by a large church in Wilmington, NC to manage communications and serve as a youth leader. However, in 2023, my husband’s job moved our family to Charleston, SC, leaving me unemployed and recovering from extreme burnout. In that humble and vulnerable state, God started working on my heart through His Word and life circumstances.

Through prayer, lessons in humility, joyous convictions, and necessary surrender, God clearly directed and paved the way for me to create a virtual Christian youth community that provides real-time support and unconditional love and acceptance.

The Christian Youth Network (CYN) was launched in April 2023. God immediately blessed this ministry with memberships and growth. CYN is the first and only, completely online Christian youth community that offers the crucial support, encouragement, and Bible-centered direction our youth need today. Through live, weekly video chats that consist of age and gender-specific Community Groups, topic-driven Support Groups, Group Bible Studies, and daily Devotionals, CYN connects youth from around the nation and offers a safe place where they can be honest without fear of judgment and rejection.

Additionally, the Christian Youth Network recently launched CYN-U, a collection of free, online “courses” that educate and encourage members on important issues such as What is All This Jesus Stuff About? How to Navigate Social Media, Dealing with Depression, and Teen Anxiety. CYN also offers individual and personalized services including motivational speaking, youth life coaching and mentorship, parental support sessions, live chats, community forums, and so much more.

Becoming a member of the Christian Youth Network is entirely free and provides each member with a unique member profile, unlimited access to resources, 24/7 online chat, community forums, online group bookings, and much more.

To remove any and all financial barriers for today’s youth, the Christian Youth Network relies totally on the generous donations of individuals, families, and businesses. If you’d like to get involved with and/or support CYN, please send an email to info@youthnetwork.life. 

Moreover, if you or a teen you know would like to learn more about this exciting ministry, please visit our website, youthnetwork.life.