p. 8 | The Adolescent by M. E. Kern

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 29, 1904

The Adolescent

By M. E. Kern

Young People's Work—No. 3

The Adolescent

M. E. KERN

THERE is no question but that while this young people's work is one of the greatest importance, it is a very difficult work. The period of adolescence is one that is rarely understood, even by teachers and parents. It is a period of change and rapid development, a period of changing ideals, and often the period of doubt and irreverence and disrespect. While in the child, as one has suggested, the nerves are on the inside and the thoughts on the outside, just the opposite is true of the adolescent. The changing boy or girl often becomes non-communicative and distrustful of the leadership of others. Now, if ever, are needed wise and tactful leaders.

While the majority of criminals in our penal institutions are adolescents, the majority of Christians date their conversion from the same period of life. The greatest decisions of life are made during this period. How important that the strongest and most well-directed efforts for their welfare be made at this time.

The Question of Permanency

A serious problem that confronts our workers for young people is the question of permanency. It is often not difficult to move the young people. Their hearts are responsive, and they can be led to resolve to live for God and devote their lives to his service. But how to make those resolutions habitual is the problem. How to foster a steady growth in spirituality is a question of supreme importance. How to counteract the reaction from a revival effort is a serious question, and one that I fear we have not solved. Some may say there should be no reaction from a revival effort. Indeed, there should not be, but there is, and what shall we do to remedy the matter? Our young people are not often insincere in their resolutions, but the evil one comes and snatches away what was planted in their hearts. I fear that sometimes, in our efforts to place before them the great need of workers and the glory of a consecrated life, we sometimes get their minds fascinated with things afar off, and allow them to overlook those near at hand. They are ready to volunteer for some great work which they are unprepared to do, but they are apt to fail to see the field lying nearest them in the church, the Sabbath-school, and the Young People's Society. In other words, we idealize before them in our sermons, instead of showing them how to get to work. The natural result is that, having consecrated themselves for service, and not knowing how to proceed, they come to feel that their consecration was faulty, and so fall back.

I feel very deeply over this question, and I fear we have made some serious mistakes along this line. One thing every worker knows, he is constantly confronted with the objection from the young people that they have started and fallen back so often that it is useless to start again. Would it not be a decided gain to spend the energy we use in trying to get young people to start anew, in holding them after they start the first time? How often after a refreshing revival, have we had cause to weep because so many soon give up what they had gained. Those who labor for the young in revival effort must remember these things, and plan for permanency. They must bind the young people, first of all, to their homes and to the work that lies nearest them. After the general worker has led them to a consecrated life, and has helped them to get started in earnest work for the Master, provision must be made by the appointment of wise local leaders that the work may be carried on. This work will require more nurturing and more patient effort than almost any other kind of work. But it is worth while.

After an address by Horace Mann at the dedicatory exercises of a reform school, a gentleman asked him if it was not too great a waste of money to build such institutions, for, said he, “You may not save more than one boy.” Mann replied, “Not if it is my boy.” Jesus loves the precious youth, and for every one he gave his blood. He looks upon them as his boys and girls.

It is a field, dear brethren, that is well worth working, and when the harvest is ended, we shall not regret the time and labor bestowed upon it. Wherever there are young people who know this message, and whose hearts are inclined toward it, there is a field well worth cultivating, worthy of our special efforts.

Work for the Isolated

Not only must companies be organized, but individual young people all over our conferences must be sought out and enlisted in the work for this time. I am glad the State secretaries are organizing what they call the State societies, and by this means are coming into touch with even the isolated ones. The reports from some of these lonely youth make our hearts rejoice. The world recognizes the value of the individual. Our mails are carried into the lonely frontier regions at great expense, schools of correspondence and circulating libraries are established to place before the most isolated individuals the blessings of civilization. We must not be less untiring in our efforts to bring the blessings of God and the joy of service within the reach of every young man and woman among us.