GENERATION CHANGE

A Study For Teens on What God Says About Money

Every day our youth are bombarded with everything from billboards to internet ads telling them who they are and what they are worth if only they would BUY! BUY! BUY!  In 1971, the average number of ads seen per week was 560.  In the year 2000, the average jumped to 3,000!  That is huge!  Society is defining our young people consciously and subconsciously by what they have – and subsequently by what they don’t.

Because of the pressure to be accepted by their peers and the world around them, they – and perhaps even their parents – sacrifice beyond their means in order to establish their young identities in the things they buy!  We have allowed our youth to be empowered by the stuff around them rather than the soul within them.  It is time to take a stand!  It is time to turn the tables and wake up the inner spirit of our teens! 

As of March 19, fifteen of our high school youth have taken on the challenge of finding out how money works, how God views money, and how to grow into responsible young adults who are ready to embrace all of God’s blessings.  During the regular Wednesday night youth program our high school youth have been studying Dave Ramsey’s Generation Change.  This class gives them the opportunity to share personal testimonies and stories about money, while hearing others’ experiences. 

Some of the goals for each class are:

* recognize that Christ values and loves us, and that “stuff” does not define who they are. 

* keep our youth from getting into debt so they can build wealth and give.

* give our youth hope that they can change their financial future regardless of their    

   family background(80% of millionaires are first-generation rich)

* show teens that we are all only managers of God’s money

* prepare our youth for living on their own

* have our students fully understand the purpose of a budget and how to create one

* help teens understand and create short- and long-term savings goals

* empower our youth to grow financially, spiritually and personally throughout this series

The final and most important financial principal of all that our youth can learn is giving.  Financial blessing comes with an opportunity – and a responsibility – to bless others.  A grateful heart is a giving heart.  Being a good manager of God’s money involves knowing how to share it.

As Dave Ramsey always says, “Broke is normal, be weird!”  Follow his advice to young and old:

“Live like no one else, so that later you can live like no one else.”