Among the top concerns of Teen Mania teens are: youth exposure to Internet pornography; the AIDS pandemic; human trafficking, media glamorization of drugs, sex and alcohol; abortion; and freedom to practice Christianity
Some 300 young Christians gathered in Times Square to fight against pop culture, which they say is destroying their generation in New York City on Friday, Feb. 8, 2008. (Photo: Teen Mania/David Molnar)
The Teen Mania founder ended his statement on an encouraging note, saying that over the past year or two he has noticed churches and whole denominations trying to reclaim the younger generation from pop culture.
“We are seeing thousands [of churches] jump on board saying ‘we want to double the size of our [youth] group,’” Luce said about the movement to “rescue the next gen.”
“It’s not just the cool youth pastor, but the whole church,” he pointed out. “Where the grandparents are loving the kids and baking them brownies and mentoring them. Mom and dads are getting involved and business people are getting involved. So if the youth pastor has a plan to double the size, the whole church is an advocate – they pray more, give more, they volunteer more.”
Luce, the self-described former “teenage party animal,” said excitedly: “So come on, let’s jump on board and show this nation that the people of God love young people more than MTV does, more than the drug dealers do. We love them and we are going to go after them.”
Following the rally, more than 10,000 teens gathered at New Jersey’s Izod Center for a two-day Recreate ’08 event featuring New York Yankees’ pitcher Mariano Rivera, six-time Grammy Award winner Kirk Franklin, the David Crowder Band, Bishop T.D. Jakes, and Teen Mania founder Ron Luce.
