| MTV has far more influence on our youths than we think. It is now the planet’s biggest television network, reaching 379 million households in 140 territories globally through 38 locally-programmed channels.
Not surprisingly, MTV music videos have numb our teens to violence, alcohol, drugs and other social ills as a result of their characteristic quick cuts, multiple messages, deafening audio, high-impact visuals, frenetic bursts and random transitions. Additionally, the videos’ proliferation of sexual imageries has influenced teens to adopt a more permissive attitude towards promiscuity and premarital sex.
Wilson Wong, associate pastor of ACTS church, drove home the above points in his presentation on MTV’s influence on youths at the Regional Youth Workers’ Consultation (North) held in Penang in May.
Although his sharing is not a new revelation, it reminded the 15 youth workers and leaders from 10 churches about the dangers of overexposure to MTV.
NECF Malaysia’s Patrick Cheng picked up on the subject of media influence in his talk on the gaming culture. He shared about the current most popular computer game craze among youths – the D.o.t.A. game from the Warcraft III series, which portrays the battle among four races – Humans, Orcs, Night Eves and Undead.
This cybercafe game involves heavy usage of magic, role-playing as demons, raising the dead and casting spells. While witchcraft elements in computer games are not new, WarCraft III’s greatest strength and attraction are its movie-quality cinematic, which pulls the players right into the classic Orc-versus-Human battles popularised by the Lord of the Rings trilogy.With over 500 different campaigns offering players many hours of fun, suspense and thrill, the overtly occultic strategy game can numb the players to the demonic realm of witchcraft, necromancy and spells, Patrick warned. “While church leaders can warn its members of the above dangers, we see the importance of engaging parents to help their children apply the Word of God daily in their choice of entertainment, be it songs, games or shows. By doing so, they will be able to internalise the reality of God in their lives,” said the NECF Executive Secretary (Leadership Development).
Following his sharing was a talk by Dr Herbert Tan on “Leadership Development of Youth”. The family consultant of Malaysia Campus Crusade for Christ emphasised the importance of the home as the primary place for character and leadership training. He also gave a 5Es model for intentional development of youth leaders in the church – Equipping, Exposure, Experience, Environment and Evaluation.
Parents need to understand the youth culture, and teach and model to their children a life of godliness. On the church front, they need to examine the church structures and methodology as to whether they are relevant to ministry to youths.
One of the highlights of the consultation was the Inter-Generational forum held on the last evening and attended by youths and parents.
Dr Tan, who chaired the forum, pointed out that the gap between parents and youths today is not a generation gap but a cultural gap. The present generation of youths has a culture of their own that is sometimes totally alien to their parents. He then set the tone for the night by sharing some principles on cross-cultural communication to help both parties bridge this gap. The next regional youth consultation will be held at Johor Baru from
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Regional Prayer Network Formed
Pastors and church leaders from the northern peninsula have agreed to form a regional network focussing on building relationship and prayer. The “Northern Region Network” is the result of a two-day regional prayer consultation in May organised by the NECF Malaysia Prayer Commission.
Some 40 pastors and leaders participated in this consultation – the first of several to follow around the country – that was held in preparation of the 2nd National Prayer Consultation to be held next year. The delegates were from Kangar, Alor Star, Sungei Petani, Kulim, Baling, Seberang Perai and Penang.
Six coordinators have been appointed to represent each city, town and area. Their task is to follow up and facilitate the implementation of the said objectives.
 he coordinators are: Susan (Kangar); Pr Samuel Low (Sungai Petani); Pr Silas (Kulim); Pr Suguna Raj (Seberang Perai); and Pr Leonard (Alor Star and coordinator for the Northern Region Network).
At the consultation, two major issues that delegates discussed and prayed over were the lack of pastors in vernacular churches, and struggling pastors espe-cially those ministering in Tamil churches and Tamil communities in the estates. The consultation ended with a combined-churches prayer gathering in Sungei Petani.
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