Posted on 12/20/2004 12:15:36 PM PST by RetroFit
BLACKSBURG - The school auditorium was dark except for an overhead projector illuminating religious lyrics.
"We lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus," students chanted. Two young men played guitars and belted out, "We cry holy, holy, holy."
Blacksburg High School's Christian Fellowship club was gathering one last time before Christmas.
The club draws between 100 and 120 members monthly for service projects, Bible study and songs. On Dec. 7, young people decorated Christmas cards for residents at nursing homes.
"I find students in the last 15 years to be much more open in professing their faith," said Danny Huffman, an English teacher and an adult sponsor of the group since its inception in 1996.
In 1996, three students approached Huffman wanting to create a space for Christians to gather at school. About 40 or 50 people started meeting. Now, the group represents almost every Christian denomination - from Pentecosts to Catholics.
Kristen Schmitt, an officer of the club, said her faith directs how she treats people.
"I try and act the way Christ would," Schmitt said. "I love him so much." Drew Walker, another club member, said his faith came in "baby steps."
"I grew up going to church," Walker said. "I was encouraged to go to Jesus."
The Intelligence Group/Youth Intelligence, a market research and trend-forecasting group in New York City, found that Generation Y-ers - which demographers have defined as between 10 and 25 - are neo-traditionalists with a focus on traditional values such as organized religion. The National Study of Youth & Religion in Chapel Hill, N.C., launched the four-year study in August 2001 on young people and religion based on research showing that faith is important to young people.
"It's a blessing to see them seeking the Lord at this age," said Barbara Stepp, an adult sponsor of Blacksburg High's club and school librarian.
Stepp, who looked festive in a Christmas-patterned turtleneck and jingly bells around her neck, said most students in the club aren't just looking to get out of class: "We have kids who really want to be here."
The 1984 federal Equal Access Act ensures that public high schools that receive financial assistance and allow noncurriculum student groups to meet on school grounds provide equal opportunities for all student groups.
At Christiansburg High School, the Youth of America club meets every six weeks to work on service projects and study the Bible. Club President Matt Havens said membership jumped from 10 students last school year to 30 this year. Christiansburg High School senior Josh Goodhart wants to start Creation By Design at school to talk about "assumptions about evolution."
"I'm a little creationist," Goodhart said. "Six days, 6,000 years ago."
Students' religious beliefs spill over into their political views. In November, Goodhart and Havens cast ballots for President Bush.
"It definitely had to do with my beliefs, like [the opposition to] abortion and homosexual marriage," Havens said.
Monday night, members of Blacksburg Christian Fellowship's youth group gathered at the New River Valley Juvenile Detention Home to minister to residents.
Three brothers traveled 45 minutes from Pulaski to reach out to their troubled peers. "We like to go and talk to the guys and witness a little bit," said Scott Willis, 19, the oldest brother.
In the detention home's lobby, the youth group asked God for guidance to help their words "sink in." Members spread out in a commons room and played pool and video games with residents. Everyone gathered in a circle when two youth group members talked about becoming Christians.
Scott Meyers, 24, an employee at an electronics company, said he'd struggled for years with a void inside of him. He wondered what was missing. After attending church by himself and after a period of soul-searching, he knelt down to give his life to Jesus Christ.
"What I want to challenge you guys to do is think about what you're missing in your life," Meyers said.
Joe Kelley, a youth group official, said membership has nearly doubled over the past year.
"We've seen more teen leaders come forward - kids who are very serious about their faith," Kelley said.
But spirituality has not solved everyone's problems. Teenagers said they still have hurdles to jump and hard decisions to make.
"At times, it can be hard to stick by my faith," Walker, the Blacksburg High School student, said.
In spite of this, Alan Hartless, a student at New River Community College and youth group leader, suspects young people keep turning to religion because they find "truth."
"There's some amazing God out there," Hartless said. "And it is love. They want to be loved."
This is an EXCELLENT way to possibly undo the damage done by taking the Bible and Ten Commandments out of the schools. Churches all across the country should begin "school" churches for meetings on Sunday...
See the ANTI-DNC Web Portal at --->
http://www.noDNC.com
They were too busy ignoring Pearl Harbor Day.
Maybe my Christian kid is offended by the vulnerable, at-risk kid.
It may answer, in some way, the immediate question of why we are here (God put us here) but it does not answer the ultimate question of why there is God rather than no God.
"Churches all across the country should begin "school" churches for meetings on Sunday... "
They already have that.
It's called 'Sunday School'.
I know. I attended when I was younger.
Even if he his, shouldn't he just turn the other cheek? : )
When Moses asked "Lord who shall I say sent me".
The Lord answered "Tell them that 'I am' has sent you."
So it's completely legit to start a "Satanic Students Association"?
Yeah, that's what he said, all right.
" Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
How does a man lay down his life for his friend without fighting back, even if passively?
It ought to be, long as the students aren't destroying property or kidnapping virgins to serve as the altar, or making flying ointment from the fat of unbaptised babies, or that sort of illegal thing...(actually, I've known a few satanists, and none of them did any of that sort of thing, not to say no one would try). The law doesn't say you can't worship the dark side. It says not to do various illegal things that the legends associate with the dark side.
I personally much prefer the light, but freedom of religion is freedom of religon...
My comment was a joke. That's why there was as smiley face at the end of it. Kinda like this one . . . : )
I agree. But think of what all everyone on here would be saying if there was a post about a non-violent satanist group starting at a public high school. Think there might be a few saying that it should be banned? LOL
Sorry!
Musta missed it.
(Darn these glasses!) :)
Of course there would be, but they would have the law, the constitution, and possibly the msm on their side, too...but I doubt they would think it was as much fun as sneaking off somewhere in the middle of the night, lighting a fire, playing ritual games, having orgies and getting drunk...which is much more likely to happen at any type of teenage play with the dark side behaviors...
Indeed. You also can't use the Bible to judge how old the Earth is.
The creation story details HOW LONG CREATION TOOK and has nothing to do with dating from then to now.
Well, yes, unless they start doing things like sacrificing etc. or they become an "excessive disruption" to the school day.
I assume you put the same stipulation on the Christian groups as well, right?
Yes. Obviously they wouldn't be out sacrificing, but if their gathering creates a legitimate excessive disruption (not likely unless they were meeting during class, which probably would not happen unless they have an activity period time for groups to meet). An excessive disruption would involve very loud music, something on that order that would not allow classes to function as they should.
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