January 2024 Persecution Magazine

The Paradox of Youth
PROMISE AND PERIL IN AFRICA’S FUTURE
By Greg Cochran, Ph.D., ICC Fellow
A quick Google search of the phrase “Youth Movement” yields millions of links to an unimaginable number of
causes trying to lay claim to the next generation: Youth for Scouting, Youth for Palestinians, Youth for Jews, Youth
for Civil Rights, Youth for the Environment, and Youth for Africa. Reading through the links is more tedious than
watching a boring movie with a joyless companion. It takes so long!
Why do people hunger for a youth movement? Most likely, the hunger reflects a hope to see their own movements
have a future. As Thomas Bergler writes in his book “The Juvenilization of American Christianity,” people are
concerned about “what they need to do to appeal to ‘the young people’ and to remain viable….” Obviously,
Bergler has church ministries in view, but the strategy for all movements is the same: appeal to youth. Youth
appeal drives entire industries like entertainment, fashion, and sports, and potentially drives noble causes like
education, Christian ministry, and political reform movements. Everyone who cares about a cause also cares
about that cause continuing into the future. So, youth appeals.
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Persecution | JANUARY 2024