exodus youth

Every week at Exodus we get phone calls, emails and letters from teenagers who are struggling with same-sex attraction–and nobody knows. The fact is, whether your youth group is large or small, you could have students who are confused about their sexual identity and aren’t telling you.

Let’s face it: pastors are among the last people struggling teens feel comfortable confiding in. It probably has something to do with the fact that homosexuality isn’t talked about in church–and when it is, it’s often treated rather harsh and simplistically.

The best way to encourage those students to open up to you is to talk about the issue with grace, truth and understanding. When they see that homosexuality doesn’t freak you out, that you understand that nobody chooses that struggle, and most of all that you love and care about people who find themselves in that situation, they’ll be far more likely to trust you with their secret struggle–rather than a friend or schoolteacher who might point them down the wrong path.

Addressing homosexuality is also very important for the sake of all your students. Did you know that one of the biggest issues that turns teenagers off to Christianity is the perceived hatred for gay-identified people in the Church? Even if they don’t personally have any sexual identity issues, the vast majority of students will have friends, classmates or family members who struggle with or embrace homosexuality. Loving and treating those people as Christ would is very important to them.

There’s also a lot of pressure for Christian students to answer for their beliefs on this issue. Most of the time they feel they must choose between one of two extremes: either condone homosexuality in order to be loving, or say that it’s wrong and be called a bigot. The intimidation and confusing information can be overwhelming. Your students need your guidance!

Exodus Youth is here to encourage and equip you to respond to homosexuality and related issues with Biblical truth and grace. Check out our resources page for helpful guides, curriculum and a one-of-a-kind video that will help you do just that.