96%

My heart broke and my mind raced as June shared statistics from our Leadership Summit youth. And I’m sure I wasn’t alone among the more than 100 church leaders who joined our June 21st Hand in Hand leadership conference. This year we’ve been challenging ourselves to live as Salt and Light in the world.

But how does the church do this when our communities are in crisis?

When 1 in 3 youth have lost a parent, and 1 in 5 have lost both?

When 1 in 4 homes don’t have enough to eat, and 2 in 5 have no one working to support them?

When 1 in 4 youth visit sangomas (traditional spiritual healers), 2 in 3 believe their ancestral spirits help them talk to God, and 1 in 3 do not even believe God exists?

When 2 in 3 youth are terrified of HIV/AIDS, 50% think they can get it from a mosquito, and 33% don’t think you can get it from sex?

When 1 in 5 youth have been raped or molested, 1 in 6 don’t think they have the right to say no to sex, and 45% don’t know God wants them to save sex for marriage?

When 2 in 3 youth don’t think they are smart enough to achieve their dreams, 1 in 4 have thought of suicide, and 1 in 10 do not believe they will ever have a job?

Leadership Summit has had an amazing impact among the thousands of youth they reach out to each week. And on June 21st it was an opportunity for church leaders to unite as well – learning about the issues their communities are struggling with, and how to shine God’s light for the world to see.

These statistics weren’t meant to overwhelm or discourage, rather they were to educate, equip and empower leaders to respond. After all, 95% of our students want to learn more about health and their body. 75% want to learn more about HIV/AIDS and other diseases. And 96% want to learn more about God.

96%!