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Personal Space

week of July 19
Community Q&A
Counselor
by Jennifer Denning

NICK: If I didn’t have those relation-
ships, I would probably get in trouble
a lot more at school. They provide an
example for me. Even if there are kids at
my school who don’t do the right thing,
the people at my church help me out
and show me what I should be doing.
They have a positive influence on me.

JD: Give an example of how have other
believers have helped you.
NICK: When my grandfather died last
year, my youth leader encouraged me
and helped me get through it. He came
to visit me and attended the funeral. He
talked to me about it at youth group.
Also, another leader at my church took
© istockPhoto / jacob wackerhausen video series about the creationist theory
some of us young people through a
of the earth’s origin and taught us about
apologetics [defending our faith]. It
really prepared me for all the teaching
of science material that conflicts with

up for what I believe at school.
abuse counselor.
Nick is an eighth grader in Raleigh, N.c., who attends public school. my faith at school. It helped me stand Guidance counselor. Career counselor. Substance
JD: How have you helped other
He knows very few professing christians in his school but has found believers in your community? Can you You live in a society that is always seeking counsel. When
community in connecting with other believers in his church. Nick give an example? we don’t know what to do, we turn to our “counselors”—
has attended church all his life. He became a christian when he was NICK: A friend in my youth group also friends, family, and sometimes, professional therapists.
We want to know what to do or how to fix the problem. At times,
lost one of her grandparents this past
7 years old. Here’s what he said about what it means to him to live year. When my friend’s grandmother you just want someone who will listen and counsel—a guide, adviser,
in community when ec magazine writer Jennifer Denning recently died, I tried to comfort her. mentor, that person who will help you figure out what to do and
took the opportunity to talk with him. Photos this section: © istockPhoto / juan estey, tania oloy, viorika Prikhodko, gina addison, & brandon laufenberg discuss what the next step is.
JD: What advice would you give to a A good counselor, though, doesn’t just tell you what to do. A good
JD: Nick, what are some ways you relate to them a lot because the things teen who wants to connect with other counselor helps to shed light on the problem and guides you to
connect with other believers? they talk about I like to talk about, too. believers but doesn’t know how? What the right decision. The best counselors don’t leave you alone in the
NICK: My church is small, and so is With the kids younger than me, I have could that person do to build solid rela- situation, but they also don’t coddle you. They guide, but you have to
my youth group. Because our church already been where they are now, so I tionships with fellow Christians? be willing to make the effort.
is small, I’ve gotten to know everyone can understand them. NICK: Try to connect with people and Life is hard. But God didn’t leave us alone in the middle of this
there pretty well. I have relationships work to become friends with people at messy life. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit, our Guide and Coun-
not only with other teenagers but also JD: Why is it important to you to your church. Just be yourself and don’t selor. If you are a believer, God’s own Spirit lives within you, guiding
with adults as well as kids younger than have close relationships with other try to be all good and different just you, giving you wisdom and power, and lighting the steps of your life.
me. I’ve gotten to know a lot of the Christians? How would your life be because you’re at church. If you do that, It’s the Holy Spirit that enables you to do God’s work. The Holy Spirit is
adults by going out to eat with them different if you didn’t have those people will grow to know you as some- at work in your daily life as your Guide, your Friend, your Counselor.
after church and talking to them. I can relationships? one you aren’t really. ec

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