Those of you who come from the Evangelical Christian subculture most likely are familiar with the term PK (Pastor’s Kid). I may be single; but, I am far from childless. Over the years, I've had SSKs (Sunday School Kids); SKs (Ski Kids); MKs (Missionary Kids); and CKs (Cousins’ Kids and Compassion Kids) in my sphere of influence. Recently, I’ve been thinking about the Compassion.com kids who live in Kenya and Tanzania. East Africa currently is suffering from drought and there is a shortage of food. Children in developing countries often lack access clean water as well (pun intended). The website water.org reports that a child dies from a water related disease every 20 seconds?
Our young people experience other challenges. In this age of broken homes and busyness, children and adolescents lack, among other things, positive adult role models. Youth culture expert Chap Clark, in his excellent book Hurt 2.0, talks about the systemic abandonment experienced by American teens. “Every adult must attempt to add to the cumulative message of protection, nurture, warmth, and affection. It takes several consistently supportive and encouraging messages to counteract the effects of systemic abandonment. By far, the best way to help our young is by being a chorus of support and a choir of commitment.”
Which K am I? Thanks for being there for me from the beginning. What would I be without Susan?
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