I have an only son. He never liked to talk so much about his thoughts, feelings, or even his struggles with me. He mostly talked about … his hunger.

“Mom, can you make me something to eat?”  

But I couldn’t let that stop me. From the time he was little, I took his spiritual/emotional temperature by frequently asking about his thoughts and feelings, as well as his curiosities, jealousies, and inadequacies. My husband commented over the years on my effortless (or was it tenacious?) ability to get him to talk with me about anything and everything — and even get the truth out of him.

Though my son is 29 and recently married, I’ve found that this parenting skill of taking a young person’s emotional/spiritual temperature is an ability I still possess.  In fact, (and I’m not exaggerating) whenever I meet a 15 to 29 year-old I feel a connection to them. I see these “kids” as my spiritual children even though they are not my biological children. 

Taking This Generation's Temperature

So, I guess it shouldn’t have been too big of a surprise when I woke up one morning a few years ago and felt that God might want me to return to youth work. I spent almost two decades speaking to high-schoolers and collegians across America during the 1980’s and 1990’s but by 2000, I had transitioned into a speaker for women, couples, and singles. At the time it seemed a natural progression to leave youth work. Yet in the summer of 2004, I heard God softly (then loudly) ask (maybe it was more like, “tell”) me to return to youth ministry. 

It is a strange phenomenon when God asks you to do something that no one else is asking you to do. I hadn’t received a phone call to speak for a college chapel in years. But, that didn’t seem to matter to God.  He prompted me to make calls and invite myself. 

It was a humbling experience. Few wanted me to come. So instead of booking speaking engagements, I set aside a 40-day period (January 21, 2006 through March 1, 2006) to visit 23 college campuses in 11 states as a prayer leader.  I visited each of these campuses just to pray with and for students. 

And I was shocked at what I found. You’d be absolutely shocked, too. 

Instead of “prayer for revival,” I found myself on a “prayer for survival” mission.  After hundreds of confession sessions with “nice, Christian kids from great families” involved in all forms of sexual activities, alcohol abuse, and hidden eating disorders, I knew why God sent me. 

I was not a pastor or administrator who could kick them out of school or admonish them for their behavior.  I was a mom who was being sent to take the temperature of this young generation. I had the unique skill of being able to look directly into the eyes of a student, ask tough questions, and get truthful answers -- as only a mom can do. I was also able to hold in my arms the tearful, broken students who were struggling with same-sex attraction or who were pregnant or addicted to pornography. I was a listening ear who could take their confession of sin and talk them through forgiveness and repentance.

Upon returning from the 40 Days of Prayer for Revival on College Campuses, I’ve spent the last few years trying to sound an alarm, to make some noise, to not only write and speak to my generation about my candid observations about this young generation, but to ask parents and older adults to get involved with them by becoming “spiritual” parents.

Why Our Grown-Up Kids Need Parents