Issue #7 | Young People Story | Theology
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STORY | THEOLOGY | VOICE FULLER ISSUE #7 | YOUNG PEOPLE “When you know the story to which you belong, and when you know your role in that story, you have a profound sense of purpose. That is what we are invited into: God’s ongoing work in this world. When we find ourselves contributing to a greater story, we thrive.” —PAMELA EBSTYNE KING, PETER L. BENSON ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE, ON HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE FIND THEIR COORDINATES, P. 60. (ABOVE: YENA CHOI, P. 24) + Matt Lumpkin, assistant director of Information Technology Services, takes candid portraits in front of his blue office wall as an exercise in gratitude: “These portraits remind me of the gift I have in my work: my colleagues and friends.” Pictured on facing page (left to right, from top): Genie Cormode, BJ Barber, Matthew Krabill, Melody Frost, Mandy DiMarcangelo, Cory Piña, Julie Tai, Brian Fee, and Elijah Davidson. Matt and Melody Lumpkin’s adorable third daughter, Hazel, is pictured above. See Matt’s work throughout this issue (pages 11, 30–31, 97), in a brief virtual gallery online at Fuller.edu/Studio, and at mattlumpkin.com. STORY | THEOLOGY | VOICE FULLER ISSUE #7 | YOUNG PEOPLE MAGAZINE PRODUCTION Mark Labberton President Joel B. Green Provost and Dean, School of Theology Bill Clark EVP, Chief of Strategy and Staff Lenny Moon Chief Financial Officer Irene Neller VP Communications, Marketing, Admissions Lauralee Farrer Storyteller and Chief Creative Tamara Johnston McMahon Managing Editor Michael Wright Associate Editor Randall Cole Director of Print Media Brandon Hook Designer Morgan Lott Designer Nate Harrison Senior Photographer and Video Storyteller + Young People Means You Timothy Kay Photographer and Video Storyteller Becky Still Contributing Editor Susan Carlson Wood Proofreader Some years ago, when I was going how to help them flourish. Please note Denise Louise Klitsie Principal Illustrator through a hard season, I had a job that that such wisdom does not apply to Jinna Jin, Alexandra Moon, and Emmanuel Moon required me to drive 90 minutes there just 11- to 29-year-olds. Pam King’s Translation Services and back again in rush hour traffic. I quote on the cover accompanying the CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS spent a lot of that time in my head, beautiful image of cellist Yena Choi Ken Fong, Lauren Grubaugh, Brandon Hook, Morgan Lott, pondering some grim circumstances. (p. 24) is as true for the rest of us as Taylor Martyn, Tamara Johnston McMahon, Jonathan I was no longer young by anyone’s it is for any teenager: “When we find Stoner, Eric Tai standard, and the value of all I had ourselves contributing to a greater COVER done in my life seemed to dissolve in story, we thrive.” Yena Choi, photographed by Timothy Kay the acid grief of loss. I believe a day will come when that During one of those drives on greater story will include a chance for THEOLOGY SECTION ADVISORY BOARD the 110 freeway, I played Reverend me to thank Rev. Dan. Until then, I Chair Joel B. Green PhD, Provost and Dean, School of Theology Dan Smith’s album Just Keep Goin’ pass along the wisdom he shares in Ryan Bolger PhD, Associate Professor of Church in On. There was a hidden secret in his such words as these—“I say to every Contemporary Culture directions to “take every knock as young woman, also to every young man: D. Scott Cormode PhD, Director of Innovation a boost, every stumbling block as a sometimes I know you get discouraged; J. Andrew Dearman PhD, Associate Dean, Fuller Texas Kurt Fredrickson PhD, Associate Dean for the DMin and stepping stone. Lift up your head and don’t stop and wring your hands. Your Continuing Education hold your own—just keep goin’ on, privilege cannot be taken, your rights Mark Labberton PhD, President young people, just keep goin’ on.” From cannot be banned. If someone like me Evelyne A. Reisacher PhD, Associate Professor of Islamic then on I played his music each way, can make it, I know you can.” Studies and Intercultural Relations every day, for a year. One day I realized Brad D. Strawn PhD, Evelyn and Frank Freed Professor of the Integration of Psychology and Theology that Rev. Dan, who recorded the album Miyoung Yoon Hammer PhD, Associate Professor of when he was pushing 90, meant me + LAURALEE Marital and Family Therapy when he sang to “young people.” So FARRER is when he urged, “Lift up your head and storyteller and FULLER MAGAZINE ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISORS chief creative Steve Smith Executive Director of Admissions hold your own,” he believed I could do at Fuller, Marcus Sun Director of Marketing Strategy and Analytics it. It was enough. editor in chief Jon Yasuda VP for Development Fifteen years later, “young people” of FULLER still means me. It also means you. magazine, and There is wisdom in this issue’s theology creative director articles edited by Kara Powell (thank of the new you, friend) about young people and FULLER studio. Issue #7 2016 + FULLER magazine (ISSN 2377-5432) is published for the global community of Fuller Theological Seminary. The editorial content of FULLER magazine reflects the opinions of the various authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the views of Fuller Theological Seminary. We are a free publication of Fuller Theological Seminary. If you would like to make a contribution or if you have inquiries, please email [email protected]. © 2016 by Fuller Theological Seminary. Produced in limited quantities. 18 More Than a Bible Club Fuller Youth Institute alumnus and community leader Carlos Nicasio STORY FULLER studio + Content available online VOICE COMING SOON NEW RELEASE THEOLOGY STORY NEW RELEASE STORY STORY VOICE THEOLOGY STORY 6 FULLER MAGAZINE | FULLER.EDU/STUDIO FULLER magazine + Contents of this issue 12 A Beautiful Tapestry STORY Jennifer Guerra has learned to weave together her Guatemalan heritage and American culture—knots and all 18 More Than a Bible Club Growing up in gang violence inspired Carlos Nicasio to bring together churches and local schools to support young people in his community 22 Meet Lillian Ateh American gospel music reaches the airwaves of Cameroon, inspiring a radio personality to start her own ministry and travel to California for theological training 24 Translating Lament After years of practicing the cello, Fuller graduate Yena Choi gives voice to communal grief—and finds her own voice in the process 32 Introduction 56 Naming, Navigating, and THEOLOGY Kara Powell, Guest Theology Editor Re framing Depression in the Lives of Teenagers 34 Growing Young Rhett Smith Kara Powell, Brad Griffin, Jake Mulder 40 Walking with Ethnic Minority 60 An Invitation to Thrive: Helping Youth on the Identity Formation Young People Find Their Coordinates Pamela Ebstyne King Journey Marcos Canales 62 Navigating a Digital Media World with Teenagers 44 Moving from Performance to Art Bamford Purpose in Youth Sports Benjamin J. Houltberg 66 What Parents Need to Know—and Do—About Teenage Sexuality 48 Thriving in Urban Ministry: Clifford and Joyce Penner Exploring the Role of Pain and Hope in the Journey of Faith 70 Adoptive Youth Ministry: Christin J. Fort Integrating Emerging Generations into the Family of Faith 52 Revisiting Our Response to Chap Clark Children Suffering Globally David H. Scott 74 Where Do Twentysomethings Fit in Our World Today? Steven C. Argue 78 The Psalms VOICE 84 Political Civility 90 Pop Culture DEPARTMENTS 8 From Mark Labberton, President 96 New Faculty 96 Recent Faculty Books and Publications 98 Benediction 98 About Fuller Theological Seminary 2016 | ISSUE #7 YOUNG PEOPLE 7 A Unique Season of Growth Una temporada única de crecimiento 특별한 성장 시기 From Mark Labberton, President There’s a unique season of growing toward determination to be “adult” prematurely adulthood that happens in the years between caused me to try to act like one long before 11 and 25—as any parent of teenagers will I had the developmental equipment. I en- attest. The way we frame our experiences tered puberty at 10 years of age and was during that time sets the stage for how we 6'2" by the time I was 12: I looked older and respond to life later, which partially explains bigger than my peers, so I assumed the role. + Janet, Mark, Sam, and Peter Labberton how differently my wife and I parented our This meant being a teenager was less fun, boys through that turbulent time. less adventurous, and less healthy than it might have been. Good family and close My teenage years went well on the surface, friends meant a lot to me, but no practices or but the undercurrent was harder, more communities of faith were sought (or found). painful, less assured than it appeared. My No adult help—in the form of advocate, lis- Hay una temporada única de crecimiento más doloroso, menos seguro de lo que parecía. hacia la adultez que ocurre entre los 11 y 25 Mi determinación de ser un “adulto” prematu- años de edad – como cada padre y madre de ramente causó que tratara de actuar como uno adolescentes puede testificar. La forma en que mucho antes de que tuviera las herramientas enmarcamos nuestras experiencias durante de desarrollo. Entré en la pubertad a los 10 este tiempo prepara el terreno de cómo respon- años de edad y ya medía 6’2” a los 12: me veía deremos a la vida luego, lo que parcialmente mayor y más grande que mis contemporáneos, explica lo diferente que mi esposa y yo criamos a así que asumí el rol. Esto significó que ser un nuestros niños durante este tiempo turbulento. adolescente fue menos divertido, menos aven- turero y menos saludable de lo que pudo haber Mis años de adolescencia estuvieron bien en la sido.