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Article Reflection: Church and At-risk Behavior
Parents, Christian leaders and teachers can teach children and adolescent faith and Christian beliefs as a step to promote the well being of the young ones. This will help the young ones to strengthen their faith factor. It is worth to note that the faith factor has a correlation with at-risk factors. The “faith factor” is negatively correlated with at-risk behaviors because the former helps to shape character that reduces the latter. The faith factor is important in the formation of character that keeps young people away from the at-risk behaviors. Therefore, as the faith factor reduces in a person, the at-risk behaviors increase, thereby having a negative correlation.
In addition, parents, teachers and Christian leaders should involve adolescent and children in all faith-based activities. If engaged, the young people will gain from the cross-sectional growth provided by the three groups, especially the church. According to Eklin and Roehlkepartain (2004), faith institutions influence the behavior of a broader population, and the impact is powerful over the lives of people. This will give young people an opportunity to learn good behavior and practices of faith from the teachers, leaders and parents. Eklin and Roehlkepartain (2004) argue that engaging the youth in faith institutions will facilitate the collaborative and cooperative efforts to promote their wellbeing.
Moreover, parents and Christian leaders can hold topical religious trainings and teachings to children and the adolescent and talk to them on issues affecting them. These teachings should include topics like substance abuse, alcoholism, violence and sexuality among other important issues (Eklin & Roehlkepartain, 2004). The topical trainings should go beyond educational discussion to connecting the character of young people to their faith (Eklin & Roehlkepartain, 2004). This way, parents, teachers and Christian leaders can improve the well being of children and adolescent and reduce their at-risk behaviors.
Reference
Eklin, C.H., & Roehlkepartain, R.C (2004). The Faith Factor: What Role Can Churches Play In At-Risk Prevention? Retrieved From, <http://web.archive.org/web/20060313055936/http:/www.forministry.com/vsItemDisplay.dsp&objectID=977B26B1-AEAA-46F3-9B4F8AA1CD59BAC0&method=display&templateID=C3435351-D45C-4B52-867A3F794D1CD85C> 6 September, 2015