The author of a new book about young Biblical heroes is sharing his advice for how Catholic parents of teenagers can help their sons and daughters grow in faith.
“If I had to offer one piece of universal advice to parents trying to raise their kids in the faith … it would have to deal with emotional and not just physical presence,” Mark Hart, the author of “Biblical Heroes: Stories of Faith and Courage,” told Our Sunday Visitor in written comments.
Hart, a father of four who has spent nearly three decades working in youth ministry, encouraged parents to talk “to” their teens instead of “at” them while speaking about his latest book.
“Most teens I talk to tell me their parents aren’t available to them because they’re too consumed with work or their cell phone,” Hart, the chief innovation officer for Life Teen International and a research fellow for the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, said. “The ones who aren’t — again, I’m told by actual teens — try to ‘force’ conversation or force specific topics (about the faith or grades or tasks).”
“The truly successful parents I’ve seen, especially in terms of raising kids in the faith, understand the vital importance of having balanced conversations about both Christianity and life in general,” he added. “The focus is on active listening to the things really moving in their kids’ hearts and lives, not merely on the checklist of activities, grades, tasks, and the future.”
Hart spoke following the release of his book, “Biblical Heroes,” with Catholic publisher Ascension last summer. The book, illustrated by Chris Lewis, promises to “bridge the gap” between teenagers and Scripture by introducing them to teenage figures in the Bible in a relatable way.
“Biblical Heroes outlines and dives into the lives of 13 young men and women in Scripture, shedding light on well-known characters like Mary and the young (future King) David to lesser-known characters such as Miriam, Jeremiah, Ruth, and ‘the kid with the loaves and fish,” Hart described.
A connection through time
Hart said that the young people in his life, including his three daughters and son, inspired his book. His children span a wide range of ages: One recently married, another is a college student, another is a high school student and the youngest is just starting middle school.
“These are the stories I’d share with them to offer timeless wisdom on situations teens face and, also, to hopefully pique their own interest in cracking open the Bible on their own,” he said. “The more we talked through how young men and women (in Scripture) worked and walked through situations — for better or worse — the more fascinated they became with how to navigate similar situations in their own lives.”
These conversations and others, he said, reminded him of the importance of young souls “finding themselves” in Biblical characters.
“Peer pressure, temptation, identity crises, betrayal by ‘friends,’ gossip, sibling rivalry, self-doubt, fear of the future, and moving from adolescence into young adulthood are all themes that are found in the Bible from which modern kids can still learn and grow,” he said.
The Church of today
Throughout the book, Hart weaves in personal stories and encourages Catholic youth to look up passages in the Bible. Toward the end, he points readers to 1 Timothy 4:12, which reads, “Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.”
“My hope is that the young Church begins to see themselves as the Church of today and NOT tomorrow,” Hart said. “My hope is that their presence at Mass or youth group is affirmed (because it is indeed affirmation-worthy) and that they feel seen and loved by those in the pews around them, by the pastor, and by parish staff as a vital part of the parish family.”
He cited French novelist Léon Bloy as writing, “The only great tragedy in life is not to become a saint.”
“If teens can not only read the words from St. Paul to St. Timothy … but really take them to heart, if they can realize that their example even at a young age will convict us adults and ultimately change the world, our Church and our future will look very different,” Hart said.
A special message for teens
Hart said that he hoped teens walk away from his book with the realization that “God delights in them and has a purpose for them.”
“God is very real and active and desires a deep, daily relationship with them,” he said. “God has drawn near to them and continues to draw near to them through His Church. He wants to walk beside them every day, guiding them through a treacherous world toward heaven and joy-filled life for eternity.”
He also wanted teenagers to know that God understands them and their struggles.
“There’s nothing they can go through that God doesn’t understand, and there’s no sin God will not forgive except the one they don’t ask forgiveness for,” he said.
He concluded by saying that every teenager is a “central character in God’s story.”
“They are seen and heard and matter. God breathed and penned them into existence,” he said. “Their story is near and dear to God’s sacred heart and is being written with perfection and eternity in mind.”
“The sooner they understand and appreciate this fact, that they are so beloved that God decided to create them,” he added, “the sooner they can relish in the fact that they are here, that His plan is perfect, and that life is not only a beautiful adventure but that there is a mission only they can fulfill in this world!”
