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PARENTS SHOULD SEEK TO INCREASE THE OFFLINE OPPORTUNITIES OF SUCCESS FOR YOUTH

Pastor and Author Identifies Family Threat

Mableton (Atlanta), GA March 17, 2003: With the expanded media coverage of possible wars, terrorism, record-breaking winter storms, reality tv, and the upcoming national, collegiate basketball tournament, “parents should aggressively seek opportunities for their children to feel the thrills of positive, long-term victory firsthand” states The Reverend Roney Smith.

Smith, who is the author of “Every Seed Has The Divine Expectation of Much Fruit, Volume 1” (ISBN 0-595-26226-0 paperback, 0-595-65555-6 hardcover) and founding pastor of Anointed Believers Baptist Church (http://www.anointedbelievers.org) in Mableton, GA, has identified a greater threat to family welfare and security that annually peaks during the spring season as the last days of the school year draw near.

Although spring may appear to be on the near horizon for many, the recent extended winter breaks plus the anticipation of proms, graduations, last day of school, and hopeful end of yearlong school bullying coupled with the excessive winter playing of video games this year may be fostering an unhealthy perfect storm supportive of possible springtime end-of-school year revenge plans.

“As a former high school educator and student, I know from direct experience what spring fever does to the psyche of students. Now as a pastor within this information age, I feel both blessed and charged with the responsibility to make people aware of isolated, telltale signs that will only reveal a recognizable picture when viewed through faith. Parents, teachers, clergy, and society overall need to collectively share the solutions for daily problems that have already been documented by the Holy Bible. Every piece of news with either local or worldwide impact shows the biblical principles being either obeyed or disobeyed”, said Pastor Smith. 

Smith further stated, “Every area of life starts with a single seed of activity that produces fruit bearing seeds of greater activity. The challenge mankind faces is the awareness and commitment of planting good seeds that produce positive fruit while having the courage to uproot bad seeds that produce negative fruit even though the activity may have been a family or cultural tradition”.

Smith does not absolve the electronic gaming industry and sports and entertainment celebrities of responsibility to youth while certifying their success. Smith states, “The electronic gaming industry and celebrities’ popularity and success directly addresses the psychological lack of opportunities of victory and winning elsewhere offline. The daily quest for the American Dream needs to become the daily opportunity for the American Victory. Or else people will seek to fulfill it through road rage, instant messaging, pornographic websites, sports fanaticism, sex, drugs, and hyper-affiliations with celebrity and entertainment”.

“The electronic gaming industry and reality tv especially have successfully identified areas that parents, educators, and churches are susceptible to overlook. This is where a real, higher level, digital divide exists even though many parents themselves may have a cell phone or high speed internet access”, stated Smith.

Smith concluded, “Electronic games and reality tv are successfully distributing a set of beliefs, values, and decision-making skills whether we acknowledge it or not. It is critical for all of us with any level of influence and oversight to close the loop with face-to-face conversations with youth and focus their newly acquired skills to areas of long-term gains and benefits. The upcoming spring will actually provide youth the first opportunities to release the pent up demand for victories and demonstrate the skills acquired over the winter”.

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