David Smith, Author at YouthMinistry.com

A Top-Ranked Tune Hopes to Fight Suicide

David Smith — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 20:43:07 +0000

Lately, Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart has been filled with some of the worst, most profane, and sexually vile songs in its history. However, the song currently parked at #3 has a completely different message. Instead of talking about drugs, alcohol, or sex, it addresses suicide…with the hope of stopping it.…

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Good and Bad News in Teen Drinking Trends

David Smith — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 15:37:22 +0000

Alcohol leaves its mark on teenagers of every generation, from legal troubles to scars to tombstones. Today’s teenagers are on track to have fewer alcohol-related incidents, which is certainly good news. But research says much work is still to be done.…

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Help Teenagers Make Friendship Connections

David Smith — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:46:23 +0000

“Nick” belongs to my church and attends the middle school Christian club where I speak every Tuesday. His younger brother is my son’s best friend. But Nick doesn’t have a best friend; in fact, he doesn’t have any friends.
Determined to change that, this honor-roll student recently snuck an over-the-counter medicine onto campus and tried to make the concoction known as Lean.…

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Why Monogamy and Marriage Don’t Interest Millennials

David Smith — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:11:22 +0000

Recently I had lunch with a young man from my church who’d just ended a long relationship with his fiancé due to her infidelity. Unfortunately, their problem with monogamy isn’t an isolated incident. In fact, much of our culture wouldn’t even define it as a problem.…

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Weigh the Risks and Benefits of Contact Sports

David Smith — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 15:49:47 +0000

Share this article about concussions with parents—especially those whose teenagers play sports.
Although another football season just wrapped up, the debate about head injuries and concussions still rages. Some people wonder what the fuss is all about, while others fear football may not have much of a future.…

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How to Combat the SEND NUDES Trend

David Smith — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 19:09:14 +0000

Spilled potato chips. A freshly baked pepperoni pizza. Some wiggly Chinese noodles. Are these the cravings of a pregnant woman? Nope. They’re just a few images young people are using to ask one another for nude photos. And these requests contain absolutely no subtlety!…

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Battling Teen Porn Addiction

David Smith — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:42:09 +0000

Battling Teen Porn Addiction
Arming Kids for the Fight of Their Lives
An article from David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com
On a daily basis, millions of teenagers are bombarded by graphic and explicit images through online images and videos. The degree to which they are impacted is as varied as the kids themselves, but none of it is positive.…

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Helping Teens Manage Social Media

David Smith — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 20:31:37 +0000

Living in the Online Village
An article from David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Everyone has an opinion about the influence these social media giants have on teens. Regardless of what the sometimes-conflicting experts say, we still have to help teens manage themselves on these platforms.…

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Contemplating College

David Smith — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 15:39:05 +0000

The Big Questions Facing American Families
An article from David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com
Acceptance letters have been received. Yearbooks have been signed. Tasseled caps have been tossed into the air. The next season of life for millions of teenagers has finally come.…

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Selfies, Sexting, and Censorship

David Smith — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:06:17 +0000

Teens and the Pics They Take of Themselves
An article from David R Smith at The Source for Youth Ministry
Pose. Snap. Hastily delete. Re-pose. Re-snap. Save. Add filter. Add another filter. Upload/Tweet/Send. Enjoy all the likes, retweets, shares, and positive comments.…

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