Saint Andrew’s Net | February 2006 | Vol. XXI No. 1 | Page 1

A couple of weeks ago I attended a seminar put on by the Irvine Unified School District. The title of the seminar was “The Asset Approach: Giving Kids What They Need to Succeed.” As a parent, I found this seminar to be very helpful, but it also got me thinking about the children in our church, our communities, and our neighborhoods.

At one point in the seminar, the leader gave us a list of forty developmental assets. Some of these assets included family support, caring neighborhoods, positive adult role models, religious community, a commitment to learning, positive values, and having a positive identity. She asked us to think back in our lives to when we were between the ages of 8 and 15, and then check off how many assets we had on this list as we were growing up. After completing this form, we were then told to add up how many assets we had checked off. I am not sure whether my memory is getting worse or whether I just did not have that many assets in my life, but I thought I should have wound up with more in my list.

The 40 developmental assets that were listed represent common wisdom about the kinds of positive experiences and characteristics that young people both need and deserve. However, their value extends further. The woman leading the seminar pointed out to us that a survey had been taken of more than 200,000 children between the grades of 6 and 12, which revealed that assets are powerful influences on adolescent behavior. Regardless of gender, ethnic heritage, economic situation, or geographic location, these assets both promote positive behaviors and attitudes and help protect young people from many different problem behaviors. Those who had less assets tended to have more behavioral problems.

Every one of us here at Saint Andrew’s can be a positive asset to the children of this church and our neighborhoods. I think it is important that each of us make it a priority in our lives. Being a positive asset can take many forms. It can be as a Sunday school teacher, a youth leader, or just simply making it a point to say hello to a youth every Sunday. Ask them how their week has gone, how school is going, or what their favorite book is. We can all make a difference in their lives. There are a lot of things that we can accomplish in life, but one of the most important may be to be a positive influence in a child’s life. As far as I am concerned, this is a ministry that we are all called to be a part of.

God’s Peace,

Peter