By Rev. Adren Bivins, The Laymen Brotherhood Second Chance Outreach Center, Inc.

Every time I turn on television, read the newspaper or listen to the radio, teenage violence is on the rise. Most of our young people do not realize how they are destroying their lives over alcohol, drugs, smoking gang violence teenage pregnancy and dropping out of school.

This shows lack of ambition and respect for themselves and others. My wife, Sylvia, and I recently attended our State Congress of Christian Education for a week in Albany, Georgia, at Monroe High School concerning adults and youths who turn their lives around and live for the Lord and get a good spiritual and secular education.

With the outreach ministry, so many times I sit in the courtroom and observe so many young men and women with great potentials destroy a promising future in a matter of seconds. They do not realize the consequences or the end results when wrong decisions are made.

Through witnessing and evangelizing to the lost in various places, I tell them that God loves them but do not like the sin that they commit. In Romans 6:23, the Bible tells us that, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” Ephesians 6:1-3 is speaking to the children. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise that it may go well with you and you may enjoy long life on earth.” Proverbs 22:6 addresses the parents.

The Bible says to train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not turn from it. It is time for the violence to stop. Obey God, your parents or the judge. For those young people that are doing good and making wise decision, continue to do so and you will be successful in life. Fear God and keep his commandments and you will be blessed.