The numbers are astounding. According to a variety of surveys conducted over the last few years, the average American teenager spends more than 72 hours a week using "electronic media."

That's 3 whole days!

While that alone should catch the attention of any clergyman or religious educator, the numbers themselves don't tell the full story of teenage media usage, most especially when it comes to the Internet, cell phones, iPods and video games.

All of these new forms of media are actually fora: They are electronic means for teens to interact with each other, form friendships, meet new people, exchange ideas and — yes! — learn about their faith.

According to the Barna Research Group, teens in particular use the Internet as a way to explore their own faith and different faith traditions in a private, non-threatening environment.

In other words, there's never been more reason for Orthodox Christian religious education to move beyond the confines of classroom walls. Not only are teens ready to learn if we reach out to them in more familiar online venues, they are often in need of an Orthodox presence in their lives beyond the relatively short amount of time spent in Church School or GOYA.

But it's not enough to simply speak to (or at!) young people, even if one's message is placed on the Internet. In today's online world, teens are attracted to a form of media that emphasizes participation and community. Teens don't just want to watch or listen; they won't to join the conversation, comment on the topic and create their own show!

According to a 2007 survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, "64 percent of online teenagers ages 12 to 17 engage in at least one type of content creation." That means they are writing their own blogs, making and posting their own videos, creating their own photo albums and so forth. And, even more significantly, they are looking to be included. The survey discovered that "content creation is not just about sharing creative output; it is also about participating in conversations fueled by that content."

That means that teens are looking for online communities that reflect and produce real-life patterns of interaction. The virtual world of Internet media is distinct from the face-to-face interaction of friends, family, teachers, fellow parishioners and priests. But it's not entirely separate. In fact, the two can be complementary.

By introducing the iPod to the Orthodox classroom and the Orthodox classroom to the online world, we simply create a more rich, more dynamic and more penetrating forum for learning. Most important of all, by transforming the typical classroom into a multimedia conversation that teens can create online and in person, we challenge teens to take ownership of their faith.

That's why the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN), an agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, has partnered with the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the equivalent department in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese to produce two new, user-driven online programs for Orthodox Christian teenagers and young adults. Both programs can easily be included in any parish's religious education or youth ministry program. And, of course, they would make excellent programs for parents and teens to listen to together.

OTTO: Orthodox Teen Talk Online

The first program is called OTTO: Orthodox Teen Talk Online, a podcast that features a pan-Orthodox group of teens from around the country. On the show, the teens discuss real-life issues in an open and honest manner with at least one Orthodox priest. Recent topics have included drugs, drinking, abortion, dating and peer pressure. Future episodes will cover faith and doubt; prayer; and movies, music and MTV.

The teens themselves develop the topics for discussion, contribute their own opinions and share their own life experiences related to the discussion. This allows Orthodox young people to find their own voice and to develop their own Orthodox Christian response to some of the most pressing issues of the day.

Given today's online culture, that's critical. OTTO could be a powerful addition to your religious education program, provided you carry the online conversation into the classroom interaction. Then, the power of modern, user-drive media complements the Church's face-to-face community.

And, in accord with the Internet's tradition of inclusion, all Orthodox Christian teens are welcome to participate in OTTO! If a young person in your parish would like to join the conversation, just ask; if the members of your GOYA would like to produce their own episode, it can be arranged.

Get Wisdom: The Orthodox Bible Study Program For Teens

The second program is called Get Wisdom: The Orthodox Bible Study Program for Teens. Several parishes are already starting to use this show in Sunday Schools or youth groups with great success. Not only is the show made with teens in mind, it comes with an accompanying Study Guide that can be printed, read and discussed in the classroom.

The feel of the show, as well as the appearance of the study guide, are teen-friendly, with upbeat music and pictures of young people. However, the content itself is thoroughly Orthodox. In fact, the show even introduces teens to some easy-to-understand quotes from the Church Fathers.

Currently, Get Wisdom goes through one chapter of the Bible at a time. The series has just concluded its study of St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians and has started a sequential study of the Gospel of St. Mark. As he looks at the Scripture, host Jason Barker draws out some salient points, explains the text and applies the lesson to real life. Jason also includes a short segment with food for thought, usually drawn from the life of a saint or the saying of a Church Father.

Jason has set it up so that parishes, teachers, advisers and kids can easily access ALL of the shows and study guides on one site: http://feeds.feedburner.com/GetWisdom. From this one location, teens and teachers should be able to stream or download everything, either to their computer, iPod, cell phone or mp3 player.

Conclusion

When it comes to teenage media consumption, the numbers are astounding — but so too is the opportunity to engage teens in the life of the Church.

All we have to do is sign online and join the conversation.


This article orginally appeared in the most recent edition of Praxis magazine.