• According to the survey, 37 percent of urban youth workers were exposed to divorce during their childhood
  • Thirty-four percent experienced substance abuse
  • Twenty-eight percent experienced a mental illness
  • Twenty-seven percent experienced sexual abuse
  • Twenty-five percent experienced a death in the family
  • Over 22 percent of respondents indicated that they had experienced four or more of some of these adverse childhood experiences.
• Seventy-one percent of youth workers feel powerless to change the situation of the people in the community and the same proportion is frustrated with portrayals of urban life in media.
• The survey also found that 69 percent of respondents have difficulty finding time for rest and relaxation.
  • Sixty-seven percent experience violence in the community
  • Sixty-four percent encounter subtle racist attitudes
  • Sixty-three percent negotiate the gap between urban ministry environment and family/friends/sending church
  • Sixty percent have low or no salary as well as economic pressures
  • Fifty-eight percent struggle to maintain emotional boundaries.
• Over a third of urban youth workers indicated feeling posttraumatic symptoms and they are turning to support systems such as medical care, church services, counseling, small groups and spiritual mentoring.
• One-fifth did not end up receiving any of the support because of lack of availability, affordability and lack of time.

Read Christian Post Article

Read Fuller Seminary Report