Evangelist Shane Pruitt has released a free e-book titled “You Can’t Talk About That.” The booked is aimed at helping parents and ministry leaders address topics today’s students and young adults cannot escape, including sex, gender, and mental health.
Pruitt serves as the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) director of next gen evangelism for the North American Mission Board (NAMB).
Throughout his ministry career, Pruitt has focused on guiding younger generations toward a biblical worldview. He has addressed cultural topics ranging from concerns about Taylor Swift albums to questions such as “Do Babies Go to Heaven When They Die?” and “Is Pope Francis in Heaven?”
The World Has Bullied the Church Into Silence Regarding Certain Topics
“The reason we titled it ‘You Can’t Talk About That‘ is because it almost feels like that’s what the world says,” Pruitt told ChurchLeaders. “It’s almost like bullying the church into silence on those particular topics because the world wants to dominate those conversations.”
Pruitt said younger generations are hearing the world “scream” about these issues while many churches remain silent.
“If the church remains silent, then a whole generation only hears one worldview and then we start getting statistics and we’re like, ‘[Why] do young people believe what they believe?’” Pruitt said. “Well, it’s because we also haven’t been a part of the conversation.”
“So we need to slide into those conversations. We speak where the Bible speaks and the Bible speaks,” he continued. “The Bible has a lot to say about sexuality. The Bible has a lot to say about male and female and who decides what that means. The Bible has a lot to say about mental health.”
Pruitt said the book was written to equip adults to engage in those conversations.
“It’s for ministry leaders, but it’s also for parents, teachers, coaches, anybody interacting with young people,” he added.
‘Shane, I’ve Never Even Heard of These Terms Before’
Pruitt travels nationwide speaking at camps, events, and churches. It was through those interactions with students, leaders, and parents that he said he recognized the need for the resource.
Parents have shared their uncertainty with Pruitt, telling him, “Man, I don’t even know where to start with these conversations because my kids are coming home from school or they’re seeing stuff on social media and they’re asking me questions.”
He added, “Parents will go, ‘Shane, I’ve never even heard of these terms before. I don’t even know where to begin.’”
Evangelist Shane Pruitt has released a free eBook urging the church to address sex, gender, and mental health with younger generations.Click to Post
