The Citizen, 2013-04-25, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013.
By Rev. Dr. Peter Kugba-Nyande
Duff’s United Church, Walton
During one of the recent
discussions at our monthly
ministers’ study group held in
Brussels, we analyzed the ever-
changing trend in social media. The
uses of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
among others have become a
common tool and means of
communication. This is especially
true for teens, many of whom spend
hours online or on their cellular
devices. Although these devices are
crucial, they have adverse effects on
them.
In September 2012, 15-year-old
Amanda Todd in Vancouver, B.C.,
told her story about how she sank
into depression after being
relentlessly taunted and physically
attacked at school. “It started after
an unknown man convinced me to
expose myself online in front of a
webcam.” Amanda added that the
person blackmailed her and spread
the photos around, destroying her
reputation. In the notes underneath
the video, she wrote, “I’m struggling
to stay in this world, because
everything just touches me so
deeply.... Haters are haters but please
don’t hate.” Amanda’s friend,
Gabriel Harrison, told CBC News
that her tormentors were vicious.
Life for 17-year-old Rehtach
Parson in Nova Scotia took a turn
when at the age of 15, she was gang
raped by four boys at her home in
November, 2011. The boys took a
photo of the alleged assault, and
subjected her to bullying. The family
lamented that “The boys savagely
took advantage of her while she had
no ability to defend herself and then
what happened afterwards may have
been worse. They rubbed her nose in
it effectively by spreading around at
least one photograph of the assault
taking place and various taunting
messages about what happened.”
Jason Barnes, the long-time
boyfriend of Rehtaeh Parsons’
mother, said a sad string of failures
ultimately led to the girl’s death
more than a year after she was
allegedly sexually assaulted.
Online reaction to the teen’s death
has drawn comparisons to Amanda
Todd in Metro Vancouver. Leah
Parsons wrote a lengthy post on a
memorial Facebook page that
accuses the justice system of
“failing” her daughter after she was
allegedly “raped by four young
boys” and “one of those boys took a
photo of her being raped and
decided it would be fun to distribute
the photo to everyone in Rehtaeh’s
school and community.”
For several months, Audrie Pott’s
family struggled to figure out what
happened to their soccer loving,
artistic, horse-crazy daughter, whose
gentle smile, long dark hair and
shining eyes belied a struggling soul.
At the age of 15, Audrie Pott was
sexually assaulted while passed out
at a party and humiliated by online
photos. The lawyer for Audrie’s
family said she posted on Facebook
that her life was ruined, and that the
“worst day ever” was the reason she
hanged herself.
Allard said the similarities
between Audrie and Rehtaeh are
undeniable. “The parallels are right
there. The power these children have
with simply a phone to take pictures,
send messages and record things is
immense. These kids have to be
educated as to the power of pressing
a button. You can destroy someone’s
life, especially someone as
susceptible to emotional injury as
teenagers are,” he told CBC’s Norma
Lee MacLeod of Maritime Noon.
Why are there so many teenage
suicides? That’s the question many
Canadians are asking. In less than
two years, nine teens in the quiet,
middle-class city of Sarnia, have
committed suicide including 14-
year-old Morgan Vanderberghe. She
killed herself four weeks ago,
leaving her father, Doug, devastated.
“When I’ve seen that she was gone,
I just thought ‘Why? Why? Why?’
And no one will be able to answer
that,” he says.
Kids Help Phone has posted some
tips online that highlight signs to be
aware of before the situation
becomes too late to take action:
• Talking about suicide or a plan
for suicide
• Making statements about
hopelessness, helplessness or
worthlessness
• Complaining of being a bad
person, nor accepting praise or
worthlessness
• Giving away possessions
• Preoccupied with death
• Loss of interest in things once
cared about
• Always feeling bored
• Personality changes
• Withdrawing from friends and
family
• Trouble concentrating
• Changes in eating and sleeping
habits
• Showing impulsive behaviours,
such as violent actions or rebellious
behaviour
• Becoming suddenly cheerful
after a period of depression (may
mean the youth has already made the
decision to escape their problems
through suicide).
Time and time again our lives are
being tested. Time and time again
we will come face-to-face with the
threats and evils of the world. Time
and time again we will be called to
respond with the same love, grace,
and sacrifice as our Lord Jesus did.
From three very comfortable
premises David, in the 23rd Psalm,
draws three very comfortable
conclusions and teaches us to do so
too. We are saved by hope, and that
hope will not make us ashamed
because it is well grounded.
In addition to the measures
government might take to ensure our
security, our certainty is not in our
hands; it comes from the One who
holds us in his hand (cf. Ps 4:8 and
23:1-4). We can confidently follow
the Lord wherever he leads, trusting
that nothing can keep us from God if
we trust in him. We should be able to
rest secure in the wonderful claim
made by Jesus, a claim that is in full
accord with the Father, that “I give
them eternal life and they will never
perish.” Amen.
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
APRIL 28 ~ Canada, Cuba and Camping
MAY 5 ~ Blood, It’s in you to give!
Due to the planned hydro outage this coming Sunday morning.
HURON CHAPEL
Will Be Moving
Their Service To
Sunday Evening At 7:00pm
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, April 28
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, APRIL 28
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9017
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
BRUSSELS
Sandra Cable, Pastor
Church Office 519-887-6259
E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am
Sunday School
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
United Church
getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Wingham Bible Study - Tuesdays 7:30 pm
Youth Group - Tuesdays 7:30 pm (at CRC)
Women At The Well - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Apr. 28: Mk. 16:15-16
Robert
Graham,
Georgian
Native
Ministries:
“Missional
Patrick”
Evangelical Missionary Church
250 Princess St., Brussels
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Pastor Jim Whitehead
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
Worship Service 10:00 am
Sunday School 11:15 am
From the Minister’s StudyKugba-Nyande explores teen suicide warning signs