The North Star Catholic / Tiffany Borges, Author at The North Star Catholic

Youth minister aims to ignite spiritual fire in Alaska teens

Ricky Shoop doesn’t approach youth ministry with the goal of creating a fun zone or circus-like atmosphere that competes with the limitless forms of entertainment available to youth. Instead he emphasizes the intellectual capacity of teens, and the importance of fielding their most difficult questions with a sincere response. That might mean dropping all his well-laid plans in a moment. “Any teacher who values their prescribed idea or materials for the day over the inquisitive minds of his students will be prideful and ineffective,” Shoop said. “The kids must first be heard, then answered.”

Pro-lifer on the streets offers hope to women

Rannals is a veteran sidewalk counselor facing off against abortion. She’s bundled in a long quilted winter coat and low black heels, poised on Anchorage’s East 40th Avenue, ready to move seamlessly from prayer to action. Approachable, quick-thinking and deferential to the mood of those she meets on the street, Rannals is ready to initiate conversation with anyone.

Many Alaska youth are online addicts who need your help

Some of these teens express a mental and spiritual atrophy, coupled with loneliness and helplessness at the prospect of changing their behavior. As pleasure-seeking becomes habituated, the brain is re-wired, met by a heightened tolerance and increasing despair. It would be difficult to overstate the urgency or depth of this concern as it was revealed by many ACYC attendees. To witness the helplessness teens feel in resisting the temptation to play video games or text message is to wonder how they’ll fair in adult life.