The Holy Spirit is using our youth ministry to bring young people to the Lord. But, this can get a little hairy. You see, if a person under 18 is led to the Lord without his or her parents' permission, the parents can press charges and you will be prosecuted. Likewise when it comes to baptizing.
In fact, a fellow believer recently took a few of our youth on a field trip. They were in a mall in Haifa when a concerned religious person began questioning one of the kids, because he heard them singing Messianic songs about Y'shua. A citizen's arrest was made and our brother in Messiah was taken in for interrogation. Fortunately, every youth with him had parental consent that was verifiable, and he was released after a few hours. He reunited with the youth and all was well.
Sad when we have to tell a 14 year old who wants to be baptized in Jesus' name "just 4 more years" and a 16 year old "just 2". Yet, youth can go right up to vending machines and purchase XXX rated videos on their own. Youth can hang around establishments that sell alcohol as long as they're not the ones drinking, etc., etc.
Edwin Beckford
2002