Times sure change—especially if your name is Michael W. Smith. Growing up as a teenager in Kenova, West Virginia (population 5,000), Michael never worried about youth violence. "I never experienced anything like that growing up," he says. "Nobody got hurt."

A few short decades later, Michael is a parent of a teenager himself, and has witnessed the explosion of teen violence in our culture—even among rural locations like Kenova. Not content to simply stand idly by, Michael and his wife, Debbie, have joined forces with the Baptist Sunday School Board to support the anti-violence campaign, Positive Impact.

We recently had a chance to chat with Michael about Positive Impact and his views on youth violence. Here’s what he had to say.

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FamilyFans: What is it about Positive Impact that made you and Debbie feel strongly enough to support it publicly?

MWS: I think it’s a topic that needs more awareness. I think there’s a real problem and honestly, I just feel like there’s so many kids who have gotten by with going to violence to solve certain things and it’s not right. We’re just trying to bring the awareness up that there’s probably a lot more going on than what we think there is.

FamilyFans: Why do you suppose teen violence has become such a problem in our society? What do you think are the root causes?

MWS: Ultimately, I think it’s a spiritual problem. I believe there’s good and evil, and I believe there’s a devil, and I believe there’s a God, and I think there’s spiritual warfare going on and stuff that we don’t even know about. Whether it’s drug abuse, whether it’s alcohol abuse or turning to [violence]…I think that’s a scheme of the devil. And I think all that can turn around if we start seeking God with all our hearts.

FamilyFans: Do you think sometimes we’re too quick to throw up our hands in surrender when we should be dropping to our knees in prayer?

MWS: Absolutely. I’ll try not be over-spiritual here, but, I think that’s what going to change everything. People that are on their knees and praying for the violence situation—I think that’s what’s going to bring more success to this whole thing that anything.

FamilyFans: When have you personally felt the effects of a violent situation?

MWS: I know a friend who’s been through abuse in the home.

FamilyFans: Was it spousal abuse?

MWS: Yeah. And, oh man! It’s really tough. You want to vent your anger a little bit and go, "What are you doing?" [But] that’s not been the right thing for me to do. So, those are tough situations, especially when it’s somebody that you know and care about.

FamilyFans: What are your feelings about violence in the media?

MWS: Well, I think there’s way too much. I think the Hollywood thing has definitely not helped at all. You get people blowing everybody away and that has definitely worsened the [real life] situation. It’s amazing how much we’re influenced by Hollywood. I think the glorified violence we see in the media is having a tremendous influence. If anything, it’s probably the beginning of a lot of [real life] violence that we have that should never have happened. I’m probably more aware now that I have [son] Ryan, who’s 13 going on 14. I’m starting to really be careful about what even I see.

FamilyFans: What guidelines regarding violence and media do you all use at the Smith home?

MWS: I feel like I’m fairly strict, but I’m having a tough time with [this]. It’s interesting because Ryan wants to be a film director and he knows all the special effects guys and he knows all the producers and the directors. So I’m getting hit up a little harder [with Ryan] going, "Dad, hey! You know, this is what I want to do for a living. I can handle it." Well that’s not exactly true. So I’m struggling with that. [But] you’ve got to stand your ground and sometimes it gets really, really tough. You’ve got to be consistent. That’s probably my biggest challenge—being consistent.

FamilyFans: Do you have any concerns that Ryan might eventually add to that glorified violence in the media?

MWS: I do a little bit. I think his whole approach now is, "Dad, I would never put violence in there unless it really needed to be there." We’re kind of going through that whole scene. He really loves God and I think he really wants to have an impact, but he’s going through that stage of "A little violence is kind of cool." I disagree with him on that one.

FamilyFans: So what do you do?

MWS: I think the biggest thing for us is not to have the debates on what he should and shouldn’t see, but let’s be consistent in just loving him [and] be role models for him.

FamilyFans: You think we focus sometimes too much on the rules instead of the relationship?

MWS: I think so. I tend to give more freedom than restrictions.

FamilyFans: What’s the best way for a parent to approach bringing up the topic of violence with their kids?

MWS: We talk about it a lot at our house. All you’ve got to do is turn on headline news for 30 minutes or pick up the paper. Last night we were watching the news and this whole thing came up with the guy who’s on trial now for sexual assault, and a girl who died in New York. It’s big news, so that provided Ryan and me an opportunity to talk about it.

FamilyFans: What can parents do to help prepare their kids for life in a violent society?

MWS: Teach them that violence is not a cure. Violence doesn’t solve anything. It only makes things worse. It’s just not a means to solve anything.

FamilyFans: Tell me about your teen club, Rocketown. What kind of impact is that having on teenagers?

MWS: With the club, we’re open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Seventy-five percent of the kids who come are not believers, but these kids are coming to know Christ! These are the kids who are the down and out kids; who have been rejected; who are from dysfunctional families; who don’t have any place to go. But they come to Rocketown every Friday night because all the staff knows their names and they feel loved.

FamilyFans: You’ve just given a profile of the kids who’re most likely to resort to violence.

MWS: Exactly. And I think some of those kids have. But hey! We just take them in. We’re trying to love these kids and we’re seeing tremendous success. Friday night’s basically the dance night, then we serve pizzas at midnight, and a staff guy gets up and shares Christ with them. We usually have [at least] one kid who ends up giving his heart to the Lord every Friday night. That’s pretty neat!

FamilyFans: It sounds like you’re changing youth culture from within instead of trying to attack it from without.

MWS: Exactly. Just trying to meet them where they’re at.

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