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If this doesn’t get you worked up and ready for action, I don’t know what will.
(Bridger Generation by Thom S. Rainer).88% of children raised in Christian families leave church at the age of 18, never to return. 64% of decisions for Christ are made before the age of 18, and 77% are made before the age of 21. We can’t sit back and watch this generation be stolen out of our own churches and homes. By God's grace, we must take action, and we must do it now.
Four percent. Four percent!!
We can’t sit back and watch this generation be stolen out of our own churches and homes. We must take action, and we must do it now, before they reach the pivotal age of 18 and make decisions about what they believe that will last for the rest of their life.
If you know anybody that needs to hear this, please pass it on. This is bigger than any of us alone, and by God’s grace, we all need to work together and rally around our young people--starting today.
These statistics are a wake up call that we can use to make people aware of the crisis that is already all around us. Let them inspire us to prayer, and to building deep, personal, and meaningful relationships with students.
Nathaniel Dame is a youth pastor coach and youth culture expert. His passion is to equip youth pastors to be the leaders that God has called them to be, and to have a deep, lasting impact on their students. He is the founder of Called to Youth Ministry and blogs at Effective Youth Ministry.
I'm excited about the conversation that is starting here, and I agree with what many of you have already said: The important part isn't the exact numbers and percentages, but the trend that we have all seen of young people and students leaving the church. (Reminds me about all those studies about chocolate--one study says it's the cure for cancer, and the next says it's terrible for you. Who do you believe?!?) Stories like the one Grace shared are heart-wrenching to me. How can a church do so little for the next generation? I use these types of stats to kick-start discussions with church leaders. They might not be 100% accurate (no study can ever be), but combined with your personal experiences with students and their struggles with faith, we can paint a picture of the reality of what is happening with this generation, and hopefully build more of that support that we need.
Nathaniel Dame 11:04:51am on 4/15/2009
Offensive"If people in the Church spend more time at work then they do with God on a daily basis, then the Church is messed up." What exactly is time "with God?" Is time at work and time with God mutually exclusive? Every hour I am alive is time with God. I'm not sure what you mean by this statement Matt, please explain. I agree that we are messed up, and I agree that we are accountable. I don't think it is our place to make a blanket judgment on all local churches. Let's start with the planks in our own eyes.
Mervin Kropf 6:04:24pm on 4/01/2009
OffensiveThere is a bit of truth in what Jeff said, but I don't necessarily agree with his post as a whole. Yes, the youth minister cannot be faulted if a young man or woman turns from God. Those who ARE responsible are those in their lives whom God created to be their primary evangelizers, their parents. The scriptures are very clear that we are to raise up our children in the way of the Lord. This also means, as was previously stated, that those without children, those who are unmarried, those whose children have left the house, those who are grandparents, etc. are still called to be actively involved in the evangelization of the youth in their church. We are all to fault, but the trends will only be reversed when we raise up and/or train young adults who are equipped to disciple their own children. Parents have pawned their children off to youth groups for discipleship for far too long. I pray that the Lord will change the hearts of the parents in your churches. May he BLESS you as a youth minister, and may he BLESS the parents of your youth with wisdom and truth.
Will 3:04:52pm on 4/01/2009
OffensiveI think the point of the article was not to incite panic or to imply that the Church will die out without our action. However, don't think that the Church can't die out in the U.S. while God blesses some other Nation. The point is the Church is too often, with all its programs and activities, neglecting the importance of youth ministry. The Bible makes it very clear in several places how important it is not just to study and obey God's word, but to teach it to our children. Not just our own children, but "our" children corporately, as in the next generation as a whole. [Mark 10:13-16; Deuteronomy 31:12,13; Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 22:15; 29:17; Ephesians 6:4; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Deuteronomy 4:40; 12:25,28] Even adults with no children should be taking part in this. The ups and downs that Israel experienced from Moses to Harrod can be attributed largely to their failure to consistently pass their convictions on to the next generation. While the Gospel, the Great Commission, and sound doctrinal teaching are primary objectives of the Church, we should never underestimate the importance of a vibrant youth ministry and its undeniable affect on those objectives.
Joe Terrell 9:03:28am on 3/29/2009
OffensiveThis is whatI have witnessed in our own small church: The Youth Group is not really "allowed" to participate in meaningful service to the body on a regular and consistent basis. They are used during Vacation Bible School, because they are needed. They are used for worship, because we need a pianist and drummer. They are used to fill food baskets once a year. They are ignored, or worse, they are discouraged from participating the rest of the time. My kids are discouraged and fed up with the church. The politics and gossip and slander is rampant--and I'm sure that our church doesn't have an exclusive on those issues. Our youth pastor (relatively new) is at least trying, and is succeeding, to reach the kids that don't fit into the cookie-cutter mold. It's too bad that the rest of the body doesn't do likewise.
Grace 8:03:22am on 3/25/2009
OffensiveLet them serve in the youth program, if it werent for the blessed oppurtunity God gave me to serve his youth I dont have a clue what I would do at my local church. Not sure there is any greater privilge or responsabilty than to be present to those he loves so much and let his love, grace, truth, compassion flow through us into thier lives. Thank you Jesus
Bo Norman 12:03:23am on 3/23/2009
OffensiveThom Rainer is the president of the publishing company Lifeway.
firestoneiv 10:03:23am on 3/19/2009
OffensiveI like how all the statistics are from reputable sources but who in the world is Thom Rainer?
Jamie 7:03:52pm on 3/18/2009
OffensiveI have to agree with Jeremy! It seems as though MOST churches are not reaching out very well to the college and career aged young adults. We are also not reaching out very well to the young singles crowd. Everyone wants to belong, but there is not always a place for them to feel a part of the body of Christ. I guess our focus of HOW we reach out needs to be re-evaluated so that once the "fun and games" of youth are but a distant memory, we can encourage, disciple and walk along the young adults to encourage them.
Darlene 1:03:08pm on 3/18/2009
OffensiveHere is a study from LifeWay Research - http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%25253D165949%252526M%25253D200906,00.html - It shows that many young adults drop out of church for 1 year between 18-22, but many come back. It also shares some reasons why they do so.
Scott Mills 10:03:20am on 3/18/2009
OffensiveDo the actual numbers and percentages really matter? We have all seen the decline in young people choosing to follow Jesus.
Kelli 8:03:24am on 3/18/2009
OffensiveJeff, My Brother. The Church is messed up. You are messed up, I am messed up, we are all messed up... But we are loved by an almighty God. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you can honestly say that every word that proceeds from your mouth, every thought that enters your mind, and every deed that you do is a direct reflection of His love for others, then I applaud you. I do not know you, and I truly am not questioning you. However, please don't pretend that the Church (Ecclesia) is a good representation as to what Christ intended... We are not a New Testement Church... If the world does not see Christ when they look at the Church, then the Church is messed up. If 6 days a week people spend more time making money than they do loving others then the Church is messed up... If people in the Church spend more time at work then they do with God on a daily basis, then the Church is messed up. I believe that you would be very hard pressed to show me even a single local body that reflects what Christ inteded for His bride, let alone in regards to the Ecclesia. It may not be our "Fault" but it is very much our responsibility... We are accountable... -Matt
Matt 10:03:33am on 3/14/2009
OffensiveIf all fall away, that is not my fault as a youth pastor. I am doing my role to love God, love people & lead them closer to Jesus in a biblically honest & relevant way. If they don't want to follow Jesus, they will have to answer to God for it. Youth Pastor's role- be obedient to what the Lord has called them to do. I cannot MAKE someone choose Jesus. All I can do is show them Jesus through my teaching and actions. Remember- Jesus had all but 12 walk away from Him...was he doing something wrong? You can't honestly say that the church is a mess because no one wants to follow Jesus in the USA. To say that the church is the fault is dishonest. Other's role- be obedient to what the Lord has called them to do. If they don't want to follow Jesus, then it is their choice. But they had the chance. I have been a youth pastor since 1992 & have seen these scare tactics come & go. Just be obedient to the Lord & let Him do His business.
Jeff 9:03:56pm on 3/12/2009
OffensiveI have not been impressed with George Barna lately. It seems that he has an anti-church agenda. I would say that of the 140 teens who attend our church- 5 will enter into ministry, 60 will continue as Christians, 20 will serve, 65 either don't have or don't care about Jesus.
Jeff 9:03:44pm on 3/12/2009
OffensiveGood thing God is more than capable of ensuring that His message prevails. He's done it for thousands of years, I don't think He'll stop now. Good thing God always works in spite of us, never because of us. Still, ministry needs to change, but I don't think it should be done in desperation as if the extinction of Christianity rests on our shoulders.
Tim Schmoyer 3:03:29pm on 3/12/2009
OffensiveAlso debunking http://www.youthministry.com/?q=node/12450 the 88%
Gerrard 3:03:26pm on 3/12/2009
OffensiveThe 4% is an urban legend, myth and well not very accurate!! tp://fess2.blogspot.com/2007/08/top-10-urban-legends-in-youth-ministry.html#links
Gman 2:03:44pm on 3/12/2009
OffensiveThis article is a serious wake up call to the church world. It goes to show everyone that there is a lot of work to be done before Jesus returns. We can conduct business as usual, but we must be willing to do whatever it takes to not only maintain this 4% but to increase the number by fulfilling the great commission. The question we should ask is why are all these teens leaving the church after graduation. Well, let me tell you that there is nothing further for them. I know at our church, there is no where to go after they graduate from the youth group. It is straight from the cool and contemporary youth group to the old fashioned and boring adult service. We must be willing to change and adapt to the needs of this very important age that is slipping away.
Jeremy Lile 5:03:51pm on 3/10/2009
Offensive
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