Faith, Community and Young Evangelicals

Posted on August 18, 2010 
Filed Under Focus on the Family Broadcast

My two oldest boys are 22 and 19 years of age. While my wife and I trained them for many years with passion and intentionality about Christ, their walk with God is now their own. They are “working out their faith” in different ways, with different perspectives on several aspects of the Christian walk, particularly when it comes to “community” (aka “local church”).

In some ways, my sons’ views on church are reflective of a growing challenge in the Christian community: How to reach out, engage and retain 20-somethings as active members/participants?

Recent statistics have shown an increasing exodus of young people from churches, especially after they leave home and live on their own. In a 2007 study, Lifeway Research determined that 70% of young Protestant adults between 18-22 stop attending church regularly.

So what are we to do?

I posted the above factoid on Facebook the other day, and here are some of the comments in reply:

Here’s an article in the Wall Street Journal about the dilemma that faces today’s churches: How to attract younger believers without losing the heart of the Gospel message? By the way, the author is 27 years old – which gives him some “street cred,” in my book.

Parents and church advocates/critics: Any thoughts?

Comments

One Response to “Faith, Community and Young Evangelicals”

  1. Treshia on August 18th, 2010 7:47 am

    I read a couple of books recently, one by Christians, one by a non-Christian. Both of them said the same thing. We need authenticity in our communities. Young adults may be drawn in to a church that has flashing lights, loud music and a pastor with a tatt. They’ll stay because they see Jesus and people who are real. This younger generation has been marketed to death. They know whether you are real or not and whether you care or not.

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