Why the Young Leave the Church?
http://agapepartners.org/articles/84/1/Why-the-Young-Leave-the-Church/Page1.html
Thomas Idiculla, PhD
Thomas Idiculla is the
founder and President of Agape Partners International, Boston, MA and
the Director of Mental Health Services Evaluation Department at McLean
Hospital, one of the largest psychiatric hospitals of Harvard Medical
School in Boston. By Thomas Idiculla, PhD
Published on 04/21/2009
Among the mainline American churchs, seventy percent of the young people (23-30 years), are nowhere to be found in church on a regular basis for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22. They become church dropouts, according to a recent study from LifeWay Research. These students who attended a church at least twice a month for at least one year during high school are leaving the church, and most of them are doing so during their first year of college. The most frequent reasons for leaving church are: they simply wanted a break from church’ (27%); second, the path toward college (25%), and work responsibilities prevented me from attending’ (23%). An Assemblies of God study showed a loss of 66% of their students within one year of high school graduation. A Southern Baptist transition project estimates an 82% loss of youth within one year of high school graduation. These numbers are sad, disappointing and the church leadership and parents must pay attention to this negative trends.
At the current pace, only 4% of America's teens will end up as Bible-believers, a sharp contrast to 35% of Boomers and 65% of Builders. Why? The Washington Times cites these facts: Many regard their church teachings as "irrelevant" to their daily lives. Going to church is perceived as a "time waster." Sermons are "bland" and uninspiring, especially to the highly educated. They do not address the most pressing concerns of congregants. Issues such as chastity, pornography, pre-marital sex, marital struggles, divorce, and workplace challenges aren't discussed in detail. In seeking to be inoffensive or entertaining, church leaders do not provide enough spiritual nourishment to sustain their most ardent believers. Many contemporary churches fail to foster deep communities of believers. Disconnected congregants are turning to more intimate house churches. Others, tired of poor Bible teachers, seek in-depth faith explorations by their own efforts or with kindred spirits. (Source: Lifeway Research, The Washington Times 9/21/08; Agape Partners Teen Survey).
Among the Indian Churches, one-third of the young people said they were dissatisfied with the current church environment. Youths think that church is not having a positive influence on them. They are discontent with the adults in the church, especially with adult failure to live up to the truths they profess to believe.
Among the Indian Churches, one-third of the young people said they were dissatisfied with the current church environment. Youths think that church is not having a positive influence on them. They are discontent with the adults in the church, especially with adult failure to live up to the truths they profess to believe.
Among the mainline American churchs, seventy percent of the young people (23-30 years), are nowhere to be found in church on a regular basis for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22. They become church dropouts, according to a recent study from LifeWay Research. These students who attended a church at least twice a month for at least one year during high school are leaving the church, and most of them are doing so during their first year of college. The most frequent reasons for leaving church are: they simply wanted a break from church’ (27%); second, the path toward college (25%), and work responsibilities prevented me from attending’ (23%). An Assemblies of God study showed a loss of 66% of their students within one year of high school graduation. A Southern Baptist transition project estimates an 82% loss of youth within one year of high school graduation. These numbers are sad, disappointing and the church leadership and parents must pay attention to this negative trends. At the current pace, only 4% of America's teens will end up as Bible-believers, a sharp contrast to 35% of Boomers and 65% of Builders. Why? The Washington Times cites these facts: Many regard their church teachings as "irrelevant" to their daily lives. Going to church is perceived as a "time waster." Sermons are "bland" and uninspiring, especially to the highly educated. They do not address the most pressing concerns of congregants. Issues such as chastity, pornography, pre-marital sex, marital struggles, divorce, and workplace challenges aren't discussed in detail. In seeking to be inoffensive or entertaining, church leaders do not provide enough spiritual nourishment to sustain their most ardent believers. Many contemporary churches fail to foster deep communities of believers. Disconnected congregants are turning to more intimate house churches. Others, tired of poor Bible teachers, seek in-depth faith explorations by their own efforts or with kindred spirits. (Source: Lifeway Research, The Washington Times 9/21/08; Agape Partners Teen Survey).