According to a recently conducted (but as yet un-published) PCUSA committee study, 60% of our youth who attended youth group drop out of church (don't go to any ministry in college) when getting to college!
That's pretty shocking! What are we going to do about that?
BUT WAIT. THAT'S NOT ALL!
Of those 60% that do attend a college ministry....80% do not return to church!
That's worse than shocking. That's downright scary.
If that's the case, that means that less than 5% of our youth remain with out church after college. That is lower than the national death rate - so if you assume Presbyterians pass away at the national average of 6% of our population a year, even if no one chooses to leave our church during their adulthood, we are still losing members! (don't worry, our country at least is not shrinking - we reproduce at 7% a year. Whew.)
If you ask me, that is THE number one issue our church (church in general because these stats are actually pretty solid across denominational lines according to the study) faces. If we don't address that, all our other ministries and activities are moot as they can't survive long-term.
What do we do?
What are your thoughts?
Brian,
where did you get this info. What is your source for these figures. I'd like to see the study/research.
Posted by: Bob Pryor | 09/18/2009 at 09:15 PM
Hey Brian,
Just came across your blog at the PC(USA) website. I work at a Presbyterian non-profit, just a part time assistant though.
I would say the reason kids are leaving is that the church promises God but delivers what the rest of the world is already offering (I might say a deep and lifeless sentimentalism). Here is an example: lets imagine a youth group that has ten video game stations, a jukebox and coffee house, pool tables, their own bought and paid for rock band, and after those are enjoyed for two hours there is a half hour bible study on why you shouldn't have sex before marriage... which boils down to "The Bible says you shouldn't", but they never catch the who or what behind the Bible except that it has to do with this mysterious word "love" (and they miss this, probably, because the teacher doesn't know either, distractions aside). The secular world, on the other hand, offers many messages of love and fulfillment, lots of tantalizing entertainment, but with little, if any, moral obligation. That is a hard price to beat. Can you really have a meaningful and happy life without the church and her scruples?! Even if the world is only offering an illusion, that illusion is dangerously convincing (especially if the church is only offering a mockery of Christian faithfulness).
Now I don't mean to offend anyone. The culture we live in is convincing, even if the church be perfectly healthy, people would still be tempted to walk away. That's sin for you (and the Bible makes a great display of those who may be blood relatives of the church, but are by no means a part of Christ's family).
What I am saying is that the PC(USA) has not been faithful to her calling and that is where we start. When large percentages of a denomination start calling for abortion on demand, start questioning the validity of the Bible's clear testimony concerning sin, start allowing pagan culture to inform the worship of God rather than God's own Word and Spirit, continue to isolate from her prophets... do you see what I mean? When the church of God walks away from God, God stops being present. The Lord's great covenantal promise, to dwell among his people, includes those people taking him as their God. Forever.
When we return to the One God (Father, Son, and Spirit) God will return to our congregations. Then we will have bread to feed those hungry souls you mention. We don't need to compete with the culture to be louder, flashier, more exciting... we can not attract people to God by overpowering their natural passions (which, incidentally, favor sin). We need merely be faithful to God. Now, what that looks like is different to a lot of people, which is part of the problem. I'd go more into that, but I'll only add one last thing as this is only supposed to be a comment.
God commanded parents to raise their children in the way of the Lord, the youth group can not replace that by manufacturing a comfortable home environment or hang out spot. Kids love their parents and need their parents to love them with instruction, guidance, affection, relationship-building fun (not electronic ritalin), and most especially discipline (for a man without discipline is like a city without walls-Proverbs 25:28-no wonder the lying secular dream of happiness steals our children). How can they imagine and want a Heavenly Father without a godly father?
Anyway, thanks for posting that good question. I enjoy a good rant.
Posted by: Sean | 09/21/2009 at 11:30 AM
Thanks for your heartfelt comments.
I agree, a comfortable "fun" group without God at the center and worship/mission as integral components is nothing more than a group of young people gathering, enjoying each other and tacking on a Bible Study.
I am not going to debate where the PCUSA has lost it's way - but I do want to point out that no college ministries are succeeding in bringing in new Christians in numbers that replace those being lost.
The other fact is that those groups (non denomination or denominational that are showing growth) are A - attracting youth from other denominations significantly more than the un-churched and B - are growing at a time when college attendance is growing - but NOT growing at the rate of increase in students.
So percentage-wise - they are losing ground too!
So, I go back to my question - what do we do? (what I am saying is that though you make good points, the study also shows that the groups that stick to what you are espousing are losing ground too.)
Posted by: Brian Frick | 09/21/2009 at 04:56 PM
Great start to a stream here! Lets keep this debate going.
Took some more time to read and think about what Bob shared and I agree on more points than not. Fun with Bible teachings tacked on is not the way to the future - just as camp with go-carts tacked on is not the way to fulfill our mission to teach Christian community by living it - we might get more kids, but it is just pandering to the popular culture.
So what is the third way? The path less traveled? Who is growing faithfully?
Mission has a large part to play here I know - living who we are because God (through Jesus Christ) modeled that for us is a part (see Stony Point - Luke 6 Project and Faithful Feasting posts).
What more do folks have to share?
Posted by: Brian Frick | 11/03/2009 at 01:52 PM
The secular world, on the other hand, offers many messages of love and fulfillment, lots of tantalizing entertainment, but with little, if any, moral obligation.
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