A reflection around Young Adults and the Church

It's been always my question why young adults leave church, and who most of the time, do not even come back. The thing is that every child does not make choices on their own. Parents do that for them. It is even for that reason most of children born in Christian families find themselves in church attending Sunday schools and eventually going through confirmation, which they complete in most cases. They continue attending church until when they graduate from high school. Then, they are able to make choices by themselves.

The fact here is that from childhood to being senior in high school, there is not much exposure to other faiths, religious and spiritual experiences. Being at home with parents, the child is only limited to what is the family church tradition. Getting to college really takes the young person into a stage where they begin to question some of their church family traditions. In the end, it may even become unlikely for them to go back to their church family. In other words church being a child, a person only sees in grey and white, but when they get to college, they become able to see all the colors.

Another thing that someone raises as a reason why we do not have a lot of young adults in church is about a consumerist spirituality. This is an expectation to receive something back after I have offered myself in service. In other words, voluntarism for them has lost its meaning.

For most young adults, there is more leaning towards spituality than religion. Whatever has to do with tradition or ritual is likely not to help someone grow spiritually. As a result, you find more young adults in independent or non denominational churches rather than in the mainstream church. They would like something simplified. Anything casual and which goes right to the point is what more young adults look for. They're searching for anything informal and which uses their language. Something that addresses situations that relate to our current cultural contexts is what they seek.

Don't you think it is really a challenge to the church to reach out to this age group, which unfortunately, we don't find in our churches any more? It is our calling to find ways that will redefine church in a manner that will make sense to everyone. If the Church, especially the mainstream church, does not do anything to bring back these people, its future will never be bright. In 20 to 30 years, more than about 75 churches in the US will be likely to close.

Friends, this is what, I suggest we should do: we pray and ask for God's help and guidance; we learn more about young adult culture; and we act as to reach out to them!


Be blessed and encouraged!