Growing Young #1

Reality

Growing old is our default. It happens naturally. And inevitably. We see it when we look in the mirror or around our congregations.

Old isn’t bad. We should love old, but we should also believe that it isn’t the whole story.

If you’re like me, you look around and notice that there are empty seats and bare spots in leadership where young people could and should be. Maybe even where they used to be.

Numerical Decline

The reality is most churches are not growing, or getting any younger.

According to a Pew Research Center survey, adults in the US who identify as Christians fell from 78% to 71% from 2007-2014

The was also a jump in those who are “religiously unaffiliated” jumped by almost 7 points from 16 to 23%

In the US mainline protestant adult numbers slid by 5 million people.

That’s just shy of the entire population of Philadelphia, Phoenix and Houston combined!

No major tradition in the US is growing. A few denominations are managing to hold steady, but that’s as good as it gets.

Aging Congregations

in 2015 US Census Bureau data showed that adults 18-29 comprised 17 percent of the adult population, but less than 10% of church attendees nationwide.

Young Latinos, one of the fastest growing ethnicities in the US saw a drop in young people ages 18-29 identifying as Roman Catholic from 60% to 45%, and “religiously unaffiliated” skyrocketed from 14% to 31% from 2010 to 2013. Three years!

Another fast growing group in the US, Asian Americans, is struggling as well. Asian Americans are 7% more likely to be “religiously unaffiliated” than the rest of the general population.

The turning point was high school graduation. 40-50% of the graduating seniors who follow Christ will drift from God after they graduate from high school.

What you don’t need

A precise size

A trendy location or region

If you care about young people, this video series and the growing young material is for you and your leadership team.

An exact age

A popular denomination… or lack of denomonination

An off-the-charts cool quotient

A big, modern building

A big budget

A “contemporary” worship service

A watered-down teaching style

A hyper-entertaining ministry program

Preview: 6 strategies

Unlock Keychain Leadership: Instead of centralizing authority, empower others-especially young people.

Empathize with today’s young people: Instead of judging or criticizing, step into the shoes of this generation.

Take Jesus’ message seriously: Instead of asserting formulaic gospel claims, welcome young people into a Jesus-centered way of life.

Fuel a warm community: Instead of focusing on cool worship or programs, aim for warm peer and intergenerational friendships.

Prioritize young people (and families) everywhere: Instead of giving lip service to how much young people matter, look for creative ways to tangibly support, resource, and involve them in all facets of your congregation.

Be the best neighbors: Instead of condemning the world outside your walls, enable young people to neighbor well locally and globally.

Questions for Application:

What part of the research hits you the hardest, and why?

Which of the ten things your church doesn’t need, do you tend to believe you DO need?

Which of the 6 strategies do you believe your already good at as a community?

You can find more information about this research and resources for your leadership team at:

churchesgrowingyoung.com

“Growing Young” by Kara Powell, Brad Griffin, Jake Mulder.