Jeremy just posted this question in context to the discussion triggered from the last two blogs. Please read them and then the comments under them as you think about this question:
"I guess my question would be if the church isn't supposed to just focus on what what a particular generation wants, (which i agree it shouldn't) how does the church address the large departure of this 20 something generation from the church?"
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Culture pushes 20-somethings to leave the 'nest' and place value on independence. This, and a somewhat teenage sensibility in regards to older and even younger generations, leads a lot of 20-somethings to distance themselves from all but their own generation.
ReplyDeleteAs you have discussed, this is folly. I think the answer may be to instill a sense of responsibility for the next generation. It is very difficult to convince the young they are less wise than the old, but by giving responsibility for the younger to young adults, they tend to be more attached to the church. That is a trend I have noticed in my own church at least.
I think mega-churches in the metro area exclusive to young adults are evidence of this problem. The fact that they are able to draw such large numbers shows 20-somethings don't want to connect to other generations. It may be time to put an end to the young-only churches and build better ministries in the body that connect 20-somethings to the successors.
I have a strong opinion of why the 20-something have left the Church. And it has changed the way I do youth ministry. I am a youth pastor, have been for 28-years. In general, youth pastors have erred by providing a dynamic youth ministry but the youth ministry did not connect to main church. So teens had their passions for faith fed by the youth ministry and grew into strong believers. But when they went off to college/work/adulthood and had to leave the youth ministry, they were virtual strangers in the main church. Many of these who wanted to maintain their faith connected to college ministries or moved on to a mega-church young adult group. Some didn't want to connect with the faith of their childhood and just left the strangeness of their church.
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