Over the summer I have spent a significant amount of time reading about statistical findings on youth and religion. In addition to the books that were reporting these statistics, I spent time reading and interacting with books and articles that we attempting to interpret the statistics and offer possible solutions and remedies to the problem. The "issues" that showed itself time and time again was the incredible rate by which young people leave the church just prior to, or just after high school graduation. I knew the statistics were accurate as I recalled in my mind all the students that I have worked with over the years, and figuring out who was connected with a local church and who wasn't. The statistics are depressing.
One of the books that I read that was working on interpreting the findings suggested that one of the reasons young people are leaving the church as such alarming rates is because they do not feel that they are connected to the church body. On Sunday morning at sunday school I was talking with a group of about 15 students. We were talking about the body of Christ, and that we all have a role to play. I asked the question, "Do you feel that you are a part of the body of Christ at NIBC (the church that I am currently at)? After a lot of silence, one girl answered the question by saying, "No I don't feel like I am a part of the body of Christ here, because I feel that if I were I would be missed if I left, and I don't think any would miss me or care if I left." As she answered the question I could see her answers resonating with everyone else in the room. I asked who else felt the same. Every single hand in the room went up. It broke my heart, and opened my eyes wide to a massive problem that we have at NIBC and I would guess the vast majority of churches in America.
THIS HAS TO CHANGE.
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