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LosingOurJoy:TheImpactofFearonStudentMinistries

MarkCannisterGordonCollege,Wenham,MA

Abstract:SincethePewResearchCenterreleasedtheir2015reportAmerica’sChanging

ReligiousLandscapethestorylinesofresearchontheAmericanchurchhavebeendiscouraging.

LifeWayResearchreportsanincreasednumberofteenagersdroppingoutofthechurchand

Gallupresearchclaimsthatchurchmembershiphasdroppedsignificantly.Theriseofthe

“nones”(peoplewhoclaimnoreligiousaffiliation);theincreasing“dropout”rateofyoung

people;andthedecreaseinchurchmembershiphavecreatedastorylineoffearthathas

becomethemantraofministryinthechurchtochildren,youth,andfamilies.

Churchleadersalwaysstruggletonavigatecompetingvaluesandrarelylackvoices

lobbyingforwhatthepeoplewant,especiallywhenthosevoicesareparentsofteenagers.But

aretheanxietiesofparentsandchurchleadersvalid?Hasourecclesialresponsetothese

researchreportsbeenhealthy?Istherecontraryresearchtobeexaminedandotherstoriesto

beconveyed?Thispaperanalyzestheinterpretationofrecentresearchonthechurchandhow

thisstorylineoffear,regardlessofthevalidlyofsuchresearch,hascausedaseismicshiftinthe

valuesofchurch-basedstudentministry,withparticularattentiongiventothelossofthevalue

ofoutreachtounchurchedteenagers.

Introduction

Thepasttwoyearshavebeenfilledwithupsets,comebacks,andsurprises.TheCleveland

Indiansralliedfromthreegamestoonedeficittowinthe2016WorldSeries.Justafewweeks

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latertheworldwatchedasDonaldTrumpdefiedalltheoddsmakers,pollsters,andmedia

punditstowintheUSpresidencyinoneofthegreatestpoliticalupsetsinhistory.TheNew

EnglandPatriotsexecutedthegreatestcomebackinsportsinthe2017SuperBowl,onlytobe

upsetbyPhiladelphia’sunlikelybackupquarterbackNickFolesinthe2018SuperBowl.

Everyonethoughtthe2017OscarforbestpicturewenttoLaLaLand,buttheannouncement

wasamistake,thebestwasactually—Moonlight.Surprise!

Manyarepredictingthefutureofyouthministrywithgreatconfidence.Willthe

prognosticationscometrue?Willyouthministrydeliveranupset,acomeback,orasurpriseas

shockingaswehaverecentlyexperiencedinsport,politics,andentertainment?Thefutureof

youthministrymaybefarmoreuncertainthatwerealize.Thisarticlestrivestoexploreyouth

ministrypast,present,andfutureinthehopeofsheddinglightonavarietyofpossibilitiesas

youthministrycontinuestounfoldinthetwenty-firstcentury.

SurveysofFear

Youthministryhasturnedtowardprotectionismoutoffearandfearisthelynchpinofa

consumerculturethatthrivesoncapitalism.TheheartbeatofAmericahasbeencapitalismfora

verylongtimeandcentraltocapitalismisthedrivetosellproduct,andproductissoldthrough

advertising.

Inthelastfiftyyearsadvertisinghasbecomehighlysophisticatedandcompaniesnowgoto

greatlengthsinresearchingthemosteffectiveavenuesofmarketingaproducttoproducethe

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greatestreturnontheirinvestment.Yet,themainformulaofadvertisinghaschangedverylittle

overtheyears.Instillfearoffailureinpeople,thenassurethemyourproductwillprovide

success.Youhavebadbreath,wehavethemouthwashforyou!Everyoneislaughingatthatold

caryouaredriving,wehaveanewcarthatwillmakeyoutheenvyoftheneighborhood.You

don’thaveanyfriends,wearourclothingandyouwillbepopular.Itisallaboutthefearof

failure.Thefearlookinggoodenough,havingenoughfriends,succeedinginbusiness,thrivingin

arelationship,orparentingwellenoughallpushustowardproductsthatmighthelpusbe

successfulineveryareaoflife.

Therefore,theself-helpbookindustryhasexplodedinthelastfewdecades.Ifyouhavea

problemthereisabookoraseminarwith10-stepstoHappiness,SuccessinBusiness,Healthy

Living,AHappyFamily,PositiveParenting,FaithfulDiscipleship,etc.andtheChristian

communityisnotimmunetothismarketing.Infact,Christianitycontributessignificantlytothe

fearfactorofadvertising,becausefearsells.Nooneisgoingtopurchaseabookentitled:The

ChurchisAliveandWellinAmerica.But,everypastorwillpurchasethebooktitled:TheChurch

isDying:10WaystoKeepYoursAlive.FEAR—“Ohno,churchesaredyingallaroundmeandI

fearthatminemightdienext.Wemustmasterthe10-Stepstokeepourchurchalive!”

Thelatestfearfactortogainsignificanttractioninthechurchhasbeenthefearoflosingour

children.Churchleadersarebeingtoldthatyoungpeopleareleavingthechurchindrovesand

theyfearthatthechurchwillbecomeextinctandourchildrenwillnothavefaithifwedon’t–

focusallourattentiononourchildren,usetherightcurriculum,trainourvolunteersproperly,

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improveourparenteducation,etc.But,isthefearfactorthatisdrivinguslegitimate?Arethe

surveysthatproducethefearaccurate?Doestheresearchgenuinelywarrantthefearful

response?

ConsiderRecentResearch

TheDecreasingChristianPopulation

Kosmin,Mayer,andKeysar(2001)foundthatthenumberofnon-ChristiansinAmerica

increasedonlyslightlybetween1990and2001fromabout5.8milliontoabout7.6million;

growingfrom3.3%toabout3.7%oftheAmericanadultpopulation.Yet,asignificantincrease

wasfoundamongadultswhodonotsubscribetoanyreligiousidentification.Thosewhodo

notaffiliatewithaparticularreligiousgroupmorethandoubledfrom14.3millionin1990to

29.4millionin2001;growingfrom8%to14%oftheAmericanadultpopulation.

ThePewResearchCenter(2015)foundthattheadultsdescribingthemselvesasChristians

decreased7.8%from78.4%intheir2007surveyto70.6%intheir2014survey.Overthesame

timeperiod,theyfoundanincreaseamongadultswhodonotsubscribetoanyreligious

identification.ThenumberofAmericanadultswhoclaimedtobereligiouslyunaffiliated

increased6.7%;growingfrom16.1%to22.8%oftheAmericanadultpopulation.Pewclaims

thatthekeyissueisthegrowthofthereligiouslyunaffiliatedisgenerationalreplacement.

Millennialsseemtodisplaymuchlowerlevelsofreligiousaffiliation,thanpreviousgenerations

as36%ofyoungerMillennials(ages18to24)werereligiouslyunaffiliated,while34%ofolder

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Millennials(ages25to33)werereligiouslyunaffiliated.InconcertwithMillennialaffiliationthe

medianageofunaffiliatedadultshasdroppedtoage36,downfromage38in2007.

In2016(ChoosinganewhouseofWorship)Pewsurveyedreligiousreligiouslyunaffiliated

adultswhoclaimedtoberaisedinaparticularreligionbeforesheddingtheirreligiousidentity

inadulthood.Thestudysoughttodiscoverthereasonsthatthesepeoplenolongeridentified

withareligiousgroup.About50%citedsomeformoflackofbeliefincludingwhattheyfeltwas

aconflictbetweenscienceandreligion,aswellasthelackofevidencetheyfoundforbelieving

inGod.About20%hadcometoopposedorganizedreligioningeneralduetothehierarchical

natureofreligionsgroups,religionbecomingtoomuchlikeabusiness,andtheongoingsexual

abusescandalsinvolvingministers.

About18%oftheunaffiliatedsaidjustunsureaboutreligion.Theyclaimedtostillbereligiousin

somemanner,despitebeingunaffiliatedwithanyreligiousgroup.Somesaidtheybelievein

God,butintheirownmay;otherswereseekingenlightenmentoropen-minded;andmany

claimedtobespiritualbutnotreligious.About10%claimtoholdcertainreligiousbeliefs,but

don’tparticipateinanyreligiouspractices,confirmingthattheynolongerattendchurchor

otherreligiousactivities,orthattheyweresimplytoobusytoparticipateinreligiousactivities.

ConfirmingthisgenerationalshiftCooper,Cox,Lienesch,Jones(2016)foundthat39%ofyoung

adults(ages18-29)arereligiouslyunaffiliated,whichisthreetimestheunaffiliatedrate(13%)

amongsenioradults65andolder.In1986only10%ofyoungadultsclaimedtobereligiously

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unaffiliatedcomparedto39%today,afour-foldincreaseintheyoungadultswhoarereligiously

unaffiliated.Threedistinctgroupswereidentifiedamongtheunaffiliated:Rejectionists,

Apatheists,andUnattachedBelievers.Themajority(58%)wererejectionists,whobelievedthat

religionwasnotpersonallyimportantintheirlivesandwithinsocietyreligionismoreharmful

thanhelpful.Theapatheists(22%)claimedthatreligionwasnotpersonallyimportant,but

withinsocietyreligionismorehelpfulthanhelpful.Thoseconsideredunattachedbelievers

(18%)declaredthatreligionwasimportanttothempersonally,buttheywerenotinterestedin

organizedreligion.

Additionally,thisstudyfoundthat79%percentofyoungadults(age18to29)whobecome

religiouslyunaffiliatedclaimtomakethisdecisionasteenagers.Hence,todaymostpeoplewho

leavetheirchildhoodreligiondosobeforereachingadulthood.Inpreviousgenerationsthose

whoabandonreligiousbeliefhavedonesomuchlaterasevidencesbyreportsthatonly38%of

senioradults(65+)claimtohaveabandonedtheirreligionbeforereachingadulthood.

Newport(2015)reportedthatAmericaremainsapredominantlyChristiannation,with75%of

adultsidentifyingasChristiansandover90%Christianrepresentationamongthosewhosay

theyareamemberofanykindofreligion.Hefurtherassertsthat,whileAmericansincreasingly

claimtheynoformalreligiousidentificationandthoseidentifyingasChristiansdecreasedfrom

80%in2008nosignificantchangeoccurredbetween2008and2015.

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AyearlaterNewport(2016)reportedfurtheronreligiousaffiliationofAmericans,74%ofwhom

identifyasChristiansand5%identifyingwithanon-Christianreligion.Theremaining21%of

theadultpopulationeitherclaimnoformalreligiousidentityordidnotrespondtothe

question.NewportclaimsthatAmericans,whilestillreligiousarelosingtheirformalreligious

identity.Newportreportsthatbetween2008and2016thenumberofAmericanadultsthat

claimnoformalreligiousaffiliationhasincreased6%;whilethenumberofpeopleclaiming

affiliationwithanon-Christianreligionhasremainedconstantat5%ofAmericanadults.Hence,

theshiftinaffiliationseemstobeamongChristians,ratherthanreligiouspeopleingeneral.

Whilechurchmembershiphasdeclinedsignificantly(Newport,2015)inthepasttwodecades

from70%in1998toanall-timelowof54%in2015andslightlyup2016at56%reportsof

attendanceatchurches,synagogues,andmosquesdecreasedonlyabout4%overthesame

timeperiod.Further,NewportreportedthattheimportanceofreligioninthelivesofAmerican

adultshasremainedconsistentlyinthemid-50%areaoverthepastforty-years.

The2016and2017Gallupreports(Newport)seemtobeconfirmedbySchnabelandBock

(2017)intheiranalysisofsociologicalstudiesonreligionfor1989through2016.Theyfound

thatAmericansstronglyaffiliatedwithreligionhadnotchangedsignificantlyoverthattime

period,representing36%ofAmericanadults.Atthesametimethosewithmodestaffiliation

(butnotstrong)declinedabout16%,whilethosewithnoaffiliationatallincreasedabout14%.

“Becausestrongaffiliationremainsstablewhileweakeraffiliationshavedeclined,thosewitha

strongaffiliationactuallymakeupalargershareoftheaffiliatedpopulationovertime.”(p.688)

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Likewise,thosewhoattendchurchmultipletimesaweekremainedunchangedat8%,while

thosewhoneverattendchurchincreasedabout11%andthosewhoattendchurchsometimes

droppedabout10%.Whilecasualattendershavebecomeneverattendersthecommitted

attendersremaincommittedandattendfaithfully.

Further,thenumberofpeoplewhoidentifyas“Evangelical”hasremainedsomewhatsteady

duringthistimeframe,atapproximately29%.Thenumberofpeoplewhoidentifyashavinga

“Non-Evangelical”affiliationisdownfromapproximately66%to51%.Thenumberofpeople

whosaytheyhavenoreligiousaffiliationisupfromapproximately8%to23%duringthissame

timeframe.

So,wecanseethatthedataisrathermixed.Thosewhohavestrongfaithcommitmentsremain

committedandactiveinthechurch,whilemorecasualchurchgoeshavefallenbythewayside.

Anotherimportantconsiderationisreadingdataofattendancepatternsagainstdataof

affiliationclaims.Whilemorepeopletodayclaimtobeunaffiliatedwithareligiousgroupthe

numberofpeopleattendingchurchorsynagogueeachweekendhasremainedrather

unchangedoverseveraldecades.Coulditbethatwhileaperson’sattendancepatternhasnot

changesovertheyearsthattheirfeelingsaboutaffiliationhavechangedsignificantly?Perhaps

thosewhoclaimedaffiliationadecadeagodidsooutoffamilyheritageeventhoughtheyrarely

attendedchurch,butwithachangingculturetodaytheyfeelfreetodeclarethattheydon’t

affiliatewithanyreligionandtheirchurchattendancepatternhasremainedthesame.Perhaps

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somewhowerefaithfulattendersadecadeagoandaffiliatedwithaparticulardenomination

arestillfaithfulattenders,butnolongerfeelalignedwithadenominationorparticularreligions

group.ForthemChristianfaithhasbecomeaboutJesusandnotorganizedreligion.They

embraceJesus,whileshunningreligionandbecomelabeleda“none.”

TheSecularizationofYoungAdults

Muchhasbeenwrittenabouttheflightofyoungpeoplefromthelocalchurchandtheorigins

ofthisstreamofpontificationmayrightlybefoundintheresearchoftheNationalStudyof

YouthandReligionleadbyChristianSmithandpublishedinSoulSearching:TheReligiousand

SpiritualLivesofAmericanTeenager(2005).Thislandmarkstudyfoundthatteenagersare

inarticulateabouttheirfaithandthedefactoreligionamongteenagersiswhatSmithdescribed

as‘MoralisticTherapeuticDeism.’Godisadeitywhocreatedandorderstheworldandwatches

overhumanlifeonearth;Godwantsmoralpeoplewhoaregood,nice,andfairtoeachother;

Goddoesnotneedtobeparticularlyinvolvedinone’slifeexceptwhenGodisneededto

resolveaproblemorprovidecomforttothoseinpain.

KendaDeanfollowedonSmith’slineofthinkinginAlmostChristian:WhattheFaithofOur

TeenagersisTellingtheAmericanChurch(2010)suggestingthatteenagerslackofagenuine

faithmaybeduetoahollowandsuperficialformoffaiththatadultshaveconveyedto

teenagersinrecentdecades.Teenagerstransitioningfromhighschooltocollegesimplyhave

notdevelopedafaiththatisabletowithstandtheinfluenceofthesecularenvironmentthatis

themodernuniversity.

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ThislineofthinkingseemstobeconfirmedbytheLigonierMinistriesandLifewayResearch

seemedtoaffirmDean’sthinkinginTheStateofTheology(2015)report,whichsurveyed

theologicalbeliefsofyoungadult.Self-describedChristiansrespondedtoaseriesofstatements

relatedtoreformedChristiandoctrine.Thosebetween18and34yearsofageconsistentlyheld

hereticalviews(inthereformedtradition)atahigherpercentagethanolderrespondents.

ConcludingthatyoungpeoplewhoidentifythemselvesasChristiansarefarmorelikelytohold

viewsthataren’tChristian.

Theresultsofthissurveyarenotsurprisingconsideringtheincreasingliberalbiasatcolleges

anduniversities.Rothman,Lichter,andNevitte(2005)reportedthat72%offacultydescribe

themselvesaspoliticallyliberalinthe1999NorthAmericanAcademicStudySurvey,whichwas

anincreaseof39%froma1984CarnegieFoundationstudy.Inaddition,GrossandSimmons

(2006)foundthat25%offacultyclaimtobeatheistsoragnostics(whilethisisthecaseforonly

about6%ofthegeneralpopulation)andamere6%offacultybelievethattheBibleistheword

ofGod.Themajority(51%)describedtheBibleasfables,legends,historyormorallessons.And

thatoffaculty,75%believereligiondoesnotbelonginpublicschools.

Studentsenteringthesecularcultureoftheuniversitydonottendtocontinueattendingchurch

astheydidinhighschool.Astin,Astin,andLindholmfoundthat52%ofcollegestudentclaimed

toattendchurchfrequentlytheyearbeforeenteringcollegebutonly29%continuedwiththe

samelevelofchurchattendancebytheirjunioryearincollege.Thesecularatmosphereofthe

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universityseemedtohaveastronginfluenceontherelevanceofchurchattendanceand

collegestudentsraisedinthechurchdidnotseemtohaveafaiththatwasstrongenoughto

resistswayofthesecularuniversity.

YoungPeopleLeavingtheChurchandLosingTheirFaith

Bisset(1997)interviewedteenagerswhomheidentifiedashavingabandonedtheirfaithand

identifiedfourreasonsthatemergedfromtheresearch.1.)Teenagershadtroubling,

unansweredquestionsaboutthefaith;2.)theyfeltthattheirfaithwasnotworkingforthem;

3.)theyallowedotherthingstotakepriorityinlife;4.)theyneverpersonallyownedtheirfaith.

SmithandDenton(2005)similarlyfoundthatstudentsoftenleavefaithbehindbecauseof

doubtsandskepticism.Whenaskedwhytheyfallawayfromthefaithinwhichtheywere

raised,nearlyone-thirdclaimeditwasbecauseofintellectualskepticismordoubt.

Thelastreasonmaybeseenasencompassingthefirstthreereasonsascomingtoownone’s

faithrequiresworkingthroughthedifficultquestionsandcomingtoacceptthatthereis

mysteryinthelifeoffaithasnotallquestionscanbefullyanswered.Ownershipalsoinvolves

anunderstandingoffaithasarelationshipwithChristandthecommunityoffaithwhichisa

priorityandnotacommoditytoserveone’sowninterests.Hence,theconclusionofthisstudy

isthatstudentswhoabandontheirfaitharestudentswhoneverpersonallyownedtheirfaith.

Whichbegsthequestion:Canyouabandonsomethingthatyouneverowned?Perhapsthese

studentsdidn’tabandonthefaithasmuchastheyneverfullyadoptedthefaith.

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HamandBeemer(2009)surveyed1,000youngadultsages20-29whowereraisedinthechurch

bywerenolongerengagedinalocalchurch.Theresponsestothesurveytoldastoryofthe

churchlosingherchildrenlongbeforetheygraduatedfromhighschool.Theconclusionofthis

researchwasthatwhilechildrenareparticipatinginchurchactivitiestheyarenotdevelopinga

meaningfulfaiththattheyownforthemselvesbythetimetheygraduatefromhighschool.

Whichistosay,youngpeoplearenotleavingthefaith,theyaresimplyleavingchurchactivities

behindinfavorofotheractivitiesthatbecomemoremeaningfulastheygrow-up.

The2017CIRPFreshmenSurveyoffreshmanstudentsat184Americancollegesanduniversities

revealedthat31%ofincomingfreshmenarereligiouslyunaffiliated.Thismarksathreefold

increasesince1986,whenjust10%identifiedasreligiouslyunaffiliated.Thissurveyis

administeredtostudentsbeforestudentsleaveforcollege,confirmingtheresearchofHamand

Beemer(2009)thatthedeclineofreligiousidentityisoccurringbeforestudentsgraduatefrom

highschool.

TheBarnaGroup(2006)foundthatteenagerstendtoembraceexperimentationwith

spirituality,butthendisengageintheirtwenties.Theirsurveydiscoveredthat50%ofteenagers

attendachurch-relatedactivityinatypicalweekand60%attendatleastonechurchyouth

meetingduringatypicalthree-monthperiod.Morethan75%saytheydiscussfaithwithfriends

and33%ofclaimtohaveparticipatedinaschool-basedChristianclubatsomepointduringthe

schoolyear.Further,morethan89%ofteenagerssaytheyhaveattendedachurchforaperiod

ofatleasttwomonthsduringtheirteenageyears.

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However,insurveyingtwentysomethings61%ofthemclaimtohavebeenchurchedatone

pointintheirlife,butarenowspirituallydisengaged.Barnafoundthatonly20%of

twentysomethingshavemaintainedalevelofspiritualactivityconsistentwiththeirhighschool

experiences.Another(19%)wereneversignificantlyengagedduringtheirteenageyearsand

haveremaineddisconnectedfromtheChristianfaith.Atthesametime78%of

twentysomethingssaytheyareChristians,butcannotfindalocalchurchtohelpthemintheir

faithjourney.Theyarealsounlikelytobelievethataperson’sfaithismeanttobedevelopedin

alocalchurch.BasedonthisresearchDavidKinnamanconcludesthatthechurchinnot

offeringaministrytoteenagersthatcreatesasustainablefaithbeyondhighschool.Onceagain

onemustaskwhatitmeanstohavefaithandthendisengagefromit.Inthisstudyfaithwas

definedasattendingchurchactivitiesaslittleasonceeverythreemonthsoraschool-based

Christianclubatleastonceayear,orchurchforatleasttwomonths.Thenthestudyclaimsthat

twentysomethingsarenotattendingasoften.Whatistherelationshipofattendancetofaith?

Didthestudentswhowereattendingatteenshavefaithandnolongerhavefaithnowthatthey

arenotattendingintheirtwenties?Coulditbethattheyneverownedfaithintheirteensand

weresimplyexperimentingorhangingoutwithfriends?LifeWayResearch(2007)foundthat

70%ofyoungadultsages23-30stoppedattendingchurchregularlyforatleastayearbetween

ages18-22.Only20%ofthese“dropouts”agreedthatwhiletheywereattendingchurch

regularlyinhighschoolthattheyfullyintendedtotakeabreakfromchurchafterhighschool.

Theseyoungpeoplefurtherclaimedthattheyremainedinvolvedinchurchactivities

throughouthighschooltoavoiddisappointingtheirparentsandmaintainingtheirfriends.

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Otherswhodisengagedfromchurchactivitiescitedlifechangesandworkresponsibilitiesas

reasonsforleavingchurchactivitiesbehand.Whilethisresearchfoundthat70%ofyoung

peopledisengagedfromthechurchafterhighschool,theyalsoreportedthat35%ofthem

wouldeventuallyreturntothechurch.

TheFullerYouthInstituteseemedtopaintamoreaccuratepictureofwhatishappeningwith

Christianstudentsasthenentercollegeintheir2010CollegeTransitionresearchand2011

StickyFaithresearchthatnearlyhalfofstudentactivelyengagedinhighschoolchurch

ministriesstrugglewiththeirfaithincollege.Studentsseemedtolackthecharacteristics

necessaryfortheirfaithtocontinuedevelopinginthecollegeenvironment.

TheBarnaResearchGroup(2018)foundthatamong13-to18-year-olds59%ofstudents

IdentifyasChristianorCatholic(16%lowerthanolderadults),21%saytheyareatheistor

agnostic(nearlytwiceasmanyasolderadults),and14%saytheyhavenoreligiousaffiliation

(5%higherthanolderadults).

WhilesomestudentsinthisagegroupfindithardtobelieveGodwouldallowsomuch

sufferingintheworld(29%),thatChristiansarehypocrites(23%),andsciencerefutesmuchof

theBible(20%)theyalsobelievethattheanswerstofindingmeaninginlifearefoundinchurch

(82%),thatchurchisrelevanttotheirlives(82%),thattheycanbeauthenticallythemselvesat

church(77%),andthatpeopleinchurcharetolerantofothers(63%).

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Further,studentwhohaveanegativepersecutionofthechurchdeclarethatitisbecausethe

churchrejectscience(49%),isoverprotectiveofteenagers(38%),andisnotasafeplaceto

expressdoubts(27%).

Overthecourseoftheirthirty-fiveyearstudy,Bengtson,Putney,andHarris(2013)found

parentstobethesinglegreatestinfluenceontheirchildren’sfaithandthatchildrenwho

observefaithismakingadifferenceintheirparent’slivesaremuchmorelikelytofollowinthe

faiththemselves.TheyalsofoundthatchildrenofChristianparentsaremorelikelytoshare

theirparent’sfaithwhentheyhaveacloserelationshipwiththeirparents.Perhapsmost

importantwasthediscoverthatoverthirty-fiveyearsthoseyoungChristianswhomovedaway

fromthefaithwerefarmorelikelytoreturntothechurch,whenparentshadbeenpatientand

supportiveoftheirchild’stimeofexploration.

ABarnaResearchstudy(2013)concludedthatthemosteffectivewaystokeepmillennials

connectedtothechurchwasto:1.Developmeaningfulrelationshipswithmillennials;2.Teach

millennialstostudyanddiscernwhat’shappeningintheculture;3.Helpmillennialsdiscover

theirownmissionintheworld,ratherthanaskthemtowaittheirturn;4.Teachmillennialsa

morepotenttheologyofvocation,orcalling,and;5.Helpmillennialsdevelopalastingfaithby

facilitatingadeepersenseofintimacywithGod.

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CanoeingtheMountains

Inhisbrilliantbookonchurchleadership,CanoeingtheMountains,TodBolsingercomparedthe

challengesofthecontemporarychurchwiththechallengesofLewisandClark’sexpeditionto

discovertheNorthwestPassage—awaterrouteconnectingtheMississippiRivertothePacific

Ocean.Afterfifteenmonthsofnavigatingtheriversbycanoeandbelievingthattheyhadfound

theallusivewaterroutetothePacificOcean,LewisandClarkwerestunnedtorealizetherewas

nothingaheadofthembutmountains.Therewasnowaterroutetotheocean.Thelandscape

hadchangedandtheyhadtoabandontheircanoes,abandontheirplans,changetheir

expectations,letgooftheirassumptions,andtravelbyfootandhorseback.

Bolsingerusesthismetaphortounpacktheleadershipchangesnecessaryasthechurch

encountersachanginglandscapeandneedingtoadaptitsapproach,ifitistocontinuethe

ecclesialjourneythroughthe21stcentury.Thisisanexcellentbookforanyoneconcernedwith

churchleadership,butnometaphorisperfect.Theveryproblemwiththismetaphoroffersa

mirrorintotheissuesfacingthechurchtoday.WhenLewisandClarkreachedLemhiPassand

sawthemountainstothewesttheyknewinstantlythattheirplanshadtochangeiftheywere

toreachtheocean.Inministry,thelandscapeneverchangessoabruptly.Culturalchange

occursgraduallyandincrementallyovertime.LewisandClarkrecognizedtheirneedforchange

inamomentastheyfacedthemountains,yetoneofthegreatestchallengesofthechurchis

recognizingtheneedforchange.Weusewordslike“fads”and“trends”todescribechanges

thatwebelievearetemporaryandwestruggletorecognizetherealchangessetbeforeus.

WhileLewisandClarkhasnosuchdifficultyastheirlandscapechangedrightinfrontoftheir

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eyesatLemhiPass.Yet,wetendtoromanticizethepastandbelievethatwecanmoveforward

bylookingbackward.While,thereisnothinginherentlywrongwithdescribingfadsandtrends,

andlookingtoourpasttoconsiderourfuture,itdemonstratesthedifficultyofrecognizingthe

truechangesinthelandscape.

AnotherproblemwiththemetaphorthatprovidesinsightsforusisthatLewisandClarkleadan

expeditionknownastheCorpsofDiscoverythatwascomprisedofaboutthreedozenmen.This

wasasmallgroupoflikemindedmenwhowererelativelycloseinage,committedtoasingle

mission,andcommissionedinanauthoritarianmilitarysystem.WhenCaptainMeriwether

LewisandSecondLieutenantWilliamClarkrecognizedthechanginglandscape,andgavetheUS

ArmyCorpsofDiscoveryorderstoabandonthecanoes,setoutonfoot,andlocatesome

horses,therewasnopush-back.Everyonefollowedordersasthishomogeneousgroupwas

committedtothemission,respectedtheleadership,andunderstoodmilitaryprotocolof

followingorders.

EventhemosthomogeneouschurcheshavegreaterdiversitythantheCorpsofDiscoveryand

fewchurchesemploysuchanauthoritarianmodelofleadershipasthemilitary.Oncechurch

leadershiprecognizesthechanginglandscapetheymustcommunicatevision,planincremental

change,andconvincethecongregationtoembracechange.Whatmakesthisevenmore

challengingthaninthepastisthatthetypicalcongregationtodayiscomprisedoffourunique

generationseachofwhichholddifferentvalues.Whatwasonceconsideredthenormallength

ofageneration,twenty-years,hasshrunktofifteen-yearscreatingacompressionofthe

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generations.InatypicalchurchtodayweseeasignificantnumberofBabyBoomers(54-74),

GenXers(38-53),Millenials(23-37),andScreeners(7-22),withahandfulofelderlyfolksfrom

thesilentandgreatestgeneration(75+)whoarestillsignificantlyengagedinthelifeofthe

church.OurcongregationsarefarmorediversethantheCorpsofDiscoveryandthechallenge

ofcastingvisionacrossfourormoregenerationstoinfluencechangecanbedaunting.

Thegreatestchallengeofcourseistorecognizetherealchangeandcastthemostappropriate

visioninresponse.Basedonthedata,muchofwhichisconflicting,thechangeisnotsomuch

thatwearelosingyoungpeopleatagreaterratethaninthepast.Thechangeisthatwehave

createdacultureoffearinthechurchthatisturningthechurchinwardaswewronglycast

visionforprotectingandkeepingthosegrowingupinthechurchwithinthewallsofthechurch

tothedetrimentofreachingouttothosebeyondthewallsofthechurch.

TheMissionoftheMissionalChurch

PastorandformerseminarypresidentJamesWhite(2018)recentlyreflectedonthechangein

namefromDunkin’DonutstojustDunkin’.”

TheNewEnglandbasedcompanymadethechangerecentlybecausemorethanhalfoftheir

salesarenowfromcoffeeandotherbeverages.Theyarenolongerjustadonutcompany

anymore.Priorto2011StarbuckswasknownasStarbucksCoffee,buttheytoorecognizedthat

theircompanynameneededtocommunicatesomethinglargerthancoffeeandbecamesimply

Starbucks.

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Understandingone’smissionisoftendonethroughtheretellingoftheofttoldstoryofthe

railroadbaronsofthelate1800’swhoapparentlyignoredthedevelopmentoftheautomobile.

Withamonopolyontransportingbothgoodsandpeoplethroughoutthecountryandthebelief

thatthatpeoplewouldownpersonalautomobilestheleadersoftherailroadsignoredthenew

invention.Astheautomotiverevolutiondevelopedtherailroadownersdeclaredthattheywere

intherailroadbusinessandnothingwouldthreatentheirsuccess—especiallythenoveltyofthe

automobile.

However,thetychoonsofthetrainindustrydidnotunderstandtheirtruebusiness.They

thoughttheywereintherailroadbusiness.But,theywerereallyinthetransportationbusiness.

Timeandopportunitypassedthembyastheycouldnotseetheirtruemission.

Whiteraisestheprovocativequestion:“ifDunkin’isn’tinthedonutbusinessbutthefoodand

beveragebusiness…whataboutthechurch?Well,you’renotintheSundaySchoolbusiness,

theAwanabusiness,theUpwardSportsbusiness,theMen’sFraternitybusiness,theCatalyst

business,oranyotherprogrammaticbusiness.Let’sgofurther:you’renotinthesmallgroup

business,women’sministrybusiness,men’sministrybusinessoranyothersub-ministry

business.Allofthesemaybewellandgoodandhelpful,buttheyarenotyourbusinessand

shouldnotbetreatedassuch.”

Ifourmissionisnotdefinedbyourprogramsthatwhatisourmission?Whitedeclares:“You

20

areinthebusinessofevangelizingthelost,assimilatingtheevangelized,disciplingthe

assimilatedandunleashingthediscipled.It’sbeenthatwayfornearly2,000years.”

TwodecadesagooneofthefoundersofYouthSpecialties,MikeYaconelli(1997)commented

onthemissionconfusioninyouthministrydeclaring:“Letmetellyouwhatyouthministryisall

about.ItisaboutbringingkidsintothepresenceofJesusChrist.Wearenotsocialworkers.We

arenotcounselors.Wearenotfamilyfixer-uppers.Wearenotpeoplewhoputon

performancesforkids.Wearenotprogrammers.Wearejustpeoplewholovekidsandwho

loveJesusandwhowantkidstoknowaboutJesus.What’swhatwe’reallabout.That’swhat

wedo.”AndwhoaretheteenagersmostinneedofbeingbroughtintothepresenceofJesus

Christ?TheyareteenagerslivingoutsidethewallsofthechurchfarfromGodineveryrespect.

Whilethechurchisresponsibleforteachingparentstoraisetheirchildreninthefaithandto

comealongsideparentsindoingthisimportantwork,themissionalchurchofthetwenty-first

centurymustbecommittedtoreachingteenagerswhoarefarfromGodandwouldnever

darkenthedoorofachurchifitwerenotforfaithfulChristianadultswhoarewillingtoenter

theirworldandintroducethemtoJesusinawinsomemannerthatfromthestart

communicatesthatChristisrelevanttoeveryaspectoflive.

21

Conclusion

Whenweareafraidwerunandhide.Whenweareafraidoflosingourchildren,westriveto

protectthem.Whenwefearthatourchildrendroppingoutofchurchor“losingtheirfaith”we

investallofourresourcesintoservingthechildrenofthechurchattheexpenseofreachingout

tothoseteenagerswhohaveyettobeintroducedtoJesusinameaningfulway.

Regardlessofthevalidityoftheresearchdataonthefaithformationofteenagers,theresponse

ofthechurchtotheseheadlinesisdestroyingthechurchesverymissiontoseekandsavethe

lost.Wemustre-thinkourstudentministriesfromaholisticperspectiveandtoparaphrase

White:commitourselvestoreachinglostteenagers,assimilatethemintothefaithcommunity,

discipletheminthefaith,andunleashingtheseChristlikesoulstotransformtheworld!

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