Stats we need to know
I read these yesterday on
Youthministry.com and they blew me away:
- 88% of children raised in Christian families leave church at the age of 18, never to return (SBC).
- A majority of adults no longer consider Christianity America’s default faith (Barna).
- 64% of decisions for Christ are made before the age of 18, and 77% are made before the age of 21 (Barna).
- An estimated 4% of the “bridger” generation, or Gen Y, will be Bible-believing Christians when they reach adulthood. Their grandparents’ generation: 65%. Their parents’ generation: 35%
"88% of children raised in Christian families leave church at the age of 18, never to return. 64% of decisions for Christ are made before the age of 18, and 77% are made before the age of 21. We can’t sit back and watch this generation be stolen out of our own churches and homes. By God's grace, we must take action, and we must do it now." (Bridger Generation by Thom S. Rainer).
Thanks for awareness
youthministry.com I value this information!
Click to share thisClick to share this
These are great stats to keep in mind! The thing that I am a little fearful of though, is that lots of people will take this stuff and then come up with a plan to try to change teenagers instead of searching their own relationship with God and then creating a ministry that connects them with Christ.
So often we attempt to fit the square peg into the circle hole.