"The NEW EXODUS: Why Our Kids Are Leaving the CHURCH!"

The fact of the matter is that the church is losing the battle to attract and retain our nation's young people! The defection or "new exodus" can be attributed to a litany of sources.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to relevance, integrity and purpose. Today's youth speak a different language than our generation.  They communicate differently.  They are the sons and daughters of the digital age; the age we have created through significant advances in technology.

Our kids don't read books anymore. They don't write anymore.  They don't even know what "cursive" writing is because it isn't taught in schools anymore!  If it's not on their cell phones, iPads or laptops...they don't even acknowledge it. Solution: We have to meet them where they are; WE have to adapt to THEM or we will continue to lose them!

(The photo above highlights a "Technology Band" comprised of instruments on their iPads)

No single reason dominated the break-up between church and young adults. Instead, a variety of reasons emerged. Overall, the research uncovered six significant themes why nearly three out of every five young Christians (59%) disconnect either permanently or for an extended period of time from church life after age 15.

Some of the reasons why young Christians are "checking out" are as follows:

1. Hypocrisy in Leadership: Young people are "sponges" for the things that interest them. There is little doubt that they have taken notice of the proliferation of abuses being orchestrated by the church against the people of God. Rampant sexual abuse, rape, drug abuse, infidelity, fraud and murder have dominated the headlines. We cannot continue to sugar coat the truth and look the other way just to protect the false prophets who are corrupting the IC. Our youth are watching how we are "fumbling the ball" miserably on this one!
2. The "Institutional Church (IC)" is trying to be "cool": Why is the church trying to be cool? The church is supposed to be in the business of saving lives. The IC has to stop employing "magicians" who keep using these "cheap magic tricks" to lure our youth back to church. Nothing works better than the truth and the Truth is Jesus Christ!
3. Young People don't see a "purpose" in today's ministry: Young folks are no different than older folks. They have the same desires as we do.  They want to know why they are doing something, what the goal is and what the expected result will be. The IC has, for the most part, done a horrible job of effectively communicating to our young people the importance of their presence in the Kingdom and how that translates into a positive representation of Christ in the marketplace. The short version is that our youth are bored with US... NOT JESUS!
4. The IC has no answers to the "new paradigms" of our youth: Talk about being out of step. The IC is leagues behind our youth when it comes to their "cultural redefinition" and new paradigms promoting open-mindedness, tolerance and acceptance of many of the things the church opposes. They are an eclectic generation of social misfits (similar to that of every age throughout human history). They are rebels and they have voices that need to be heard. The IC has to identify solutions to their penetrating questions. There are only so many roller-skating parties, movie nights and field trips you can host before they wise up and leave..for good!  The church is definitely NOT listening!

(This is what a typical youth "huddle" looks like on any given day!)