Losing Our Joy: The Impact of Fear on Student Ministries ...€¦ · 1 Losing Our Joy: The Impact...
Transcript of Losing Our Joy: The Impact of Fear on Student Ministries ...€¦ · 1 Losing Our Joy: The Impact...
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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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