Lost Generations

In the early 90’s the Assemblies of God as a result of a comprehensive survey, discovered that nearly 80% of Christians received Christ before their 20th birthday. By age 25 the results for the over age 25 groups were close to none. Regarding calling to ministry, the results were similar. 63% said they knew God called them to full time ministry before they were 25 with the majority saying it happened before they were 19.

A newer and broader survey by the Barna Group tells us that 77% of Christians made a decision to follow Jesus before the age of 21 with the majority making their decision before age 18. This means that 3 out of 4 Christians made their decision for Christ before their 21st birthday.

The conclusion from both these surveys is straightforward – Evangelism Is Most Effective Among Kids.
Some conclusions reached from this research:
• Between the ages 5 and 12, lifelong habits, values, beliefs and attitudes are formed.
• Whatever beliefs a person embraces when he is young are unlikely to change as he ages.
• If a person does not embrace Jesus Christ as Savior before they reach their teenage years, they likely never will.

Win them or lose them. This is the urgent reality for the church of Jesus Christ. Spend the money and use the manpower to educate, win and disciple children and youth or by default watch them turn their back on the church as young adults. It is important to understand that we are referring to the children and youth from outside of our church community.

While it is important to disciple the young people from our church families and provide a welcoming environment for them, it is vital that we address the reality beyond our church walls.

If the greatest and most lasting response is from children and youth, isn’t that what should receive the greatest focus?

Money and effort expended in reaching children and youth with the Gospel is money well spent, yielding huge long term dividends for the church. It’s a very good investment. At one time our churches were known for our education programs (Sunday Schools, VBS, Youth, Crusaders, Summer Camps). They reached well beyond the walls of our church.

It is tragic that those who enter ministry as Children’s Pastors and Youth Pastors are soon taught that they are on the bottom of the prestige and pay ladder. They discover that these positions are treated dismissively and are considered “stepping stones” rather than long term or even life ministry prospects. The positions that are vital to the church become hard to fill because those who might fill them and provide the needed talent are turned aside by our unspoken, but clearly articulated values.

It’s unhealthy to always long for things to be as they once were. Attempting to turn the clock back so things are as they once were is not productive. There must be new and innovative ways to accomplish the goal of reaching large numbers of children and youth. However, it is not a wise thing to eagerly dismiss the tried and true. Both have their place.

May God show us that children and youth are capable of having the most profound God experiences imaginable – and that they last. The church that sits and waits, hoping that the world will notice it is destined to disappear.

Where the children and youth gather, eventually the adults come too. It can be the point of contact your church needs with neighbors you would never have a chance to talk to otherwise.

It is time for us to take a new critical view of the church’s role in broader society. How about a concerted effort to change the hearts of a generation?