Check out this article on Why Teens Leave the Faith and What We Can Do About It. Studies like this one were the motivating factor for us to move our Middle School ministries to Sunday night and challenge families to worship and serve together on Saturday nights or Sunday mornings.
"Yes, this decision makes life more inconvenient for me as a dad. It's more inconvenient for us as a family. But parenting is never about our own convenience. It's about raising children with a sustainable faith." (Me, 2012)
Pastor Tim,
Thanks to you and Josh for making the big change and working to lay a foundation for inter-generational worship.
But I must admit, the article you linked to really challenged me to do my part and open my eyes to who is coming in the front door of Grace and begin to form relationships with young and old.
Just having the youth in the main church service doesn’t really change anything. It takes all of us to step up and do our part – to meet and know people.
This way we can all have the opportunity to be a positive voice reinforcing the message of other parents!
Hmmm… I think this Sunday I’m going to go out of my way and make sure I’m sitting right next to a family with teenagers so that we can connect. (I just hope my teens don’t scare them away!)
Pastor Tim. Thank you for this article. I don’t think it is an accident that I read this today. Im struggeling with an issue with my 13 year old son who has decided that he shouldn’t have to attend church anymore because its “not his thing”.
Unfortunately I have just recently started attending church again after being absent for many many years. I am a recovering alcoholic who has spent most of my adult lifrunning and hiding from God for shame of the way I was living my life. I have now returned to the Lord due to the foundation that was layed as child by my mother. I am now trying to lay the same foundation with my children, but it is being met with some resistance.
I have been trying to get him involved in the youth group but he doesn’t seem interested in getting involved or meeting new people. Trying to resist the whole your 13 and im your father so deal with it for fear of him shuting down and closing off completely. Being a divorced parent I am getting no support from the other side. I have been praying constantly for two days now and I needed to read this article. Praise be to God for he is always there for me. Thank you for all you do. You have made me so eager to learn and my search for knowledge, truth, ands Gods will for me grows stronger. God bless.