Monthly youth leaders column

Prodigals are on the agenda. We are having conferences about them, and perhaps, finally waking up to the fact that we have a problem.

We have known the statistics for some time but, as ever, we seem too slow to respond. One response we have seen is the proliferation of the ‘big event’, which, in some ways, exacerbates the problem.. We may have theological doubts about the ‘youth church’ phenomena but we must understand the reason for its birth. Frustration with the ability of the church to keep its young people has driven people to positions they would not want to be in.

I have begun to research a book on the prodigal issue. It will be based on conversations with people who have left church youth groups. Some have yet to return; others have found fellowship again and seem to have found a new reality in their faith. How do we deal with this problem?

Acknowledgements

One of the things I have found is that some churches are reluctant to face the issue. We are so keen to say that everything is fine that we bury our heads. We can even blame the young people for something that is our fault. Of course, some young people reject the faith of their parents who have tried to lead them into the way of Christ and are left feeling guilty and a complete failure. But, at the level of church leadership, there needs to be clear strategic thinking about what an all-age Bible community looks like.

Reasons

In my conversations with prodigals certain factors are emerging. The church issue is a big factor but it is by no means the only one. There is very rarely a single reason why a young person leaves the church. Often it seems to be a combination of factors which build up and finally do the damage. One young person spoke of ‘not liking to see the vicar in funny clothes — he just seemed so out of touch with my world’.

But this was quickly followed by issues to do with friends, family and culture. In the end the pile was too high and it toppled. Many of them speak of harsh attitudes in the church, often citing listening in on the power plays that their parents are involved with in leadership. They see these attitudes as being inconsistent with the teaching they are getting and see this as hypocrisy.

Finding out

The work I am doing is in its infancy. I have been both a full-time youth worker and a minister and see the pressures facing both of those types of people. Young people will leave the church because we live in a fallen world where the evil one delights to cause his children to stumble. But, as churches, we must look at the pressure we create on our young people and try to deal with the things we CAN do something about.

If any of you have people I could talk to about these issues I would be keen to listen. This is a problem where we must not behave like ostriches.

Dave Fenton

© Evangelicals Now - June 2005
Please consider supporting this ministry by subscribing.