abstract |
Across the country, church membership is on the decline. Teenagers and young adults are one of the largest groups with declining church attendance. With a growing
number of life options available to choose from on any given Sunday morning, a large segment of this vital population continues to be visibly missing, from church
community. How can we reach this vulnerable population? Is there a formula for connecting our churches to the lives of teens and young adults in a way that is
relevant to them? Church leadership and congregations will have to deal with a generation of teens and young adults who are the collateral damage of "The War on
Drugs, a war that led to unfair laws and mass incarcerations. The societal impact of this war, on the inner city, was experienced on many levels; lost incomes led
to the destruction of entire families, neighborhoods and schools. How can we as a church reconnect to our teens and young people? If a formula is to work it must
be build on strong relationships or utilize already existing ones. The twenty- four teens and young adults chosen for the pilot program were given a pre-assessment
that revealed their strengths and areas of challenge. The assessment focused on the following assets: personal, social, family, academic and community strengths.
This information allowed for the direct development of challenge areas. The premise is that when these areas of need are met, a personal connection will be made,
and the church will become relevant in their lives. The participants were given a post assessment to determine if any change had taken place in their thinking.
The results revealed that many of the participants improved in areas of challenge, established trusting relationships, and a willingness to walk that pathway back
to the church. When the church works to understand the teens and young adults, and meets their subconscious needs in a meaningful way, a new and stronger connection
will be forged. Connection is what makes the church relevant, and may be what draws a person into a fellowship of believers.
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