Leaving and Not Coming Back

In this blog series Millennials () we are looking at the traits of the generation that ranges in ages from 12 to early 30's. I have been talking to several people in my generation (Millennials) and have been comparing their answers to those of other generations (GenXers, Baby Boomer Generation, etc.) I would like to highlight one of the difference that appears to be evident in the Millennials. 

You would find on the chart of church attendance for previous generations that for a time after high school they would leave church and then return with a great increase in attendance in their mid-to-later 20's as they begin to form a family.

Leisa Littlefield, mother of teenagers in Forsyth County, told me “As a GenXer, I have seen some of what you are referring to (referring to the last blog). It seems my generation has become 'more religious,' maybe trying to go back to what mom & dad taught us, Bible truths.” 

According to studies on Millennials, that is not the case for my generation. 

Although 61 percent of people in the 20-29 age group participated in church activities during their teens, that entire chunk now falls into the spiritually disengaged category. Moreover, only a third of 20-something's who are parents regularly take their children to church, compared with 40 percent of parents in their 30's and half of parents who are 40 or older. "Even the impulse of parenthood—when people's desire to supply spiritual guidance for their children traditionally pulls them back to church—is weakening," concludes David Kinnaman, Barna's research director. Source: Time Magazine

From my limited years of experience I would like to give my opinion on why this phenomenon his happening (feel free to give your opinions in the comment section). Generations who are raised in church, leave, and then return, are people who know they walked away from truth. If you are a math student and get tired of learning math and leave math class, you will return if you become an engineer and realize your math class had information you needed for your life. As Leisa expressed, her generation is returning for Bible truths. 

As a Christian, father and student pastor, this information motivates me to be a man and teacher of the Bible. As I teach the teenagers I must show them how the Bible is relevant to their life today. I must make it clear to them that the answers I am giving them are not my opinion but come from the Word of God. If they do leave and start to run into the tough questions of life, I pray they know there is a place that teaches a Book with the answers for which they are looking. 

Trent Cornwell is the Student Pastor at Vision Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA. He writes on various subjects on his personal blog www.TrentCornwell.com.