In 2007, Lifeway Research found that 2/3 of all young adults raised in the US church will stop attending services between the ages of 18 and 22. Most never return. But Dr. Joe McKeever, Director of Missions for the Baptist Association, found five reasons that made the other young people remain:

1) A genuine, personal relationship with Jesus Christ

He cites the case of a thriving youth work led by a vibrant youth worker. But, when he left the church, so did the youth!

2) A Solid Biblical Foundation 

Young adults who grow up with strong roots in the doctrines of the Bible cannot be easily pulled off course.

3) The Security of Supportive Christian Friends

Joining a vibrant youth group, “I went from knowing hardly anyone in the city to having a hundred friends my age.”

4) Great Role Models

“Before I learned how to study the evidence for the faith myself, these were my proofs that the Gospel is true,” he says.

5) There Is No Viable Alternative

Young adults see the church has problems. But, often they come to the same conclusion as the Apostle Peter: “Lord, where can we go? You have words of eternal life”

Source: Crosswalk.com

BIBLE STUDY: 1 Timothy 4:12-16

PRAISE: God for the young people who remain. Pray that the Church will know how to retain them.