Are our young people leaving the church?

To share the great dominant experience in life especially for the young people is very helpful.
It is not the youth who are going away from the church,but the church is going away from the youths.The church is slow to understand their tastes and ambitions,dreams and visions,and their ways and means.It has maintained a safe distance from youth and never trusted their fully.In fact the youths are trying to come closer to the church,but their closeness is suspiciously watched by their parents of the church as too radical and difficult. 

How could the church attract young people?

Unless and until the church become “young” in mind and spirit it may not attract the youth.. I am sad to say that a large number of the church leaders do not have trust on young people.Forget about the church people not attracting the youths– Sadly, many prefer to keep them at the distances if they do not follow prescribed ways.No wonder they become anti– social, anti-church or anti– Christian.
We have not utilized the youth resources for good. We have not channel their energy and enthusiasm for the Kingdom of God. We have not involved them in our church affairs and evangelization.In short,We have not accepted them as very important person in church,that’s why there is a distance. 

What do you propose to attract young people?

To keep the youth with us,first of all we have to accept them as they are. We have to get into their shoes and understand them.They came to us with all their likes and dislikes.They may not prefer to sit for long sermons and rituals,but certainly they will listen to us if we speak their language.They will prefer the language of music,dance,drama,play and action.

The youth are basically searching for an identity and acceptance.They are looking for role models and examples to follow. If we are ready to give them what they want,we can hold them back and convert them as the greatest  missionaries of modern times.The church  has to assign them new  roles and responsibilities and make them enjoy the joy of Easter,Christmas or any of the Christian celebration within the church.To my mind,the youth are the very core of the church–without them,there is no church.