By Jim Coggins

THE under 35 generation is missing from the church, and World Vision is hosting a church leaders forum to explore what can be done about it. The event is taking place at six locations across Canada between October 20 and December 4.

"Over the last 20 years, more and more young people think the church is irrelevant, out of touch and narrowminded," said Paul Robertson, youth culture specialist for Youth Unlimited in Toronto and one of the two presenters at the forum.

Sources of the problem include materialism and narcissism, said Robertson. The media, schools which don't demand accountability and which won't allow anyone to fail, and the self-esteem movement all tell young people to focus on themselves. That's a deadly message for the undeveloped "adolescent brain that that already thinks it's the centre of the world." As a result, if a church doesn't make under-35s feel happy and fulfilled, they leave.

The other presenter is Colin McCartney, founder of UrbanPromise Toronto. He agreed that the under 35 generation has a negative view of the church, but pointed to negative portrayals of Christians in the media, negative reactions to US President George Bush (who was vocal about his identity as a born-again Christian) and reaction to church scandals such as sexual abuse by priests. The younger generation is also suspicious of authority, he said.

Solutions to the problem, the two men suggested, are not as obvious as the causes. Trying to be "cool" will not work, and any church that "plays along" with that generation's narcissism will fail, said Robertson. Judging from the experience of churches which are reaching under 35s, he suggested, what works instead is directly addressing that generation with deep Bible teaching and the challenge "to give their lives away."

While Robertson has studied youth culture extensively, McCartney said his knowledge is based mainly on his experience working with the younger generation. He suggested that the narcissistic generation is passing and the current under-35s are hungry. While there may have been a time when cool worship would bring young people to church, that time is past. If a church wants to reach the under-35s, it has to go where they are.

McCartney added that teens and young adults who have come to Jesus through parachurch organizations have particularly rejected the church not because they are too self-centred but because the church is too self-centred. Young adults are rightly dissatisfied with churches that are too inwardly focused, he said. Instead, they are looking for a church that offers deep Bible teaching and real community and goes out into the world to meet needs.

Under-35s often have a deeper social conscience than previous generations, he added. "Young people are tired of going to Christian concerts and being entertained. They want to go out and change the world."

The five Youth Churches in British Columbia's Lower Mainland are bucking the trend. Not only are most of the attenders at these churches under 25, but so are most of the leaders.

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Lewis Chifan, pastor of Youth Church Vancouver, said many of the younger generation are just not interested in organized religion. Many come from nominal Buddhist, Muslim or Christian backgrounds. The Youth Churches reach this generation because they are focused on reaching the lost, making their services comfortable for the unchurched, he said. He also noted that the Youth Churches are practicing what McCartney advocates -- most of their work takes place during the week through activities such as coaching sports and "hanging out" in the community.

The Youth Churches have found that they are also attracting churched kids. These are often committed believers who "are not focused on themselves" but are looking for "a cool place where they can bring their friends" and help them find Jesus.

The key thing in reaching this generation is relationships, said Chifan. "This generation cares a lot more about what people think. They travel in packs." Many of this generation come from broken homes, whether they grew up in poor neighbourhoods or rich ones, and they "need people they can trust and love." This is why the Youth Churches spend so much time and effort building relationships and encouraging their Christian members to develop relationships with their lost friends.

Chifan said he does not see the Youth Churches as being in competition with other churches. He meets regularly with some parachurch workers and youth pastors to "bounce ideas off one another."

It is possible for youth pastors in other churches to reach lost kids, but "it's difficult," said Chifan. Youth pastors are usually hired to "help church kids grow" and parents want that to take place in a "safe environment" where there are no other kids who will be a bad influence.

Chifan also noted the importance of good contemporary worship music. He said churched kids might sit through old-style hymns "because they are used to it," but unchurched kids won't.

Marv Penner, director of Youth Specialties Canada, said it is "absolutely true" that many churches are failing to reach the under-35 generation. It is "absolutely not impossible" for mainstream multigenerational churches to reach the younger generation, he added -- "if they are willing to make the adjustment. Churches keeping old saints happy won't bring in new saints. They have different agendas."

Robertson and McCartney said they expect that most of the people at the forums they are presenting will be leaders from traditional churches who want to learn how to reach under-35s, and that is precisely the target audience they are aiming for.

There is no point in traditional churches criticizing youth churches and emergent churches, which are at least reaching the younger generation, said McCartney. Instead, they should do what is necessary to reach under-35s themselves. "There is a great opportunity. No other organization is better equipped to answer questions than the church," he said. "The traditional church is a sleeping giant" that can change the world if it will "get back to Jesus."

Just like an aircraft carrier that takes 62 miles to turn around, churches can't be changed overnight, Robertson suggested, but the forum will "stimulate discussion" and be a first step. A church can refocus because "with God all things are possible."

October 29/2009