RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY: nones

Showing posts with label nones. Show all posts

Every Christian Leader Should Be Thinking About This Statistic

7:36 AM Dale Hudson

What dominates your thoughts as a Christian leader?

I believe we should spend a significant amount of time thinking about the last commandment Jesus gave us.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20

Why is it so important that we give our time to praying, planning, strategizing and thinking about how we can get the Gospel to as many people as possible during our lifetime?

I read some statistics a few days ago that reminded me of how important it is to be focused on the Great Commission.

Pew Research Center recently released a report that says more than 70% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. The largest religious demographic is "Evangelical Protestant at 25.4%.

That's good news, but this next finding also revealed that Amercia's second-largest religious group is the "nones." If you're not familiar with nones, it describes a person who claims no religious association.

22.8% of the nation identify themselves as nones.
This is a larger percentage than Catholics (20.8%), or Mainline Protestants (14.7%) .

The fact that we are surrounded by kids, parents and families that have yet to experience the love and forgiveness that comes through a relationship with Jesus, should be prominent in our thoughts.

How many people attend your church is not the main thing you should be thinking about. Instead, spend your time thinking about how many people around you haven't come to Christ yet.

As believers, we should be thinking of ways we can connect with nones. Ways we can share the Gospel with them. Ways we can show them by our actions and words that following Jesus is the best life to live.

One of the best ways to reach nones is through their children. Time and time again I have seen God work through children to reach their unbelieving parents. If you want to reach nones, then focus on reaching their children.

The Gospel is as powerful as ever. It can transform an unbeliever into a believer. But the Gospel must to be shared inside and outside the walls of the church. Many churches have stopped sharing the Gospel outside the walls of their church. And so, they reach a few people who are already inside the walls of their church, but their effectiveness outside the walls of their church is minimal.

This causes them to turn their attention to those inside the walls rather than outside. Often a "hold on to Jesus comes" mentality forms. The problem with this is Jesus told us to bodly go outside the walls of our church and boldly proclaim the Gospel to the nones.

I want to encourage you to shift your thinking more toward "How can we reach the nones in our community?" Put what God gives you in writing.

Then take the thoughts that you wrote down and create action steps that will take you to that goal.

The Gospel still works if we will work the Gospel.

Our churches must become places where nones can come and belong before they believe. Places where their hard questions are welcomed and encouraged.

Here's the deal. You and I both used to be nones. We were separated from God, until He sent someone our way to tell us how much He loved us and wanted to have a relationship with us. You and I are living proof that nones can be transformed by the power of the Gospel.

My great grandfather was a criminal who was sent to jail for murder.

My grandfather was a heavy drinker and brawler, having had his nose broke 5 times in bar fights.

Our family was about as "none" as you could possibly be.

Until a man in our community decided to reach out to our unchurched, dysfunctional, none family with the Gospel. One by one the Gospel transformed us from nones to followers of Jesus. Our legacy has shifted from being criminals to being Christ-followers.

What will dominate your ministry thoughts this week? Will it only be about keeping the sheep inside the walls happy and content? Will the number of people who were inside the walls of your church this past weekend be what you dwell on? Or will it be on how to reach the nones of your community?

May we stay focused on what Jesus is focused on. He came to seek and save the nones. And He wants to use you to reach them. But for that to happen, you've got to look outside the walls of your church and think about ways to connect with them.

May this resonate through our minds this week.

The Graying of the Church

9:16 AM Dale Hudson

There's something happening in churches across the country. Visit enough churches and you'll soon notice a trend. The church in America is getting grayer.

This is not a blanket statement. There are exceptions. There are churches that are reaching Millennials. But overall, the church is struggling to keep the next generation involved. Young adults, ages 18 to 39, are less likely than older generations to say religion is important to them. And they are showing it with their feet. Young adults as a whole, are attending church less frequently than their parents.

Think about this.

Just like a healthy family is made up of all generations, a healthy church is made up of all generations as well. A church made up of great grandparents, grandparents, parents, young single adults, teenagers and children and babies. This is the kind of church that will continue to thrive in the years ahead.

In many graying churches, the nursery is not used, because it is not needed. And when the nursery is not needed, a church is headed for its demise. As those with gray hair pass away, the church will pass away with them.

This is not an attack on the precious senior citizens who are the backbone for so many churches. Our older church members should be honored and respected. There is much the next generation can learn from them about serving God faithfully.

But somewhere along the way, many older congregations haven't been intentional about looking behind them and realizing they have a responsibility to pass the faith baton to the next generation.

Or they tried to pass the baton, but they weren't willing to let the next generation redecorate so it would be relevant to their lives.

They felt hanging onto their songs that were written in 1921 was more important than engaging the next generation in worship.

They weren't willing to invest in children's ministry, which could have attracted young families.

They didn't give the next generation the opportunity to lead and give input into the future of the church.

They didn't have a vision that was compelling enough to engage the next generation.

What will happen? Eventually they will have to close the church doors and put a for sale sign out front.

I have driven by several churches recently that have for sale signs out front. It always makes me wonder, "What caused this church to die?" 9 times out of 10, I can guarantee you it was a lack of intentionally about passing on the faith baton to their children and grandchildren.

In some cases, it's economics that causes churches to go grey. As children grow up, they realize there are not a lot of work options available in the rural community they grew up in. And so they go off to college and then choose to live in a larger city where better paying jobs are available.

This decline can be seen in the research that's been done in the last few years. When you see the word "none" I am referring to people who would mark "none" when asked what religion they are affiliated with.

78% of nones grew up in church.

14% of Boomers are nones.

19% of Gen Xer's are nones.

35% of Millennials are nones.

13% of Gen Z say they are atheists.

You can see in these stats, the reason many churches are headed for permanent retirement. They've failed to pass on the faith baton effectively.

Do you see your church reflected in these stats? Don't lose hope. There are many churches that are filled with young adults and their children. You can turn things around.

Invest in children's ministry. I know it doesn't make sense on paper. Kids' offerings tend to come in coins, not bills. But I believe that God will send resources and His blessings to a church that makes the next generation a priority.

Ask the people in your church who have gray hair to turn and invest in those coming behind them. Show them that they have the faith baton in their hands and there's someone behind them waiting to receive it. Help them see it's not just about them. It's about those coming behind them. What an opportunity senior adults have to leave a legacy with the next generation.

Be willing to change what's not working. Are there any programs that are tired? Any updates that need to happen? Any strategies that need to be adjusted? Are you willing to move out of your comfort zone? Most growth happens outside our comfort zone.

Actively involve young adults in serving and leadership roles in the church. They are looking for an opportunity to make a difference. Invite them into it.

A few months ago, I went to a service at the church I attended as a child. In an auditorium that seated 200 people, there were maybe, 40 people there. Eventually, they will have to close the doors if there is not a turnaround.

Does your church need a turnaround? Is your church struggling to reach the next generation? If so, maybe God is stirring in you and preparing you to be a change agent that infuses new life into the ministry.

Your turn. The floor is yours. What are churches doing that are attracting young adults, while keeping their senior adults engaged as well? What have you seen churches do to effectively engage the next generation? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

The Future of Christianity in America...the latest predictions

9:33 AM Dale Hudson

What is the trajectory of Christianity in America? Recent projections give us a glimpse into where we could be headed.

Currently, the fastest growing religions in North America are Muslims and "other religions." The share of the population that belongs to other religions is projected to double - rising from .06% to 1.5%. Though it will still be a small percentage of the total population, it is a significant increase. By the 21st century, the United States is likely to have more Muslims (2.1%) than people who identify with the Jewish faith (1.4%).

Christianity is projected to decline from 78% of the population in 2010 to 66% in 2050. During this same time frame, the percentage of people who aren't associated with any religion is expected to rise from 16% to 26%.

Here's a look at the percentages in a graph format.

While these are only predictions, they should be given serious consideration. The church must be committed more than ever to reaching the next generation. We must reach the Millennials, who are now becoming parents. We must reach Gen Z who are now children. We must reach the generation that will follow Gen Z, who are yet to be named.

Psalm 78 talks about this. It says...

"He commanded our ancestors
    to teach them to their children, (Millennials)
⁶so the next generation might know them —
    even the children not yet born (Gen Z) —
    and they in turn will teach their own children.(children of Gen Z)
⁷So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
    not forgetting His glorious miracles
    and obeying His commands."

The church must be committed to sharing the Gospel more than ever. I believe the Gospel still has the power to change people's lives. I believe the Gospel still works, if we will be busy sharing it. You can't spell Gospel without Go. Matthew 28:19 makes it clear for us.

"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone ."

The church must be committed to teaching our children why we believe what we believe. In a recent article, I talked about the fact that 78% of "nones" (people not associated with any religion) grew up in church, but have walked away from their faith. The prediction that the number of nones will rise from 16% to 26% should deeply concern us. Unless we help children get grounded in their faith, many of them will be part of the nones in a few years.

Will you join me in praying for those who don't yet know Jesus? Will you join me in sharing the Gospel and reaching people one at a time? Will you join me in helping the next generation become grounded in the faith?

I believe if the church will do this, we can see the number of Christians in our country increase rather than decrease between now and 2050.

The Urgency of Reaching the Next Generation

8:16 AM Dale Hudson

These words have been echoing in my thoughts the last few days.

"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." Jeremiah 8:20

Recent studies show that the percentage of Christ-followers is decreasing with each new generation.

"Nones" are people that self-identify as atheists or agnostics, as well as those who say their religion is “nothing in particular."

32% of Millennials identify themselves as "nones." This is compared to only 14% of Boomers who identify as "nones." If this trend continues, the next generation, Gen Z, who are the children in your community and mine, will grow up with the vast majority of them unreached.

The task before us is urgent. We know that most people who come to faith in Christ do so when they are children. We only have a short window of time to reach the next generation. The harvest season is quickly passing us by.

May our hearts be heavy with what is heavy on God's heart...kids who do not know Him. May the burden produce a holy unrest in our spirit that won't diminish until every child has been reached with the Gospel. May it move us to action.

When was the last time you wept for the children of your city? When was the last time you missed sleep because you were praying for the children of your city? When was the last time you fasted for the children of your city?

May we have such a passion to reach the kids in our city that we can say with Paul, "My Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed--cut off from Christ!--if that would save them." Romans 9:3

God wants the children of your city to come to Him...and He wants to use you to reach them. 2016 can be the year He uses you to make a major impact. 2016 can be the year He uses you to bring hundreds of kids into His kingdom. 2016 can be the year He uses you to turn the declining percentage of Christ-followers into a growing percentage of Christ-followers.

I'm praying and believing with you for the hearts and souls of the next generation. There is nothing more important that we can give our life to.

The Rise of the Nones (Pt.2)

9:55 AM Unknown

Yesterday we talked about the rise of the Nones...people who mark "None" when asked their religious affiliation. They are the fastest growing group in the United States. They now outrank every other group in America except for Catholics and Baptist.

This increase in people who have no connection with church or "organized religion" demands a hard look at what we are doing as Christian leaders. I posed three questions that I believe we must address if things are going to swing things back the other direction.

What does this mean for Children's Ministry?
How can we effectively reach families who are "Nones?"
What changes or shifts need to take place in Children's Ministry as we navigate the culture?

Integrity and accountability must be a top priority.
Sexual and financial scandals by Christian leaders have contributed to the general public's mistrust of church leaders as a whole. We must be committed to being leaders marked by integrity, character, honesty, and accountability. We must walk the talk. Who we are must become far more important than what we do. We must lead from the inside out.

We must welcome doubts and questions.
We must create environments where people have the freedom to doubt, grapple, and question. I am encouraged when children begin to ask questions and grapple with what they believe. It means they are in the process of owning their faith for themselves. Instead of suppressing it, we must engage in healthy dialogue and exploration of truth. We must create an environment where it is okay to belong before you believe.

We must not get hung up on denominational titles.
Protestant denominations are suffering some of the biggest losses. The days of people coming to a church because of the denominational title are past. Many of the "nones" may have attended a denominational church when they were young, but have now disconnected. Are you limiting your reach to them by keeping the name in the church title?

We must raise the bar when it comes to spiritual milestones.
Many of the "nones" had no spiritual milestones to look back to. Spiritual milestones can provide anchors in a child and family's life. Milestones such as parent/child dedication, baptism, pre-teen passage, etc. must be a top priority in our ministries. We must invest time, energy, and resources into pouring into families' lives during these key times.

We must be willing to change what is not working.
Why are many churches dying? In many cases, it is because they have grown comfortable and complacent. They are more concerned with keeping "Sister Organ Player" happy than they are with reaching the "Nones" in their community. For many, a slow death seems to be easier than taking a risk and making necessary adjustments.

We must be consumed with what consumes Jesus...seeking and saving the lost.
Jesus passion is to reach the "Nones." Only 1-2% of churches are growing by reaching people who are lost. Our focus must shift from how many people ARE COMING to our church to how many ARE NOT COMING.

We must make children and family ministry a top priority.
"Nones" are significantly younger than the general population, and many young adult nones will be parents of the next generation. As they become parents, a small window of opportunity will open as they begin to think about taking their children to church.

We must create environments where children love coming. Environments that are so irresistible that children drag their "none" parents back week after week. Environments where young parents can get help with their parenting, marriage, finances, etc. The churches that create these type environments have the potential to make a huge impact.

Closing thoughts...
I am more excited than ever about the opportunity we have to reach people for Christ. God will raise up people to reach the "Nones." Though many churches are dying, many are seeing God draw people to Himself in amazing ways.

God is at work. The big question is...are we willing to line up with what He is doing...even if it means moving into unfamiliar, uncomfortable ground.

Posted by Dale Hudson