The Accidental Methodist Calling Out SBC Stats
So I’m reading this article by the Southern Baptist Convention, and it says that 88% of teens are leaving the church by age 18, never to return again. Well, here’s the actual quote:
In the course of researching family life in America, the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life uncovered such gut-wrenching statistics that they were driven to their knees. Among the facts they found: 88 percent of the children raised in evangelical homes leave church at the age of 18, never to return.
SBC, I’m calling your bluff. What research led you to those statistics?
I don’t believe it’s that high. My research in college said the percentage was somewhere in the 50′s, and Tom, didn’t you find it somewhere in the 40′s? I don’t believe it’s become 88% in 2 years, AND I don’t believe you can say something like “NEVER TO RETURN.” Here’s why:
The last paragraph of the article is GREAT! Not only should youth pastors understand the "leaving the church" syndrome, but also parents of these young adults! I go back to the scripture "Train up a child…." Do your job as youth pastor, parent, SS teacher, etc. and let GOD do the rest!!! Trust HIM……..HE can handle it!