1. Never converted. When a person grows up going to church, it’s easy to adopt a belief system without owning it. Verses may get memorized, but not internalized. Confession may be made, but not a commitment.

When teens graduate from high school they often graduate from church as well. Prevent it by helping teens develop a personal faith. A faith in Christ, not the church. A faith in God, not in an earthly person.

2. They hear their parents say one thing, but see them do another. When talking about the Pharisees, Jesus said, “Do what they say, but not what they do, because they say and do not.” Just like Jesus, teens hate a fake. Teens do not think it’s fair for their parents to expect one standard from them, yet refuse to live up to that same standard in their own lives. It says to them that Christianity is more about talk than life. So when they leave home, they leave the talk and life behind as well.

3. Teens rarely get an opportunity to do the work of the church. The youth group is a special place, but teens know it’s often viewed as a separate area of the church filled with “kids.” They hear about being the “future of the church,” and seldom get to be the church of today.

Let teens be part of your entire congregation by using them to help teach children’s classes, help in the nursery and other areas, to allow the “adults” to see them at work. These responsibilities may seem “small” to the teens, but will form a great impression on those around them and help them be considered for greater responsibilities.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,

Paul and Al

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