Twenty Somethings are MIA

Where have all the twenty-somethings gone?
**I am now defining "twenty-somethings" as 19-32ish -- mainly dependent on high school graduation, sometimes marital status, and relative maturity. Do they act like they're in their twenties?**

In September I went back to California for a friend’s wedding. Some friends and I discussed church, church participation, etc. Many of the people I visited with have been in Santa Clarita through college, are now getting jobs in Santa Clarita, and plan to live there for awhile. Some of them are involved in church. Some are trying to get involved in their church. Some are still trying to find a church where they feel a sense of “belonging.”
Why aren’t more committed and participating after living there for multiple years?

In Washington I spoke with another friend about church attendance. She and her husband want to commit to a church, but they can’t find one that meets their needs/preferences. They are also finding it difficult to balance life and church and ministry.
What examples have they seen of this? Who is reaching out to them in the church they are attending? Are they throwing themselves out there so they can be “reached out” to?

Here in Ohio, I recently went to a new friend’s friend’s house. We had a game night. The age-range was from 23 to 25. There were two married couples present and three single girls.
Out of seven people only two are committed to attending a particular church.
Why?
Between games we ended up discussing their list of “desired things in a church.” It came down to these:
--Good theology
--Worship songs they know/can sing
--Fellowship (after a space of time)
--Possibility of marriage counseling from older couples (discipleship/accountability)
--People their age

These don’t seem like difficult traits to find. So, why haven’t they settled and committed to a church yet?

A few days ago, I had another “church discussion” with another friend of mine who is living in another state. She has now found a church she attends with regularity, but this has only been within the last year.
Why not sooner?

Is the problem with the churches or us? (Or both?)

Where have the twenty-somethings gone?

At my Ohio church there are a few twenty-somethings. A few just entered the land of the twenties, most are 27-32. Some are serving in church, though many are just attending one service and Bible studies. (Presently, I am in that camp, but I am not yet a member and I have not yet been there for 6 months -- time required for them to observe me before jumping in).

Why aren’t more twenty-somethings coming?
Why isn’t there more participation and commitment to ministry?

I think it comes back to the list of “desired church traits.”

What’s missing in the list?:

An expectation and goal to participate in ministry (as a priority).

It seems that my age group (and even the older ones,) are more concerned about a church meeting their needs rather than committing to a local body that teaches the truth of the Scriptures and then jumping in with the purpose of serving others.

Are most twenty-somethings merely spiritual leeches?

What is the twenty-something’s understanding of the Church and what it requires of them?

Where are their life priorities in regards to committing to the church and participating in ministry?

Have they set false expectations? Are they only thinking selfishly?

What is happening inside the church?

Are the people who are already there bringing in the younger people? [Not through crazy modes of entertainment, but through relationships, examples, and accountability (aka discipleship).]

I propose a summary of why “young adults” are MIA:
a) They don’t understand the purpose of the Church and/or their role in the Church and/or their need to love the Church.
b) Lack of holy living and discipling by those “wiser” and older in the church. (But, even/especially they don't know why they are attending church.)
c) The pursuit of jobs and outside activities is a greater priority than church involvement BECAUSE of the time of life (starting careers, marriages, moving, living independently, etc.) [and has occurred because of reasons a and b.]

So what can we do?
--Be faithful to God's Word and living it out. Initiate things.

What will be the consequence to the church when [my] generation abandons fellowship in the Body?
(The affects will fall upon their children, their children, their children -- our nation. Is the time of the Lord's judgment coming?)


Pursue people! Pursue Jesus! May we increase in zeal.
(We still have a harvest of souls to till -- He has given us Life and we're still pigrimaging on the earth.)

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from every lawless deed, and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Titus 2:11-14