Stryker 1

Reflections:
1. I really enjoyed writing out the conversation part of this paper. It really helped me
to broaden my research and forced me to consider all viewpoints that I had
researched. It was really difficult at first to how exactly to organize it all so that it
sounded cohesive, but in the end I think it was a good exercise in acknowledging all
parts of the discussion concerning my topic.
2. Well I am a literature major so I will probably be writing a lot in my future. I think
this type of writing not only helps you organize your thoughts better in your
argument but it helps you understand what everyone else in the hot tub
conversation is thinking. In literature, there are an infinite amount of ways of
construe certain principles and messages and themes, and I think this writing is
something that will help me acknowledge the presence of other opinions, even if I
dont write about it.

Side Note: I accidentally took a nap on my lap top, so I apologize that this is a little bit late.
It was completed though.

Stryker 2
Juliette Stryker
Cami Richey
Wrtg 150 12 MWF
16 November 2014
Issues Paper: How to Make the Prodigal Son Return
I. Empty Pews, Not Empty Hearts:
America has a teen pregnancy rate two times higher than any other developed
country after it. In 2013, twenty two percent of twelfth graders, fourteen percent of tenth
graders, and five percent of eighth graders in America reported having had five or more
drinks in a row within the space of two weeks. During a 2013 study, over thirty five percent
of American high school seniors reported having used marijuana in the past year. While in
2012, more than two thousand teenagers began abusing prescription drugs every day
(Barna Research). Among these worrying statistics, another set of numbers has caused a
wave of grief and concern for todays parents. Lifeway Research, a group investigating the
surprisingly large drop in youth attending religious meeting and activities, found that in
2014 seventy percent of youth between the ages of 16 and 19who were attending church
regularly in the past suddenly dropped out of their congregation communities (Stetzer,
Christianity Today). These numbers only confirm the doubts that mothers and fathers have
had for the past few years and convey a new sense of urgency to families who have felt
that as [their] kids grow up and become more independent, they will fall away from the
tenuous connections [parents and religious leaders have] offered to God (Becker,
Christianity Today). As a part of their latest research Religion and Public Life project Pew
Research has found that those [religions] that are declining in number because of religious

Stryker 3
change simply are not attracting enough new members to offset the number of adherents
who are leaving those particular faiths. Catholicism has seen the greatest drop in number
because of this, with a decrease from thirty one percent of Americans having been raised in
the Catholic Church to a smaller twenty four percent maintaining their Catholic faith into
adulthood. With religious leaders scratching their heads and parents kneeling in prayer for
the sake of the spiritual welfare of their children, the reasons behind this major in decline
in religious ties in the youth of America have yet to be discovered and understood in full
depth. However, as a religious youth and one who has even experienced the type of
deviation from congregational community that has been the subject of these studies - I can
tell you that from this end of the issue, the justifications are clear. I hypothesize that there
is a great chain of events that have all occurred over the past couple of decades that have
led to the mass falling away of the youth. These events span over several branches of
society from socio-economic strife, rocky job markets, legislative battles over abortion and
gay marriage, academic competition, and most prevalently the outsourcing of childhood
religious education to the leaders of the churches. However, though the root of this issue is
as nebulous as the concept of faith itself, the solution is simple. I propose that the necessary
actions to heal this great wound, rests within the hands of parents and religious leaders. As
the father of the prodigal son was forced to await the return of his deviant child, so must
todays mothers, fathers, reverends, pastors, ministers, and bishops allow teenagers to
make their own choices, while still keeping their arms outstretched, patiently and
compassionately accepting their childrens choices and respecting their agency.

Stryker 4
II. Overview of Congregational Decline:
Historically, parents feel close emotional ties to their children, but almost always
detect a certain rift begin to form during their childs teenage years leading into young
adulthood. Perhaps, now with the recent and dramatic changes in technology available to
the masses, life for growing teens may be so different from that of their parents that the
intergenerational gap seems too far to bridge. On top of this emotional separation,
teenagers now are feeling an even deeper spiritual separation from their parents. Having
been raised in a different time, when the economy was less of a wreck, parents deal with
the stresses of providing for their families, and children can feel the financial weight that
causes their parents stress. This type of worry and strife has characterized and colored the
youth of this generation. They have grown up hearing about terrorist attacks like 9/11, and
they have seen news footage of surprise bombings and violent military activity in the
Middle East. They have seen illegal immigrants, desperate for opportunities that their
countries of birth could not provide, crawling to America in the hope that they will perhaps
be able to provide for their children here. In addition to all of this external pressure,
children and teenagers are now forced to face the broken economic systems at younger and
younger ages, as school curriculums are designed to lead them towards careers in
technology and science, which they are constantly told will enable them to secure a spot in
the workplace when they are older. These teens are being told that if they pursue their
passions in writing, art, softer sciences like psychology, and other areas of study which rely
less heavily on science and mathematics, then they are jeopardizing their futures by
following courses of education that are better characterized as hobbies (Gottlieb,
Parenting). How can a child grow into a healthy and productive adult, if they are steered

Stryker 5
and pressured into a path of study based on what their countrys government, school
systems and parents believe will be the field that will bring the most success.
Amid these tumultuous academic conditions and pressures, teenagers are also being
held hostage by their own peers. Issues like abortion, drug use, and gay marriage are a
looming presence in political activities today, and spark great conflict between church
organizations and young members. Teenagers see these issues in real life, every day in the
hallways of their high schools, colleges, and even their own homes. They know other
teenagers who are fighting battles that no other generation of youth has had to fight before,
who are facing the seas of criticism on social media outlets, as well as the worry of
disappointing their parents, the hassle of trying to constantly out-perform the student
sitting next to them in class, and the growing unlikelihood of being accepted into the
college of their choice. On top of all these new struggles, which are unique to this
generation, churches call upon the youth to avoid certain groups of people who outwardly
exhibit behaviors that the churches deem unacceptable and sinful- this, in an effort to
shield the young adults from any negative influences. But heres the rub, these wild and
rule-breaking teenagers are not easy to spot, nor are they easy to avoid. Teenagers know
other youths who are struggling with the very issues that their religions tell them to avoid.
Often they are friends and can only see those peers who are wrestling with their own
morality for their better qualities. In a CNN interview, Tim King, an active Christian
politician and participant in several CNN interviews, stated, The Jesus I read about in
Scriptures taught love, acceptance, peace and concern for the poor, but the Christian
leaders on TV and radio always seemed to be pro-rich, pro-white, pro-America and antigay(King, My Take). The Christian leaders who are active in the media are not living

Stryker 6
according to the principles that faithful teens have been taught in church. And since these
politicians are often supported by church organizations, teenagers feel a lack of support
and love from their religious leaders. By living amongst those they are told to shun and
reject, teens feel as though their leaders are out of touch and procrustean in seeking to
follow what they perceive as the righteous path. In fact, one of the major reasons young
people said that they were leaving churches was that they felt like they couldn't ask their
most pressing life questions in church, says Barna Research President David Kinnamen.
Teenagers who participate in tabooed habits and life styles feel rejected and judged by
their religious leaders, and therefore feel as though they are cut off from the spiritual
nourishment provided by church establishments. Yet, amid all of this emotional and mental
tension, teenagers are still expected to go to their parents churches and follow the
religious principles taught there. However, just as teenagers feel their parents do not
understand their emotional toils and everyday hurdles, the same can be said of the new
gaps forming between church organization leaders and their young congregation members.
With over 59% of young members from ages 18 to 29 dropping out of churches
nationwide, there is definitely need for concern (See Chart Below, Barna Research Group).
Even though only half of these youth report any actual decrease in spirituality, they still no
longer report any organization as their religion of choice (Kinnamen). Therefore, churches
that see their youth members leaving the congregation must begin to ask themselves what
elements of the environment they created have caused teenagers to leave.

Stryker 7

Stryker 8

I believe this trend began as parents have relied too heavily on external sources to
educate their children. The practical education of children is seen as the sole responsibility
of whatever school system parents choose to enroll their children in. Similarly, spiritual
education has been handed over to the religious leaders in the parents religion of choice.
Parents today worry about maintaining a balance between being strict and caring, the fear
of being considered any type of extreme by fellow parents has deepening and gaining even
more complexity with the new uncertainty of gender roles in the home. Mothers now
struggle to decide whether they should stay at home with their children, possibly
sacrificing their long-term career success. Modern motherhood has become 50 shades of
pink - all of them different labels of perceived competency as a woman that you wear into
the world for others to judge. Will you be a tiger mom? A slacker mom? A breast-feeding
mom? An attachment-parenting mom? A helicopter mom? A green mom? A drunk mom?
(Hampson, Be You). The same level of complexity present itself to fathers who work, to try
to be involved in their childrens lives, while still providing for their families in a time of
economic strife. These parental stressors have led parents to feel the need to outsource
[their] children's spiritual education to [their] church, according to Princeton Theological
studies veteran, Amy Julia Becker. My once-daily habit of "quiet time" has mostly fallen by
the wayside due to the incessant demands of getting our whole family ready to walk out the
door at 8. (Becker). Instead of personalizing faith and making it an integral part of family
life, all questions and responsibilities concerning religious matters are diverted to religious
leaders, solely for the sake of convenience for the parents. And though parents may strive
to raise their children religiously, they no longer feel properly equipped to educate their

Stryker 9
children about faith and God. Valerie Schultz, a writer for America magazine, a national
Catholic review, wrote:
When our children begin to flex their minds and pose theological and existential
questions, the black-and-white of rules and dogma swirled into the nuanced gray of
spirituality and faith. While my husband and I encouraged our daughters to be
independent thinkers and ask questions, we, like other honest parents, did not have
every answer. Who has not doubted his or her own wisdom when responding to a
young and developing conscience?
Despite her best efforts to raise her children in a religious home, she found that, of
[her] four daughters one goes to church sporadically, one is thinking about returning to
practicing the faith and two are emphatically not Catholic. (Schultz, Raised On Faith). After
pondering her own efforts and failings, Schultz approached a few young adults who were
previously Catholic in her own community and asked why they were no longer practicing.
Their answers shocked her as they all recounted the same general feelings. The adults told
her that [they] think the church has let [them] downa church that too often seems to
care more about a person's sexual orientation than whether people are being bullied to
death in school, a church that seems to care more about the unborn child than about the
one who is abused or hungry or in his seventh foster home placement in two years a
church that seems to care more about protecting its clergy from lawsuits than protecting its
young from predators, above all a church that too often demands blind devotion but does
not itself consistently walk the talk of the Eucharist. (Schultz).
This opposition between the youth of American churches and the leaders of these
congregations has sparked a lot of debate, yet little progress has been made. With the

Stryker 10
recent incorporation of youth pastors and small youth group meetings, some small
progress is being made. In a research review for La Sierra University, a study showed that,
youth pastors serve to increase the frequency of youth programs by making them more
interesting which subsequently helps youth regard church services and programs with
favor (Ji, Youth Pastor). Despite the growing popularity of these groups, teenagers are still
simply not invested in the organized churches, as congregation numbers continue to drop.
III. Shriveling Support Groups:
This opposition between the youth of American churches and the leaders of these
congregations has sparked a lot of debate, yet little progress has been made. With the
recent incorporation of youth pastors and small youth group meetings, some small
progress is being made. In a research review for La Sierra University, a study showed that,
youth pastors serve to increase the frequency of youth programs by making them more
interesting which subsequently helps youth regard church services and programs with
favor (Ji). Despite the growing popularity of these groups, teenagers are still simply not
invested in the organized churches, as congregation numbers continue to drop. These
youth environments led by younger adult leaders may still prove to be too stressful and
disconnected from reality to teens who, according to Timothy Gibson, a write for the
Journal of Youth Ministry, report that lectures or being talked at bore them; they prefer
an arena in which they feel free to discuss ideas and that does not neglect the use of
elements from pop culture or the fine arts (Gibson, Congregational Connectivity). These
youth groups succeed in creating more hospitable environments for the youth, who wish to
learn more about their churchs doctrines, by employing more relatable figures. However

Stryker 11
these groups are still failing to answer the concerns of modern teenagers and to develop
deep and lasting religious ties.
As churches fail to support the youth, teenagers have turned to their parents for
guidance, searching out open discussions concerning their spiritual concerns. However, by
leaving their childrens religious upbringing to religious, parents now feel inadequately
prepared to answer complicated questions with doctrine. In the same study, Timothy
Gibson also said that, Only a small percentage of parents report that their churches teach
them how to nurture the faith of their children (Gibson). Afraid of leading their children
astray, some parents have adopted a total hands-off approach. New York Times writer and
child psychologist, Lori Gottlieb remarked that, kids need exposure to discomfort, failure,
and struggles [so that] by the time theyre teenagers they have experience with hardship
(Gottlieb). This parenting principle has not proven successful with the religious growth of
teenagers, as they now have become more independently spiritual, seeing no need for an
organized church environment.
Distraught teenagers who have given up on the church have also been led towards
the growingly popular atheistic sects. To calm religious panic and confusion, some teens
have decided to take on a wholly scientific view of the world, finding strength in its cold
and hard view of life:
The true Ubermensch (or Overman) in his view is the social scientist, who can
confront the blankness of the universe and live without religious consolation. For
those who cannot attain this dangerous truth "the doors of the old churches are
open widely and compassionately." It is a modern-day version of the double-truth
thesis: the average citizen may be allowed to live in salutary illusion, while the

Stryker 12
intelligentsia gaze unflinchingly into the void. One might add that the epitome of
life's senselessness is death, which for Christianity is where it is most charged with
meaning (Eagleton, An Unbelieving Age).
IV. Its All About Agency:
This unsteady situation, parents praying for their childs welfare, churches praying
for their pews to be filled, and teenagers simply praying for answers, I see only one true
solution. As a youth raised in a religious Latter Day Saint household, I was constantly
surrounded by religious paintings, books, lessons, music, and people. Despite this
immersion, I struggled with my own convictions for the first fifteen years of life, and I still
am searching for inspiration and adding to my personal testimony. My parents allowed me
to choose whether I wanted to go church, whether I wanted to be baptized, and whether I
wanted to go to early morning seminary during my high school years. I was in full control
of my spiritual progress and I sought for truths that resonated with me. I am still a faithful
and active member of the LDS church, which I attribute to my parents decision to respect
my own choices concerning my spirituality. As a part of a generation that is far more
introverted and independent than the last, teenagers now are able to access a wide and
deep range of information concerning faith and religion. These teens are resourceful and
intelligent and should be in control of their own spirituality. Just as the parable of the
prodigal son, found in the fifteenth chapter of Luke, parents must allow their children to
choose their paths in life, respecting their agency and freedom. The best way parents can
spiritually prepare their children to make this choice is by informing them about their own
faith, encouraging a spirit of personal discovery, and prompting a free exchange of ideas
and testimonies. Parents can create a spiritually welcoming environment at home by

Stryker 13
allowing children to ask whatever questions they may have, relying on their own
testimonies to answer, and turning to God when they come up short. If faith and love
permeates the home, work, and school activities families perform together, then a lifestyle
of faith in a congregation environment will be easier to establish. Church leaders can help
prepare families for raising their children by holding weekly classes for mothers and
fathers who seek guidance on how to raise children in a wholesome and spiritual
environment. Getting the youth of the congregation more involved in the leadership
positions of the church can also build a well-balanced organization. Creating youth councils
to organize service activities within the community can help link the youth of the church to
the older populations. Timothy Gibson also reported that in his research he found that,
Increasingly, adolescents cite non-parental adult figures, ranging from grandparents and
other relatives to teachers and mentors, as playing an important role in their spiritual
lives. By involving meshing the youth together with the elderly populations, teenagers can
gain wisdom from their elders experiences and leaders can get a better feel for what issues
the youth of their churches are going through. The key is to provide opportunities in
which teenagers engage in open and honest dialogue with more mature Christians
(Gibson).
This type of open discussion may breed doubt in those who claim that teenagers
who are already bored with the church may not want to participate in activities like
discussion with elders, or even their peers, and further, by leaving the matter of
participation solely in the hands of teenagers it may result in a further plummet in
congregation numbers. This can be answered with the most basic Christian principles. God
gave his children the power of agency on this earth. We can choose to do good and obey His

Stryker 14
will, or to rebel and follow the path of sin. God lets us choose. Thusly, the youth of America
must be allowed to choose to return to the fold, as the prodigal eventually did return to his
father. By presenting teenagers with an opportunity to help fix the issues they see in their
community congregations and to openly discuss with leaders pertinent matters, teens will
find purpose in their roles in their congregations and their own lives.
V. With Open Arms and Hearts:
Overall, the education of the youth is the most important factor involved in this
situation. The youth need to be able to trust their leaders and the guidance that they are
given. Amy Julia Becker said, At the end of the day, one of the biggest measures of whether
our children will know Jesus is whether they have watched us know Jesus. Although she
was speaking in terms of children and parents, this principle can be applied to church
leaders and followers. If the youth are given ample opportunity to be involved in
discussions, provide feedback through youth councils or student gospel classes, and even
hold leadership positions (such as organizing charity events, or seasonal festivals, concerts,
or gatherings), they will feel as though they are a valued part of the congregation, as well as
the religious community. The parents and leaders of the church must labor diligently to
earn the trust and faith of the youth, by doing nothing short of sharing the pure love of
Christ with those who are spiritually lost.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was
an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and
ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and
ye came unto me.
Matthew 25: 34-36

Stryker 15
Annotated Bibliography
Barna Research Group. "Young People Do Not Hold Christian Values." America's Youth. Ed.
Roman Espejo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from
"Teenagers Embrace Religion but Are Not Excited About Christianity." 2000.Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 8 Nov. 2014.
This article discusses the change in social focus in the new generation of teens, causing a
major decrease in religious service attendance. It also stresses how spiritual goals are put
on the back burner, as other pressing issues, such as career paths and economic standing
are brought to the fore-front of teenagers horizon of cognitive consideration. The youth in
America are surrounded by news and updates on the currentdismal state of the economy
and as such are more concerned with their future vocational options, rather than their
current spiritual standing with a supreme being. This article helps prove my argument that
American teenagers basic needs are not being met (i.e. Maslows Pyramid of Needs)
therefore eliminating their abilities and desires to spend time pondering religious subject
matter.
Becker, Amy J. "Why Teens Drift Away From Faith." Christianity Today. Nov. 2011. Web. 31
Oct. 2014.
<http://www.christianitytoday.com%2Fwomen%2F2011%2Fnovember%2Fwhy-teensdrift-away-from-faith.html>.
This article is a personal account from a mother of several children, all of whom were
raised in a religious environment, as she notices her childrens lack of interest in church
activities and Christian Biblical stories. She partially blames their ignorance and disinterest
n her own parental short-comings, namely her inability to properly and efficiently teach
her children faith principles in such a way that will be understood and accepted as truth.
This article supports my argument that the disconnect between the new generation of
children-all of whom seem to have been born with a iPad in their hand- leads to a language
barrier. The children can use technology to get whatever answers they need immediately,
eliminating the need for an alternate source of information, namely a God. These children
and teens lack the ability to relate faith to knowledge, knowing faith only as a vague and
cloudy system that they cant easily grasp.
"BE YOU." Globe & Mail [Toronto, Canada] 9 May 2014: L1. Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Web. 7 Nov. 2014.
This article was written concerning the parenting styles of mothers in modern society.
Many mothers are weighed down by having to choose which type of mom they want to be,
how motherhood will affect their careers, and how to create a loving home for learning and
growth. This article will help me illustrate the context of the issue. Many families feel
distracted from their faiths by their busy lifestyles and obligations outside of their
churches. I will use this source to show how modern families need to work together to
create a lifestyle of faith, putting church and God ahead of school and work.
Eagleton, Terry. "An Unbelieving Age: Nietzsche's Challenge & the Christian response."
Commonwealth (2014): 12+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Nov. 2014.

Stryker 16
This article gives a detailed account on atheism and how it has permeated through normal
social arenas. The popularization of atheism went hand in hand with a brutal ambush on all
faiths and religions. American church organizations have been demonized as political
machines, working only for the gain of those at the top of the chain of command, while
selling the idea God to the sheep-like congregation members. This article supports my
argument that since American youths are taught that faith equals unguided and self-driven
passion, Christianity, as well as other major religion have suffered, being painted in their
extremes and driving the youth away.
Gibson, Timothy S. "Congregational Connectivity: The Key to Keeping the Youth in
Church." Journal Of Youth Ministry 3.1 (2004): 7-14. Academic Search Complete. Web. 31
Oct. 2014.
In the effort to attract teenagers, many church organizations have deployed youth
ministers, young and relatable religious leaders, at the front lines of the battle to reclaim
the hearts of the youth of America. This study quantifies the overall effectiveness of this
tactic, taking into account age groups, gender, and whether the youth were extrinsically
motivated(i.e. inheriting their parents faith) or intrinsically motivated (such as a personal
pursuit of answers to questions of faith). I will use this studys scientific data to bolster my
argument that churches need to create more relatable and accessible leaders for teenagers
to interact with, in order to help them feel more comfortable in a church setting.
Gottlieb, Lori. "Parents Should Allow Children to Experience Unhappiness and Pain."Parenting.
Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "How
to Land Your Children in Therapy." Atlantic (July-Aug. 2011). Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 7 Nov. 2014.
This source is an article written about the modern parenting style tat involves catering to
every need of a child. In Gottliebs article she claims that this constant access to an adult
cripples the childs social skills, and does not allow for proper growth or confidence. If a
child is raised, never having been taught to power through the discomfort, then as a
teenager and an adult that person will not be properly prepared to handle stress and
worry. I will use this argument in my paper to support my thesis that parents and church
need to let this generation of teens struggle for a little while and find their own path, all the
while remaining supportive and welcoming.
Ji, Chang-Ho C., and Tevita Tameifuna. "Youth Pastor, Youth Ministry, and Youth Attitude
Toward the Church." Review of Religious Research 52.3 (2011): 306-22. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.
This study of recent surveys concerning the efficacy of youth pastors in boosting church
attendance for teens, proves that when churches make an effort to reach out to teens and
inspire judgment-free dialogues between the youth and church leaders, the youth will feel
more motivated to attend church meetings. I will use this data, as I argue that in order to
help churches attract teenagers, church organizations must first analyze how they are
treating the youth of their congregations. Teenagers are given constant criticism
concerning their work habits, social interactions, academic progress, and future plans. In a

Stryker 17
church setting, what they really need is an environment that is peaceful, supportive, and
offers guidance, rather than judgment and preaching.
"My Take: Don't blame college for young people leaving Christianity." CNN Wire 29 Feb.
2012. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.
This article discusses the different possible causes to explain why teenagers are not
interested or invested in church organizations. As part of a popular argument, many
scholars argue that higher education is to blame for the youth leaving the churches they
were raised in or were previously a part of. This article directs attention towards the
churches themselves, demanding that they look internally for the cause. It is a popular view
that the large organized churches of today are corrupt and this article blames this
corruption for the teens abandoning of traditional church communities. I will use this
source to support my argument that churches must work with the youth to correct the
problem that drove the youth away in the first place.
Shattuck, Kathy. "7 Startling Facts: An Up Close Look at Church Attendance in
America." ChurchLeaders.com. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. <http://www.churchleaders.com>.
This article explains in detail the conditions surrounding the current decline in American
religious attendance. With statistics and additional analysis Shattuck explains that various
reasons why this nation-wide exodus is occurring. This article also calls on the parents of
teens who have drifted away from congregations to get more involved in reviving the
spiritual environment within their own homes. This article agrees with my argument that
parents and church leaders must work together to create a loving and welcoming
environment where teenagers can grow spiritually. I can utilize this sources wide range of
statistics and analysis in building my foundation of the argument.
Schultz, Valerie. "Raised on faith." America 17 Oct. 2011: 10+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Web. 7 Nov. 2014.
This article was written by a popular Catholic author, who discusses her experience raising
several of her own children in the Catholic Church. Despite all of her efforts to build the
foundations of faith, none of her children stayed faithful in the Catholic Church as they
reached adulthood. This was puzzling to her, and I hope to use her motherly viewpoint as I
argue that the youth are not staying in their parents faiths due to a lack of need for the
organized church. The teens are still spiritual, but they do not trust the corrupt and out- of
touch church leaders. I will use this source to show the churchs need for reform and open
discussion of improvement within the church.
Stetzer, Ed. "Dropouts and Disciples." The Exchange. Christianity Today. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer.html >.
This study displays a wide range of statistics concerning youth in America and religious
activities. These statistics mostly show how the youth members of Christian churches all
across America are slowing leaving their congregation communities shortly after they pass
their adolescent stage. These numbers are concerning and I hope to use them to illustrate
the reality of the situation. I will use this source to build up my introduction and prove with
data that this is a very real issue that church leaders should be concerned about.

Stryker 18
"'You Lost Me': Young Christians Rethink Faith." Tell Me More 20 Jan. 2012. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Nov. 2014.
This article discusses the dire need for open communication between the youth and the
older generations of American churches. Teenagers feel distanced from their older
congregation members due to the complicated issues that they are forced to face head-on.
Issues such as sexual promiscuity, sexual orientation and fluidity, and human rights have
never been as openly discussed before, and although older congregation members may not
feel as close to the issues as the youth, teenagers still need guidance and help form their
parents and leaders. This article supports my argument that in order to help pull the youth
back into the fold, first the church must prepare a welcoming and non-judgmental
environment, within which the youth will comfortable asking their leaders for spiritual
guidance and help.