Why, then, does this new emphasis on family ministry also present a potential problem? Simply this: In many cases, churches are focusing on family ministry as a reaction to dismal retention statistics. It has been repeatedly reported over the past few years that somewhere between 65% and 94% of churched youth drop out of church before their sophomore year of college.[3] As a result, many congregations are shifting their ministry models not because of convictions that have grown from a seedbed of sustained scriptural and theological reflection. Instead, what motivates them is the supposed crisis of abysmal retention rates-a crisis that they plan to solve by launching a series of family ministry programs. Their focus on family ministry is a pragmatic reaction rooted in a desire for numbers with no standard by which to judge the results other than an increasing number of warm bodies.[4]
Want to read more??? Go here. The article really explains what some churches are doing...not to try and increase numbers, but to actually worship in more of a Biblical model.
And, if you're curious, our church seems to be more family-based. We have age-segregated activities but parents are never (ever) discouraged from participating. In fact, it's a given that they will participate and help out (as will most of the adults in the church). It's also expected that the children will sit through worship and actively participate in it (even singing "Only a Boy Named David" in the middle of the sermon). It's also a given that the children will participate in adult activities, such as care group and visitation and, of course, worship.
Anyway, it's a very well written article and might help some people (who are still scratching their heads) to understand the kind of church we're attending (and why).
(Did I use the parenthesis enough? It's either that or the...)
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