Keeping Your Kids Connected Why They Stay Keeping Your Kids Connected to Church for Life ©2018

An erosion is taking place in the North American church. The Problem An erosion is taking place in the North American church. John Dickerson notes two reasons: Struggling to connect gospel with current culture & losing those who grow up in church. 60% are lost during “college years.” STAY GBC Parr/Crites

1,393 responded to the survey from across North America The Sample 1,393 responded to the survey from across North America Of those who have “strayed,” 39% say they intend to get reconnected. STAY GBC Parr/Crites

We need to help families throw out anchors that keep children and teens connected for a lifetime. That is what Why They Stay is about. STAY GBC Parr/Crites

ANCHORS AT HOME STAY GBC Parr/Crites

First Anchor: A Healthy Marriage Strong marriages equate with likelihood of staying connected. If divorce occurs during adolescence, that child is twice again as likely as all others to stray. STAY GBC Parr/Crites

Second Anchor: Close Connection to Both Mom and Dad. A person that was not close to their mom is 65% more likely to have strayed and 50% more likely if not close to their dad. The second anchor relates to the first also. STAY GBC Parr/Crites

Third Anchor: Parents Provide Balanced Discipline As opposed to “very loose” or “very strict” They were more inclined to stray if discipline was further to the left or further to the right. Bring them up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” STAY GBC Parr/Crites

ANCHORS AT CHURCH STAY GBC Parr/Crites

Fourth Anchor: Mom and Dad demonstrate priorities by serving at church. More than 50% more likely to stay if mom and dad served. Demonstration that some things are “caught” as well as “taught.” STAY GBC Parr/Crites

Fifth Anchor: Love for the Pastor 90% more likely to stay if they liked their pastor while growing up. A “bad church experience” was the number one self-described reason for “straying.” STAY GBC Parr/Crites

Sixth Anchor: They attended worship services that did not separate them from their parents when growing up. 37.1% more likely to have strayed in they grew up attending a children’s worship service while parents were in a separate worship service. Recalling their church as providing sufficient “children’s activities” had a positive correlation to those who “stayed.” STAY GBC Parr/Crites

Anchors That Hold Them Steady in Turmoil STAY GBC Parr/Crites

Seventh Anchor: Support Through Transitions Sixth, Ninth, and Freshmen experiences. Those who stayed said their church had a good children’s ministry, a good student ministry, and a ministry to college age young adults. They need other adults to tell them what their parents would tell them if they would listen! STAY GBC Parr/Crites

Eighth Anchor: A High View of Scripture They were 25 times more likely to have strayed if they have a low view of scripture and 84% more likely to have stayed if they have a “very high” view of scripture. 16% of those who strayed (3rd most common self-described reason) attributed their decision to “intellectual doubts.” STAY GBC Parr/Crites

Ninth Anchor: A Good Transition Following High School. 138% more likely to stay if they moved off and did connect with a congregation. Most young adults have never had to look for a church and have never been taught how. STAY GBC Parr/Crites

Online Resources: whytheystay.com steveparr.net FaceBook – GBC Research – Examining Faith & Culture Linkedin or Follow on Twitter @steverparr @ltomcrites sparr@gabaptist.org tcrites@gabaptist.org STAY GBC Parr/Crites