The document discusses reasons why middle school teen church attendance is declining and ways to increase attendance. It identifies several obstacles that prevent teens from attending church, such as lack of interest, prioritizing other activities like sports or spending time with friends, and not feeling welcome. The document also discusses the importance of parental influence on religious views and making teens feel like they are part of a church community in order to keep them engaged.

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McKenzie Kate Johnson
Ms. Bennett
British Literature
7 October 2011
Middle School Teens and Church
As teen church attendance is dropping, the number of teen issues and disciplinary problems is
vastly increasing. Teens are now centering their lives around other outside sources trying to fill a
void. Middle school students today have countless reasons to attend church, but also have
numerous obstacles that prevent them from doing so. There are many preventatives when it
comes to an adolescent deciding whether or not to go to church. The answer can be as simple as
they are not interested in church, or it is not a priority, or the reason can be complex; various other
reasons fall in between. Teenagers often find it more important to be with friends or even to just sit
in front of the television. Even becoming involved from negative activities such as drugs or
drinking is the reason teens as young as middle school age are absent in church. Other times sports
and clubs interfere with church attendance. Also not feeling welcome or not getting along with
someone in the youth group can prevent students from coming. Cliques and feeling ostracized is
the fastest way to get teens to stop going. If teenagers do not want to go to church, they will find a
reason not to.
Sadly, often teenagers‟ home lives inhibit their religious growth. Teenagers may act as though
they want nothing to do with their parents, but “three out of four religious teens consider their own
beliefs somewhat or very similar to those of their parents” (Lytch). This statistic proves that the
environment and household children grow up in have an effect on their religious views. Teens who
do not grow up in religious homes and are not talked to about God do not see the importance in

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church and religion that other teens may. When they grow up in homes that attend church
regularly, their religious views reflect that. There are even times when students learn about
religion elsewhere and become interested in church, but their parents prevent them from attending
church.
In a world accepts many things that the Bible is against, kids are receiving mixed signals.
When seventh grader Sarah Christie was asked the difference between the world‟s morals and the
church‟s morals she said, “The world thinks fashion, popularity, drugs, sex, and money are
important. The church thinks those things are wrong, and worshiping God, obeying parents, and
loving people who do not love you are important.” This is just one example of how different the
moral basis is between the world and the Church. Teens are struggling with what is right and what
is wrong in a world where morals have created so much gray area. The media sends out many
different and conflicting messages describing what is acceptable and what is not. Teens are
wondering which message to listen to plus they are hearing from their parents, friends, and the
church. Pupils who grow up in church and youth group have an easier time seeing these
differences. However, those who do not grow up in church may not see the harm drinking, drugs,
sex, and other worldly accepted activities cause.
Teenagers decide to go to church for several reasons. In a survey done by Gallup, eighty-two
percent of teens actively involved in a youth group said it was because they wanted to learn more
about faith, almost three-quarters became involved because of parents, seventy-one percent
because they wanted to talk about important issues, and sixty-five percent because of an invitation
from a friend (Lindsay). A majority of the teenagers go because they have a curiosity about faith
strong enough to make them do something about it. They find an interest and are trying to fill a
hunger. When the teens see other Christians their age they begin to want the joy and fullness the

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Christians have. Teenagers are trying to fill a hunger any way they can and the only thing that can
actually fill it is God. These statistics also prove that parents play a vital role in their children‟s
religion. If teenagers love to do one thing, it is talk, which is why they like to come to church,
where they can talk about their issues and what they think is important. They can gain advice that
is more beneficial to them than advice they get from fellow classmates. Still, one of the main
reasons teens go to church is because they are invited by a friend. It is very intimidating to walk
into a youth room alone, not knowing anybody. When teens arrive with a friend they at least know
that one other person and that person can show them around and introduce them to other members.
Adolescents come to church originally for so many reasons, but stay and learn the love of God.
The best way to keep these adolescents involved is to make them feel welcome. Sarah Christie,
the seventh grader, says, “When kids do not feel welcome or like anyone will relate to them they
stop coming” and may never meet Jesus. Teens who have a negative church experience may be
“lost” forever meaning, they never become saved. When teens feel like people care they will keep
coming back. Having these visitors fill out a guest card with their information so that they can be
followed up with is a great way to make them feel like they were noticed. Teenagers want to know
that they matter and are wanted. Often times people who are actively involved in church say they
feel as though “the church is my home, everyone is my family, and God is my Father” (Christie).
This feeling will keep them coming back. There is a creation of unity and community when this
“church family” is formed. For some it is the first time they feel a part of a family and they have
someone to call on if they need something. Feeling cared for and having a safe place to go is
something people long for that the church can provide.
There is great importance in making sure that teenagers are getting involved in church now,
while they are young. The Bible says, “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he

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will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 NIV). This verse proves that children and teens who are
actively involved in a church are more likely to stay involved when they are adults. Jacob
Sokolove, an eighth grader, says that, “They [middle school students] need God the most because
when they are an adult it may be too late.” When people become older it is harder to get involved
and change habits; they are less likely to find a reason to start attending church. The thought is, “I
have gotten this far without church, why do I need it now?” Once people become adults the
likelihood that they will become involved in church when they have not ever been before drops
seventy percent. Adults cannot see what they are missing out on by not having God or church.
Middle school is a hard and confusing time in people‟s life. Matthew Bath, who is in
seventh grade, says it is important for middle schoolers to come to church, “Because in middle
school they are going through tough times [and church teaches that] when it‟s tough to keep going;
remember, „There is a light at the end of the tunnel.‟” During adolescence it is vital to know that
there is something better to come and all these trials are not as tragic as young people think. At a
time when every little incident is the end of the world, adolescents will hold on to the fact that there
is someone watching over them and that things will work out the way that is best. Also, the
guidance that the church provides is unparalleled. Church is the place where many people learn
right from wrong and it shapes how they will live their lives. Teenagers gain a place to ask
questions and find out what is best for them when they are a part of a church.
Thirteen may appear to be an age that is just about media and pop culture, especially in
today‟s world, but it can also be a time of deep thought and connection with God when given the
chance (Thornburgh). Nathan Thornburgh, along with many other pastors and psychologists,
believes that given the chance, young teenagers can flourish in their relationship with God. These
teenagers are capable of much more than many people give them credit for; they can do more than

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blast music and watch television. Teens have the capablity to achieve anything they set their minds
to. “Don‟t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the
believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV). This verse is the
life motto of so many young people. When encouraged and put in the right environment, teens can
change the world for God. Teens have started organizations, raised money, led others to Christ,
and so much more because they were believed in and put in the right situation. Young people are
capable of so much more than today‟s media suggests.
No teen is exactly the same as another or has the same story. Teenagers, depending on their
backgrounds, are in different places spiritually. Some teens know nothing about Christ, while
others have grown up in church their whole lives. Teens who know little about Christ need to be
approached differently and be reached out to. According to author Jonathan McKee, there are six
types of students from the “no way kid” to the “looking for ministry kid,” all of whom need to be
handled differently. With outreach to students like the “no way kid,” the focus needs to be
evangelistic, whereas the “looking for ministry kid” focus should be learning how to live out
his/her faith everyday (McKee). Teenagers who do not go to church need to be reached out to in
other ways. Using school events and encouraging students already in youth group to talk to and
invite friends is a great way to start. Students already growing in faith need to be given
opportunities to use it. These opportunities can be giving them a special responsibility, giving
them a chance to share what they know, and so many other tasks that allow teens to use their talents
to glorify God. When teens are not given the chance to grow, boredom sets in and teens may be
lost. Teens need to always grow in their faith, and never stagnate.
Every youth group, no matter how well behaved the kids seem, is going to have an issue or
two sometimes. It is important to be able to notice these problems so they may be taken care of.

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One of the biggest problems youth groups face is cliques, which “are the enemy of a healthy
community and ultimately of students hearing God‟s best for them” (Bell). The teenagers who are
not a part of the clique feel alienated and usually stop coming. Bullying can equally cause a
student‟s attendance to drop. When a group of students were asked what problems were seen in a
youth group, a majority of them, along with Jacob Sokolove, said the disruptive students. So teens
are equally discouraged when they see their leader being disrespected and other students being
distracting. When leaders see these problems, they need to decide a plan of action immediately to
address these problems. Sometimes the issue may be handled by simply talking to the few who are
causing the problem, but when the problem is the majority, the group needs to be addressed. In
certain situations the leader will even base their lesson for the day on the issue to have it fully
explained and hopefully prevent continuation. These issues need to be handled before students are
lost.
For teens to become attached to church they need to feel like they are a part of something
bigger than themselves and that the teachings are relevant to them. Pastor Chris Palmer says that
his youth group attendance doubled when he told the teens “real church, centered around Christ, is
hard work. It involves the Marine Corps of Christianity” (Grossman). Teens want to be part of
something bigger than themselves. As much as adolescents deny it, they want something that is
challenging and takes some work. If it is just the same monotonous routine, they become bored and
feel like they are not accomplishing anything. Something exciting and radical catches their
attention. If their attention is gained, everything will run smoothly. Also, giving a relevant
application of the lesson makes them feel like the information is something that they need to know.
Talking about how people lived during biblical times is going to make it seem that what is being
taught does not apply to today‟s teens. Giving examples of how the teachings work in today‟s

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world as well lets them see the importance and see that the Bible is timeless. Making the Bible and
church relevant to the students also means challenging them. Giving a weekly goal or challenge
related to the lesson will keep the youth thinking about the lesson and give them a way to apply it
to their lives. After all, what use is knowledge if it is not applied? These challenages will help the
teens remember the information for longer as well. Teens want to feel useful and like they are
making a difference; if they feel that way, they will keep going to church.
Teenagers want something to fill the void in their lives, yet so many factors can prevent
them from doing so. Teens are not the future; they are the now, and it is necessary to reach them
before it is too late. Teens wish to achieve great things, but they need the right guidance and God as
their focus to succeed.