• High percentages (approximately 50 percent to 95 percent) of baptized children participate in children’s ministries and confirmation.
• High percentages (approximately 65 percent to 75 percent) of baptized and confirmed youth cease participation in worship and congregational ministries by age 21.
• High percentages (approximately 50 percent to 60 percent) of baptized and confirmed youth who ceased participation in worship and congregational ministries by age 21 have not returned to participate in any faith community by age 35.
• Approximately 10 percent of baptized children and youth continue in the life of the church, and “grow in grace” within the faith community and its mission in the world.
For years Cross of Life Lutheran Church followed the routine. Young people came for the overnight lock-in and, every so often, they’d slip away for an out-of-town convention. The yawns from the youth grew loud enough to rattle the older generation—and the adults didn’t like the sound of their church’s future. They gave the youth leadership roles — including two seats on the church council.
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© 2013 Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
