Items of Interest June 13, 2011 Issue

Teen ministry—not segregation but ‘transition’ training

“New book reveals massive exodus of teens from the church; offers solutions” www.africanamericanimages.com May 10, 2011

In the church of the future, the only members will be elder women and children. That is the startling claim made by bestselling author Jawanza Kunjufu in his new book, The Role of Teens in Your Church. 

According to Kunjufu, 40 percent of eighth grade students leave the church just as they are becoming teenagers. In addition, 70 percent of female teens and 90 percent of male teens leave the church upon their high school graduation. 

Kunjufu argues that with teens leaving in such high numbers, the church is not on a sustainable path of growth. “If children and teens really are our future, then how will the church survive such a massive exodus of youth?” he asks. 

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