Already Gone : Why Your Kids Will Quit Church and What You Can Do to Stop It

If you look around in your church today, two-thirds of the young people who are sitting among us have already left in their hearts; soon they will be gone for good. This is the alarming conclusion from a study Answers in Genesis commissioned from America's Research Group, led by respected researcher Britt Beemer. The results may unnerve you - they may shake long-held assumptions to the core -but these results need to be taken seriously by the church. Already Gone reveals: Why America's churches have lost an entire generation of believers The views of 1,000 twenty-somethings, solidly raised in the church but no longer attending - and their reasons why Relevant statistical data effectively teamed with powerful apologetics The study found that we are losing our kids in elementary, middle school, and high school rather than college, and the "Sunday school syndrome" is contributing to the epidemic, rather than helping alleviate it. This is an alarming wake-up call for the church, showing how our programs and our approaches to Christian education are failing...and our children are paying the price. Though the statistics reveal a huge disconnect taking place between our children and their church experience. Already Gone shows how to fight back for our families, our churches, and our world. We can make a difference today that will affect the statistics of tomorrow in a positive and Christ-focused way! Over 100,000 copies in print! If you look around in your church today, two-thirds of the young people who are sitting among us have already left in their hearts; soon they will be gone for good. This is the alarming conclusion from a study Answers in Genesis commissioned from America's Research Group, led by respected researcher Britt Beemer. The results may unnerve you - they may shake long-held assumptions to the core - but these results need to be taken seriously by the church. Already Gone reveals: • Why America's churches have lost an entire generation of believers • The views of 1,000 twenty-somethings, solidly raised in the church but no longer attending - and their reasons why • Relevant statistical data effectively teamed with powerful apologetics The study found that we are losing our kids in elementary, middle school, and high school rather than college, and the'Sunday school syndrome'is contributing to the epidemic, rather than helping alleviate it. This is an alarming wake-up call for the church, showing how our programs and our approaches to Christian education are failing...and our children are paying the price. Though the statistics reveal a huge disconnect taking place between our children and their church experience, Already Gone shows how to fight back for our families, our churches, and our world. We can make a difference today that will affect the statistics of tomorrow in a positive and Christ-focused way! Nationwide polls and denominational reports are showing that the next generation is calling it quits on the traditional church. And it's not just happening on the nominal fringe; it's happening at the core of the Faith. What are the factors that could cause the next generation to be lost from the local church? Ken Ham from Answers in Genesis commissioned Britt Beemer from America's Research Group to find out. In the first scientific study of its kind, Beemer surveyed a thousand 20-30 year olds who used to go to Evangelical churches on a regular basis but have since left it behind. The results are not just surprising; they are shocking: Those who faithfully attended Sunday school are more likely to leave the church than those who do not. Those who regularly attended Sunday school are more likely to believe that the Bible is less true. Over half of those who faithfully attended church feel that church is not relevant to real life today. Statistics reveal a huge disconnect taking place between our children and their church experience. The trends are frightening, but Already Gone shows how to fight back for our families, our churches and our world. We can make a difference today that will affect the statistics of tomorrow! - Publisher. Part 1: An epidemic on our hands -- Already gone -- Sunday School syndrome -- Not what you'd expect -- The short road to irrelevance -- Part 2 : Solutions within our grasp -- The ready defense -- The real deal -- Welcome to the revolution -- Appendix 1 : The survey -- Appendix 2 : Resources for upholding the Word -- Appendix 3 : Resources for parents -- Appendix 4 : Resources for Christian educators -- Appendix 5 : Resources for youth pastors -- Appendix 6 : Resources for pastors