I recently came across a statistic that I want to share with you. This has huge implications for the church, for evangelism, and for how we pursue our vision to know Jesus and to make him known.
Here it is. According to a 2015 survey done by the National Association of Evangelicals in the US, 63% of adult Christians came to faith between the ages of 4-14. Another 34% became Christians between the ages of 15-29. Which means that approximately 97% of Christians made that choice before they were 30 years old! That’s stunning. It turns out that people are a lot like cement: the longer we’re around, the harder we get. (NAE doesn’t have the study on their site anymore, but numerous pages quote and link to the now non-existent page!)
At The Bridge, I’ve recently preached a couple of sermons on the importance of building solid foundations. As part of those, I’ve referenced Proverbs 22:6: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” By the way, Proverbs like that aren’t meant to be truths without exception. They are generalities. Can you find kids who were set in one direction at a young age, only to rebel and live wildly in another direction later on? Um yes. But is it generally true? Is it generally true that the foundations you build in a kid’s life will have a massive impact on the direction their life goes? Absolutely. Starting well is crucial, and while not impossible, it’s really hard to correct course later on.
Practically speaking, and in terms of making Jesus known, this means that our ministry to children, teens, young adults and their families is the most important thing we do. That isn’t to say ministry to all people isn’t important. It doesn’t mean evangelistic efforts which reach other age groups aren’t important. And of course, evangelism isn’t the only thing a church is about. Growing disciples and helping everyone know Jesus more is also at our core. Don’t hear me wrong here. But what I am saying is that evidently, when it comes to evangelism and mission, there is nothing more pressing and ultimately fruitful than reaching the young.
How can you join in on this? I’m so glad you asked! Here are a few suggestions:
For parents:
You have the most important role in the most important stage of life for your children, especially when it comes to following Jesus. A staff person in your church gets maybe a couple of hours with your kids, tops. But you’re at home with them. The conversations you have with them, the priorities you model to them, and the commitment of your own discipleship will make all the difference in the world. This is especially true the younger your kids are: build that foundation. Establish clear priorities in line with the Kingdom of God, including participation and service in the body of Christ. Spend time together as a family in Scripture and in prayer.
For potential volunteers:
If you’re reading this and have a heart to make Jesus known, consider serving in a way that puts you in contact with the next generation. For some, that will be in an area like coaching or tutoring. For others, that might be in a ministry at your church. While parents play the most important role, the opportunity for other adults to speak into the lives of children and teens in impactful ways is often underrated. Pray about whether God is calling you to help teach kids on Sunday mornings, or to volunteer in a midweek kids, preteen, or teen ministry.
For everyone else:
Maybe you’re not a parent of anyone under 30 years of age, and maybe you know that you’re not gifted or called to serve in a hands-on way. But you can pray. You can make a commitment to pray for this next generation every day. Maybe there’s a particular family that is on your heart- make a commitment to pray for them and their kids on a daily basis. At The Bridge Church, we often do child dedications for families with babies. One of the promises we make as a church is to do what we can to help raise these kids to know Jesus. Prayer is a huge part of that, because it is only by encountering God’s presence that these kids will come alive in Christ.
Maybe you have other ideas about how to participate in making Jesus known to this generation- I’d love to hear it! The world is going to “disciple” our kids in a particular direction, so making Jesus known is going to require our commitment and intentionality. Let’s do it together.
