40% In junior high.
45% In high school.
10% In college.
Four years ago I was sitting on the floor of the sanctuary at my church listening to my youth pastor’s word for the night. We were having a lock-in. My youth group was so close, all of us were best friends. We had a lot in common, and our favorite place to be was youth. I can remember nights we would all be crying, laying on our faces. Praying and listening for God’s voice. We were on fire.
I would encourage anyone to set aside an hour this week and watch this movie.
When I finished it ( twenty minutes ago) it left me heartbroken for my generation, more than usual. How many of us are falling away from God, our King, our First Love. Not just being luke warm, but forgetting Him completely.
Left me wondering. How can I fix this….? But the better question is… Can I?
I am lucky enough to have been raised in a home where Christ is always the center. My parents always asked us the tough questions about what we believed and why. When I had a question I knew I could take it to them, and if they didn’t have the answer I knew where we would turn.. The Bible, Christ. We would study together and figure out the answer I was looking for.
I learned 90% of what I know about Christ, the Bible, and living a godly life.. from my parents.
Those statistics from my title. What are they? The percentage of youth leaving Christ. I heard those same percentages four years ago, as a freshman, during a fun all nighter.. My youth pastor explained it like this…
Out of the 40 of you here now, MAYBE 3 of you will still follow Christ once you get into college..
He said this challenging us to break out of that percentage. That night we all made promises that it wouldn’t be us. We were too on fire.. Unfortunately, my youth pastor was right, and we became part of the statistic.
I guess what I am asking is.. will you be the statistic too?
Because that night none of us thought we would be. . You have to take steps to prevent it. Read your Bible on your own and really study it for yourself. Don’t just believe what everyone else has to say.
I am not willing to let another generation slip away.. something needs to change.
So when we grow up and become parents, lets step up to the plate and really TEACH our children about the God we love. Then maybe we won’t lose another generation..
And if you’re a parent reading this, please teach your children. Don’t assume that your staff at church is providing what we need. You don’t understand how much we really do want to hear from YOU.. Even if we are rolling our eyes.
Hey Alexis, haven’t talked to you in a long time… Pretty much not since Know Sweat in Cincinnati 3 years ago. Anyway, I hope all is well with you and your family. Anyway, this is very well written and thoughtful. I will watch the movie when I get some time to, I am interested to hear what it says… Frightening how many people fall away from God during teenage, and college years, but don’t forget there are campus ministries out there doing some wonderful things, and some people even find God in college (like me). Anyway, I hope all is going well!
You are wise beyond your years. Thank you for your challenging words.
Wow Alexis…your words speak to the heart and are so full of grace and wisdom beyond your years…love you girl!
This blog is so encouraging to read Alexis! I’m always encouraged to see young women like yourself following after Christ.I want to encourage you also… When you say you became apart of the statistic I can relate. I remember being in high-school and just being on fire for God but soon afterword I ended up living for praise from people and chasing after this one girl who I had a huge crush on thankful God opened my eyes and I ended up seeing how selfish I became. So afterwords I vowed to never waste my life like that again and live completely for Christ alone! While my heart motives where good I sadly slipped into playing the role of God. This is the area I want to encourage you in… the fact that your posting this blog is evidence of God’s amazing work in your life! When you ask the question “How can I fix this?” I want to encourage you from John 15:5 which says “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” I believe with Christ’s help you can but not in your own strength. I’ve recently fell into the trap of playing God…. it’s been a humbling thing to realize.. And it’s made me in awe how that even though I’m not on fire like I should be Christ is on fire for us sinners and loved me enough to die for be and continually lovingly purse us daily! I believe God can use you and has been using you in ways bigger than you even realize both in The Rubyz and in just in your daily life despite all the crazy-ness… we both know how us night shift people have it from time to time lol. Hope in some small way I was able to encourage you. Seen God working in your life and seeing you giving him glory has been so encouraging to me. Keep chasing after him girl!
Your brother in Christ, A@ron
Thanks for your encouraging words Aaron!
My whole youth group proved the statistic. There are only 5 of us still walking with Him.
But God’s plan will still be carried out in our lives.
amen!
Great blog Alexis… Looking forward to watching the movie.
88% of evangelical youth leave the evangelical church never to return to the evangelical church?
Or 88% of evangelical youth leave the evangelical church only to find their way to another church that is not evangelical?
Because that is not at all the same thing. There is a huge difference between giving up evangelicalism and giving up God.
It’s talking about giving up on God completely. We are all one body, right?
The wonderful thing is, of course,……God never gives up on us.
We Christians are all one body. But not all Christians see it that way.
I know, unfortunately.
We are all living for the same King, though! A great one at that..
Amen! Alexis, this is exactly what I needed to hear today. I have been struggling with a lot, including my relationship with God. Thank you, thank you so much for all your encouraging posts, keep it up! (:
-Lindsay
Please continue being the light that you are to your generation. Your courage and belief is needed more today than at any other time in our short history as a nation. You are the leaders of tommorrow, you are the hope. Thank you for being a christian source for my children… there are so very few that I can find. God Bless You. New York Mom
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This is pretty scary, yet true fact. I think had I not been involved in church leadership during my young adult years, I would have been closer to the majority than the minority. After all, the fact that I am able to connect with local and national young adult leaders in my denomination allowed me to stay grounded during my vulnerable years as a young adult.
Please don’t think I’m being critical guys! I just have a question: What’s wrong with fun and games at youth group? I understand if that’s all you do, you’ve completely lost the point, or if you go just to see friends, I can see what’s wrong with that. I’ll be open-minded about answers.
to me I think that we can have fun and games but make sure that we have plenty of time for God to move invon us and for us to learn about Him, If we go and learn nothing then what is the point of going right
You my friend are a genius
Wonderful views on that!
I’m the youth president at my church and I think about this topic everyday. My deepest desire is just to have the youth come closer to God and not pull away because of the world. It hurts me to think about it but I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who thinks about it. I agree with everything you said. May the father bless you! Keep up the awesome job!
This blog is amazing! Every teen and kid needs to read this! It changes lives!!
Keep on loning God, Alexis!!!!!:D
How are you??:D
Love,
Gracie:D:D
Hi Alexis. Thank you for doing this blog. May God bless you as you write. I will pass it on to my daughter. It’s always great to connect her with other Godly teens.
I can’t get into the video. What is the name of it and is there somewhere else I can watch it?
Thanks,
Dona
it is called Divided and I am pretty sure that you can get watch it on you tube
Hey Alexis I just love your blog they’re so encouraging. Thank you so much for what you do. How are you doing? Please also check out my blog
@ http://ishinerocks.wordpress.com/ thank you again 
Love,
Sarah
jesusrocks101 reblogged this on myfriendjesus101 and commented: This is such an amazing blog post and helps me personaly:D
Love you gurls!!!!!:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D<3
Alexis I watched part of the movie and got to about 15 minutes then I realized this is something that my whole church leadership needs to watch. I have seen people that were in the youth group that were on fire for God and now they have walked away. I think about the music that as long as it has a Christian meaning like you guys that it is alright. I am almost in tears now because I don’t want to see people walk away from God but I have already and I feel helpless. I want to do something big to get kids to come and be part of the family but I don’t know how. This showed me what I am afraid of people think church has to be fun but it doesn’t have to be. I would rather go sit in church and learn about God then play a game and not learn anything.