[WilliamIII]

Sure, in an ideal world - or back in the 50s - you could leave it up to the parents. But not today.

You think the communists left it up to the parents to teach communism? To the contrary, they taught the kids DESPITE what the parents were saying at home.

The churches should be making the kids ambassadors for Christ to their own families — and not relying on lukewarm parents to propagate the faith, or consigning kids to secularism if they’re unfortunate enough to have lukewarm parents.

A lot of the evangelical churches get it - and focus their evangelism on young people. In contrast, too many the Catholics are confused and complacent.

[ronnietherocket3]

You think the communists left it up to the parents to teach communism? To the contrary, they taught the kids DESPITE what the parents were saying at home.

God did ordain parents to raise their children. Taking children away from their parents is not a good idea.

[redgolum]

As someone probably closer to Evangelical youth groups, I think you are over estimating the success.

What typically happens is they graduate high school, and realize the church has no idea of what to do with them. They are no longer “youth” (and can’t be treated as such) but if they don’t have a family, they don’t fit in with the rest of the older church. That and to often they don’t really have much of a foundation to go back on. They views often mirror that of society at large, and not of the church. So these people typically drift out of church attendance till they get married and start having kids. Many don’t return even then.

Youth ministries need to be changed. Instead of “Lets keep this fun!” it needs to be “Let’s build a foundation!” To much milk means the kids are not ready for growth.

I saw it personally. After college, when I had my first job, most of the churches I went to didn’t know what to do with a 20 something single man. Many made it quite clear that I was not a “desired” group, and to go “elsewhere”.

The Church as a whole needs to be there for the entire life of the Christian. Not just as Youth and families with kids. However, that means dealing with a lot of things that pastors and priests don’t want to deal with. Things like young adults dating and breaking up (which was a reason one church I went to suburban Chicago did not do young adult groups), older single adults who have either lost their spouse or had a divorce, and the elderly in some parishes who might not fit the growth plan.

The Church is supposed to be a hospital of sinners, but to often it is viewed as an entertainment business.