Thom S. Rainer, Essential Church?: Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts. B and H Books, 2008.
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Referenced in: Generational Issues in Churches
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is one of several resources on the younger generations produced by LifeWay Research, a ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is LifeWay’s look into the younger de-churched population in much the same way as Stetzer’s Lost and Found is for the younger un-churched. Another LifeWay resource by Thom and Jess Rainer, The Millennials, which is a comprehensive demographic picture of the younger population as a whole.
Essential Church is perhaps the most extensive study of its kind on why seventy-percent of 18-22 year olds leave the church and what motivates those who return. The main idea is that those who leave find the church “non-essential” to their lives, as to where those who stay or return find it “essential.” They suggest what churches can do to become “essential” in the perspective of young people. (The Essential Church title is a follow-up on Rainer’s earlier volume, Simple Church).
Typical of LifeWay, the research was conducted responsibly. It reflects in-depth interviews with over 1,000 people in their early 30s who had “dropped out” of the church at some point when they were 18-22 years old. Based on the experience of the interviewees, the research says a key age is 16, when attendance peaks. At age 17, it drops 15%, then 24% at 18, and 29% at 19. Here were the top ten reasons for leaving:
- Simply wanted a break from church.
- Church members seemed judgmental or hypocritical.
- Moved to college and stopped attending church.
- Work responsibilities prevented attendance.
- Moved too far away from the church to continue attending.
- Became too busy though still wanted to attend.
- Didn’t fee connected to the people in the church.
- Disagreed with the church’s stance on political or social issues.
- Chose to spend more time with friends outside the church.
- Was only going to church to please others.
They noted “Seven Deadly Sins” of the churches these young people leave:
- Doctrine Dilution – they water down the gospel
- Loss of Evangelistic Passion – they have no boldness in witnessing
- Failure to Be Relevant – they relate the gospel to their culture
- Few Outwardly Focused Ministries – it’s all about the members
- Conflict Over Personal Preferences – they fight over minor issues
- The Priority of Comfort – ministries do not challenge the members
- Biblical Illiteracy – they don’t understand the biblical basis of their faith
On the other hand, they discovered four things done by the churches that keep or (re)attract their young:
- Simplify: Getting the Structure Right – Represents their preference for simplicity over complexity. Essential churches “have simplified their process so that a path of discipleship is clear.” Here the writers rely heavily on the ideas from Rainer’s earlier volume, Simple Church, and the four elements of clarity, movement, alignment, and focus.
- Deepen: Getting the Content Right – Represents their preference for depth over shallowness. Essential churches “provide rich and deep biblical teachings.” This depth must come both from the pulpit, small groups, as well as equipping members to study the Bible themselves.
- Expect: Getting the Attitude Right – Represents the preference for high expectations over low expectations. Essential churches “raised the level of expectations of the member of the church.” Interestingly, small groups factor largely, as 83% of those who remain attend worship and small group combined, but only 16% of those who attend worship alone reamin. New members classes are important for regaining dropouts, and the authors provide an extensive list of what should be covered in these classes.
- Multiply: Getting the Action Right – Shows the preference for multiplication over inward focus. Essential churches “are on a mission to multiply through evangelism and other outwardly focused ministries.” Here they reveal that 66% of the dechurched come back between the ages of 23-30, half of them when encouraged by a family member. Worship style and approach to ministry are important.
From the Publisher
Why do so many young adults (18 to 22) leave the church, and what will it take to bring them back? This important question is examined and duly answered in Essential Church?, a follow-up to Thom S. Rainer’s best-selling Simple Church, cowritten this time with his son, research expert Sam Rainer.
The book is based on a study of one-thousand so-called “church dropouts” who were interviewed about why they left. Their answers are quite surprising, having less to do with “losing their religion” and more about the desire for a community that isn’t made stale by simply maintaining the status quo.
In turn, the Rainers offer churches four concrete solutions toward making their worship community an essential part these young people’s lives again:
- Simplify – develop a clear structure and process for making disciples.
- Deepen – provide strong biblical teaching and preaching.
- Expect – let members know the need for commitment to the congregation.
- Multiply – emphasize evangelism, outward focus, and starting new churches.
About the Auhors
Thom S. Rainer is president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian resource companies worldwide, and the best-selling coauthor of Simple Church. Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three grown sons and live in Nashville, Tennessee.
Sam S. Rainer is a senior pastor, writer, and the president and CEO of Rainer Research. He also blogs and writes a column for Outreach magazine and lives with his wife, Erin, in Floyds Knobs, Indiana.
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