Mission Lifeguard 1

Question #1. What is the percentage

of young people who have left your church

(or conference)?

Question #2.How do you know?

How many young people are in your

church (or conference)?

Question #2.How do you know?

Once saved, always saved

Is this a Seventh-day Adventist belief?

Once saved, always saved

Is this a Seventh-day Adventist practice?

1978

1978

Young people need to create a new identity. Being different from the established norm

gives them a new identity.

1978

Put them in charge of the church so they can create their new identity IN THE CHURCH instead of

outside of the church.

2000

2000

1,523 baptized young people, ages 15-16 in 1987.783 baptized young people, ages 25-26 in 1997.

2000

“It seems reasonable to believe that at least 40-50% of Seventh-Day Adventist teenagers in North America are

essentially leaving the church by their middle 20s.”

2000

Of the 783 in the last year of the study, 1/3 had changed their address in the previous year.

2000

Of the 783 in the last year of the study, 80% were presently members of the SDA Church.

2000

Of the 783 in the last year of the study, 80% were presently members of the SDA Church.

But only 55% attend church regularly.

2005

NSYR

2005

NSYR

“Religion and spirituality are indeed very significant in the lives of many American teenagers.”

2009

NSYR

2009

“The common wisdom that religiosity declines sharply during the young adult years

is shown to be greatly exaggerated.”

NSYR

2011

2011

“43% drop-off between the teen and early adult years in terms of church engagement.”

2011

“The dropout problem is, at its core, a faith-development problem.”

2011

“The church is not adequately preparing the next generation to follow Christ faithfully

in a rapidly changing culture.”

NOMADS

NOMADS

They walk away from church engagement but still consider

themselves to be Christian.

PRODIGALS

PRODIGALS

They lose their faith and consider themselves to “no longer be Christian.”

EXILES

EXILES

They are still invested in their Christian faith but they feel “stuck” or “lost” between

culture and the church.

2012

Churches that implemented MISSION LIFEGUARD

reclaimed 83% of their young people in 6 months,

and 94% of their young people in 12 months.

I made up those numbers,just like other people do when

they “quote statistics” about young people leaving the

church!

CPR

ConnectPR

ConnectPraiseR

ConnectPraiseRelease

CPR

Chit-chatPR

Chit-chatPoutR

Chit-chatPoutRestrict

How hard can it be?

SPOTTERS

LIFEGUARDS

What are the top 3 qualities you would want in a lifeguard?

A fool-proof wayto keep young people

in the church!

“Church-Boy Charlie”

2012

$8.95 for the booklet.On sale at SECC Convention for only $5

2012

$39.95 for the complete kit.Includes the leadership booklet, 2 t-shirts, whistle,

tote bag and media kit.