Churches are beginning to wake up to the fact that our congregations are missing large numbers of young people. The “missing generation” includes young people who have either “dropped out” of church or who have never had a church background at all.
What to do? How can churches reach 20-somethings? Some books focus on reclaiming the “drop-outs” – those who once were in church, but have since left. Essential Church, by Thom and Sam Rainer, is a book that focuses on reclaiming what we have lost.
Ed Stetzer’s new book puts forth a vision that is more expansive. Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them (Broadman & Holman, 2009) focuses on churches that are seeing success in reaching the younger unchurched from across the spectrum – including those without any Christian background whatsoever.
Co-written with Jason Hayes and RIchie Stanley, Lost and Found sets forth an optimistic tone:
“This book is not entitled Lost and We Just Wanted to Tell You (and it’s the Church’s fault by the way). We’re calling it Lost and Found because that we want you to know that young adults are being found – effectively engaged in their culture, coming to faith in Christ, and being incorporated into congregational life.” (1)
Stetzer focuses on this question: “Who are the young unchurched and how can they be reached with the good news of Jesus Christ?” By simplifying the question, the authors are able to move past all the debates about church growth methodology and discussions about style. In fact, they are unapologetic in their focus on discipleship results:
“A movement may be emerging, contemporary, reformed, or whatever, but if it fails to produce new followers of Jesus Christ, it is only a fascinating and engaging dead end.” (3)
Lost and Found is indeed about church growth, but Stetzer’s brand is what I like to call church growth with brakes. He remains tethered to Scripture and the centrality of the gospel. There is no sense in watering down the gospel in order to gather a crowd. But neither is there any sense in clinging to methods or traditions that distract people from the centrality of the gospel and our commission to evangelize.
The first part of the book describes the younger unchurched (their assumptions, opinions, values, and convictions). Introducing us to the younger generation is Stetzer’s way of preparing us to be “good missionaries” – people who understand the context in which we live and who have a passion for reaching the lost where they are.
I admit that statistics don’t do much for me. And part 1 contains plenty of stastics that make my eyes glaze over. Thankfully, the authors continually incorporate summaries to help along readers like me. By transforming the statistics into concrete examples, the authors make the data easy to comprehend.
Part 2 lists four markers that are common to young adult concerns:
- Community
- Depth
- Responsibility
- Connection
Part 3 shows how churches are reaching young adults, by taking the markers listed above and fleshing them out in practical ways. The authors come up with nine characteristics common to churches that are reaching young adults:
- Creating deeper community
- Making a difference through service
- Experiencing worship
- Conversing the content
- Leveraging technology
- Building cross-generational relationships
- Moving toward authenticity
- Leading by transparency
- Leading by team.
Lost and Found gives me hope for the next generation. God continues to seek and save the lost, even among this “missing” generation. We are not a lost cause.
Stetzer’s analysis is not particularly innovative, and that’s a good thing. Instead, he marshalls the polling and statistics in support of his call for churches to go back to the basics of the Christian faith. Lost and Found challenges the status quo. But the book is also encouraging. The authors strike an optimistic chord regarding the future.
The call to witness to the truth of the gospel goes out to every generation, young or old, churched or unchurched, missing or present. Whatever the context, our task remains the same. And Lost and Found makes me want to take part in God’s mission with greater passion.
