WHEN DO PEOPLE LEAVE THE CHURCH?

Surprisingly, it’s much more likely during high school than college.

Here’s new research from Ryan Burge. Of those who left faith, half left by age 18, and the most concentrated time is during the late middle school and high school years. I’ve always said the church looses more students when they get the freedom of a drivers license than when they leave home. And they’re often not actually “leaving” the faith, they’re showing that they never had real convictions.

Churches, it’s VITAL that we actually evangelize and disciple the children and students in our churches! But here’s some encouraging news: Most people who make it to young adulthood with intact faith continue to believe