Thursday, June 16, 2011

Family…Isn’t it about time?

You know, i’ve noticed that there’s a great deal of worry among church leaders about the activity level of teenagers growing up in the church. This makes sense—in any church, particularly one with a lay leadership, those who grow up in that church are a likely pool for future leadership.

Of course, if someone stops coming to church at fourteen years of age, it’s likely not the kid who’s made the decision to stop coming—it’s more likely the parents. So why do parents of teenagers stop coming to church (and, by extension, stop bringing their children to church)?

Well, i can’t think to speak for all of them, or even a majority of them, but when i look at the absolute timesink involved in having an active teenager in our church (and it gets worse when they turn fourteen, and i can’t even imagine what it’s like for parents with both male and female teens), well, i can begin to guess about at least one reason.

Really, folks—would it kill you to leave a few weeks of the year completely free for families to just spend as families, without making them feel like their kids have to be at some activity or another? Just saying that it would be nice, that’s all.

1 comment:

Heather the Mama Duk said...

No kidding!

Of course here Scout Camp is so expensive ($400!) we had no boys go this year. Even Cub Scout Camp is super expensive ($160) and barely any are going.

What I really can't figure out is why Girls Camp started the day after school ended. Weird timing.