Principal Concerns in Our Communication with and Retention of Today's Youth for Tomorrow's Church

There are several objectives involved when addressing the issue of communicating with today's youth and retaining them for tomorrow's church. The frustrations that confront today's ministries are varied, but most are found in the areas of communication and retention. How do we communicate with today's youth? Why are we losing so many of our young people to the world if we are communicating the principles of God's Word? We are not communicating the message that produces values and principles. Many parents and youth leaders just do not have the skills needed to communicate these principles. We not only need to know how to communicate, but we need to know the principles to communicate which will cause youth to gain character, stability and consistency for their future years. Many of our youth are not developing their ability to maintain a Christian stance. Retention is a matter of developing foundational values and principles that will automatically come into action when a decision is called for in time of challenge. Values need to be developed early in Christian life for proper character to be exercised as one matures and develops into early adulthood. Throughout this project issues are developed which address these questions.

Methods and techniques are discussed which can be used by youth leaders, along with information to help better deal with the principle concern in (1) communicating and (2) retaining today's youth for tomorrow's church. Information presented will show where we have failed to communicate values and biblical principles and how we have failed to give our youth techniques to deal with their decision process. We will develop some "How to" methods of communication as well as some "How not to" methods of communication. The purpose of this book is to provide our youth values and principles that will give them the ability to remain faithful to the cause of Christ, the church, and others. We are facing the issue of destroyed foundations. We must realize that King David's words are as correct today as they were when he first asked, "If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Ps. 11:3). The biblical issue is the fact that the Word of God is absolute truth. The values of truth, marriage, purity, honesty, love, peace, and happiness are values that must be built on the Scriptural foundation of absolute truth. Accepting the biblical message of truth is the beginning point for teaching our youth the principles of life that will bring them fulfillment and happiness. If the Bible is not accepted as the authority by which lives and futures are built, it is difficult to bring about effective results in the aforementioned areas. These subjects will be approached assuming the Word of God is accepted as the authority by which we draw our conclusions: "And the words, which I command thee this day, shall be in your heart: ... and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children..." (Deut. 6:4-9).