I’ve been talking to young couples, singles, young adults both on the web and in our church. Why? Because I’m watching them slowly drift away. Now this is happening not just here in our church but across the United States. I was listening to John Michael Talbot, the singer, composer and monk talking about this very same thing. He noted that only fifteen (15) percent of Roman Catholic youth are returning to the Church after they leave for college etc. (you might want to check him out on Facebook). The numbers are just as scary for those of us who label ourselves evangelical.

What I continue to hear is that church is not relevant, that I can get my “church” on the web which means I won’t have to get up. I don’t need to be with a bunch of other folks to get my religion. Problem is…you do. Christianity is relational. We come together to praise God, to worship as a community to shepherd those who are hurting to lift up those in pain. Without a fellowship you are totally alone.

But this requires some work on our part. We really do have to change our way of life and most of all our thinking. Anthony of Sourozh from “Meditations on a Theme” wrote, “This then is the real key to life: if you change your mind your conditions must change too-your body must change, your daily work or other activities must change; your home must change; the color-tone of your whole life must change-for whether you be habitually happy and cheerful, or low-spirited and fearful, depends entirely on the quality of the mental food upon which you diet yourself”.

Please understand me dear friends, children and youth…you need a Savior!

Some have wandered from the path keep them in your prayers.