Why Young Adults Are Leaving the Church?

Let's dive into a trend that’s close to many of our hearts: young adults leaving the church or even walking away from faith altogether. It’s not just a headline—it’s personal. Many of us know someone who’s stepped away, or maybe you’ve even considered it yourself. We began with Psalm 78:4–7, a passage that reminds us of our responsibility to pass on the works and wonder of God to the next generation. If that transfer is breaking down, we must ask: why?

This isn’t about blaming the younger generation. In fact, we believe the older generations bear much of the responsibility. If Millennials and Gen Z aren’t engaging with faith, perhaps we’ve failed to model a faith worth following. The statistics show a steady decline in church involvement across generations, with a sharp acceleration in the last two decades. But before we assume the reasons, we need to do something radical—actually ask the people leaving. Their answers? Hypocrisy. Inauthenticity. Irrelevance.

The message they’re sending is clear: they’re looking for something real. They don’t want perfect Christians who pretend to have it all together. They want to see honesty. Vulnerability. A gospel that actually applies to real life. When Christian leaders fall publicly and churches respond defensively or hypocritically, it chips away at credibility. When churches shy away from hard conversations, young adults tune out. We can’t afford to keep pretending. As Scripture reminds us in 1 John 1:8-9, confessing our sin is what authenticates the gospel—not hiding it.

We also heard that many young people feel like church is simply irrelevant. It doesn’t speak to their everyday lives—career uncertainty, mental health, questions about justice and identity. These are not niche concerns; they’re defining realities. If the church refuses to engage with what they care about, why should they keep showing up? At our church, we’re committed to using all of God’s Word to speak into real issues. But we admit: we still have room to grow. That’s why we’re inviting the next generation to the table. Your voice matters. Let us buy you a coffee and listen—no topic is off limits.

Another sobering insight from these conversation is the idea that “God is missing in the church.” That’s heartbreaking—but not entirely surprising. It’s possible to do church, attend regularly, serve faithfully, and still miss God entirely. Sometimes we’re so focused on our preferences, programs, or comfort that we forget to show up expectantly to encounter the living God. If we’re not expecting to meet Him, how can we expect anyone else to?

So here’s the challenge: let’s be a church where God is present and obvious. Let’s confess our sins openly, share testimonies boldly, and make space for hard questions honestly. Let’s become a place where the next generation can encounter Jesus—not just religion, tradition, or performance. We believe faith can be relevant, worship can be genuine, and the gospel can still change lives.

To those who’ve been hurt by the church or are rethinking faith—please don’t give up on Jesus because of flawed followers. He’s not afraid of your questions, and neither are we. Whether you're over 40 or under 30, we want to build a bridge, not a wall. If you’re longing for a real relationship with God, let’s talk. Text us, meet for coffee, come back next Sunday. Because we don’t just want you to go to church. We want you to meet God and spend the rest of your life getting to know Him.

- Adapted from the sermon preached at WLCC on 7/6/25.