Generation Ex-Christian
Young people aren’t walking away from the church-they’re sprinting.
According to recent studies, more than two-thirds of young people leave church by the time they turn 30. Unlike earlier generations of church dropouts, these “leavers” are unlikely to seek out alternative forms of Christian community such as home churches and small groups. When they leave church, many leave the faith as well.
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Drawing on recent research and in-depth interviews with young leavers, Generation Ex-Christian shines a light on this crisis and proposes responses that go beyond slick services or edgy outreach. Generation Ex-Christian equips and inspire parents, church leaders, and everyday Christians to reawaken prodigals’ desire for God and helps set them on the road to a dynamic faith. The books features raw profiles of real-world, young ex-Christians. Shrewd tips intersperse the chapters alerting readers to opportunities for engagement, and to hidden landmines they must sidestep to effectively reach leavers. This is a must-read for anyone concerned about the younger generation.
What Others Are Saying
“Simply the best guide on the varieties of unbelief in the postmodern era. The book captivated me from beginning to end.”
-Jim Belcher, author of Deep Church
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“Dyck unwinds these multifaceted stories and carefully explains why young adults drift from God. He reveals the emotional backdrop of why people wander from faith. This book will help you find ways to journey with people and help guide them back to the one, true story that matters most.”
-Sam Rainer, president of Rainer Research and author of Essential Church?: Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts
“Drew Dyck introduces us to a number of these ex-Christians – and claims that they can be reached and redeemed. These church-shy backsliders want “empathy, not arguments,” Dyck says. And many of them are turned off by business-as-usual religious institutions. “They don’t want pizza and video games,” Dyck writes. “They want revolution and dynamism.” Christianity Today is the Time magazine of evangelicalism and they’re lucky to have a writer of this caliber working for them. This is a fascinating book, casting light on the spiritual state of millions of disillusioned former Christians.”
-Arkansas Democrat-Gazette