Meet the Author
David Kinnaman is best known as the co-author of the bestselling book UnChristian: What a New Generation Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters (2007). Since joining the Barna Group in 1995, the 37 year old Kinnaman has designed and analyzed nearly 500 projects and supervised more than 350,000 interviews for client projects. Currently, he serves as president and majority owner.
Book Basics
UnChristian (2007) is an incredibly insightful, timely, and well researched appraisal of what young (18-29 year old) non-Christians think about Christianity. You Lost Me (2011) provides a similar evaluation of the religious experience of young (18-29 year old) people who were raised in the Christian faith. It is a must read for anyone who is concerned with the transmission of faith from older generations to younger as well as the future of the church.
You Lost Me is the culmination of four years of research that included a comprehensive literature review of generations, consultations with experts and academics, conversations with clergy and parents, review of prior applicable research conducted by the Barna Group, creation and completion of eight new national surveys including almost 5,000 participants. Kinnaman brings this data together in a single easy to read book that introduces readers of all ages to the next generation (often called Mosaics, Millennials, or Gen Y) – those born between 1984 and 2002 (p.20-21, 246-249).
The book is divided into three parts:
- “Dropouts” explores the phenomenon of young adults who dropout or leave the faith of their formative years. While this issue has been a concern for many generations, it is increasingly important to understand the manner in which this generation differs from those that have gone before: easy access to vast amounts of information; alienation from family, community and institutions; and significant skepticism of all types of authority, including that found within the church. Dropouts fall into three categories: (1) prodigals – those who leave the faith entirely, (2) nomads – those who disengage from the church but not their faith, and (3) exiles – those who are still invested in their Christian faith but feel stuck (or lost) between culture and the church.
- “Disconnections” considers the top reasons why young adults disconnect from the church, for a season or permanently, and suggests an alternative way forward (labeled as “turns”) for each that should help more young adults remain connected. The problem and turns are (1) overprotective & discernment, (2) shallow & apprenticeship, (3) antiscience & stewardship, (4) repressive & relational, (5) exclusion & embrace, and (6) doubting & doing.
- “Reconnections” is the shortest section containing just two chapters. In the first, Kinnaman concludes by sharing three things he learned as a result of the research: “(1) the church needs to reconsider how we make disciples, (2) we need to rediscover Christian calling and vocation, and (3) we need to reprioritize wisdom over information” (p. 201). The second chapter provides wisdom from a diverse group of fifty Christian leaders about how to move forward in more effectively engaging and discipling the next generation.
Limitation
UnChristian and You Lost Me are based on research that must be prayerfully pondered by church leaders. Both books, however, display a significant Evangelical bias insofar as the proposed “solution” or turn that is offered for each shortcoming. Furthermore, the speculative solutions tend to exclude input from the group they are intended to impact.
So What?
The American church is not a representative sample of the nation’s population. Most local congregations desire participation by disciples and seekers of all ages, but attract primarily those from one or two generations. Many denominations talk often about the graying of the pews – a reality as the average age of church members has increased. Clearly “more of the same” is not the answer to “what next” if the desired result is spiritual and numeric growth.
- How effectively does your congregation disciple the next generation (Mosaics, Millennials, or Gen Y)?
- Do you think the connection rate (staying involved during these years) within your congregation is higher or lower than average? What factors contribute to such?
- Assuming generations that follow the next generation will share many of the characteristics that are creating unique challenges to their continued engagement in the faith and with faith communities, what can your congregation do now to begin to make changes that will serve in its long term best interest?
David Kinnaman. You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church . . . And Rethinking Faith (BakerBooks, 2011). ISBN: 9780801013140.
Note: for more information about You Lost Me, visit the book’s website.
Gabe Lyons, Kinnaman’s co-author of UnChristian, has also gone on to write a book on his own about the next generation: The Next Christians: How a New Generation is Restoring the Faith (2010). Click here for my review.