This question, why is the church losing so many young people has, and continues to occupy the time and efforts of elders, preachers, Christians and parents in every congregation. Elaborate programs of education and recreation has been devised to answer the problem only to see subsequent generations depart from the faith, or take a very indifferent attitude towards Christianity.
This tragic situation is regarded by many as being a very heart rendering and complex problem. If this is the case, there may not be a simple one step solution to this problem. One thing that surely contributes to this problem is the parent's attitude towards the worship services. Parents enter their children into kindergarten in order that they might learn. Young children are capable of learning to count, repeat the alphabets and sing songs. If children between the ages of five and ten are incapable of learning, why do we send them to school in these early years of High School, senior High and College? Most every parent recognizes the importance of these formative years.
However some of these parents do not believe that these children can learn in the public worship services of the church. During these most impressionable formulative years, parents do not only allow but encourage children to entertain themselves during the worship services. Instead of encouraging their children to sing (as they would in school) listen to the preacher (as they would listen to their school teacher) and participate (Bow their heads during prayer), as they would in the school activities, parents encourage them to entertain themselves with every type of toy imaginable.
As these children advance in their years they continue their periods of entertainment on the back row of the pews in our meeting houses, oblivious to the great spiritual truths which are being preached for their soul's well-being. This activity will continue until they reach High School and College age and many will enter college never having obeyed the gospel. While the opportunity to learn God's word as their, they were too busy entertaining themselves.
