information for transformational people

18-35s 246The Frontline Lives of 18–35s in the UK 


From a report by LICC

According to research by Barna and WorldVision, 73% of young adults raised in a Christian home have dropped out of church by the time they’re 35.

If we want to help young adults keep going with their faith, we need to address the questions they're asking. So that's what LICC did - researching the experiences of young adults who are staying in church, seeking to better understand how they live out their faith on their ‘frontlines’ (ordinary places where they regularly engage with people who don’t follow Jesus)

LICC published a report summarising their key findings, including the distinguishing markers of young disciples and the questions they're struggling with – the tensions that pose the biggest challenge to their fruitfulness.

The study found six characteristics and five questions that characterised these disciples. It makes three recommendations for church leaders and those involved in ministry to young adults. Here is a summary:

The six characteristics of 18–35-year-old disciples:

  1. They are an enriching and positive presence
  2. Their relationships really matter to them
  3. They are psychologically aware
  4. They are conscientious contributors
  5. Their personal relationships are the main influences on their discipleship
  6. They primarily relate to God as shepherd or father


The five questions 18–35-year-old disciples are struggling with:

  1. How do I share my faith without losing my friends?
  2. How do I find purpose in my actual work?
  3. How can I establish healthy rhythms?
  4. How do I stay human in an inhuman system?
  5. How can I make connections with mentors and peers?

Three recommendations for young adult disciple-making:

  1. Listen to – and celebrate – young adults’ experiences. Their busy lives are the work of your church, scattered through the week. Tell their stories and pray for them.
  2. Engage young adults’ questions. Take a holistic view of the gospel and its application to the questions above.
  3. Foster interdependence in your church community. Mixed small groups, mentoring schemes, and contributions to meaningful leadership and decision-making are ways to ‘bind’ (as per a rugby scrum) young adults to church.

 

Download the full report from here.


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From a report by LICC, 15/04/2025

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