Lack of diversity – Pew Research is showing that “Millennials are the most racially diverse generation in American history…” Pew goes on to explain that this is due to, “A trend driven by the large wave of Hispanic and Asian immigrants who have been coming to the U.S. for the past half century, and whose U.S.-born children are now aging into adulthood.” With this comes a rise, not only in interracial but now interfaith couples. As a generation of millennials are diversifying, and the Church is not. It still remains segregated. This is a bit of problem when the choice comes down to your friend(s) or your church, which it has, the church will lose every time. I’m lead to assume that this is why Pew Research is showing that every year around 4,000 – 7,000 churches shut down, Thom Rainer suggests that this year 8,000 – 10,000 churches will close. Steve McSwain, in a recent HuffPost article, goes on to say, “You cannot say, ‘Everybody is welcome here if, by that, you really mean, so long as you’re like the rest of us, straight and in a traditional family.’” It’s tough for millennials to attend a church in which their friends are not truly welcome in.
Andy Gill
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