5LQ Episode 381: Scott McConnell and Ben Trueblood on Student Pastor Research

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Daniel Im are joined by Scott McConnell, Executive Director of Lifeway Research, and Ben Trueblood, Director of Lifeway Students. During their conversation, they discuss the following questions: What are some of the surprising things found in this research? What are the factors that contribute to continued regular attendance in church? What are some of the shifts you can make that lead to people staying connected? Practically speaking, if I am a student pastor or a parent listening, what can I do over the next week? Over this fall? Over this year? BEST QUOTES “About 66% of young adults who attend a protestant church for at least a year in high school step away from church for at least a year between ages 18 and 22.” “Of those young adults that dropped out, one of the reasons that jumped the most is the politics in the church – political views being voiced in the church that the student didn’t agree with.” “Teach a teenager how to see the world from a biblical standpoint and how to sit with their Bible and discover for themselves what they think and how to believe.” “We are not teaching young people what it means to be truly connected to a local body of believers called a church.” “The number one indicator of students staying connected to a church is when they could identify three spiritual mentors during their time in high school they were three times more likely to stay connected to the church in college.” “Your care of that person’s life will overcome a lack of chemistry.” “Students are amazingly good at sniffing out things that are not genuine.” “27% of these students said that they had spiritual conversations in the home.” “Equip parents to have a spiritual conversation in their home with their children.” “One of the best things we can show them is to get them to fall in love with God’s Word.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Lifeway Leadership Podcast Network Within Reach by Ben Trueblood 5LQ Episode 278: Scott McConnell on VBS Research 5LQ Episode 294: Scott McConnell on Bible Research 5LQ Episode 299: Research on the Unchurched 5LQ Episode 305: The State of Theology 5LQ Episode 348: Scott McConnell – Research on Sexual Abuse in the Church 5LQ Episode 376: Scott McConnell – Research on the State of Discipleship Lifeway Research