One of the biggest contributors to the decline in worship turnout has been the lack of youth presence within the church. According to the same Gallup Organization study, 51% of those born before 1946 attend church on a regular basis compared with only 29% of people born between 1977 and 1994.
“The increased impact and presence of the Internet has played a large role,” says Gabriel Fanous, President and CEO of Faith Partnership Technologies. “More than 81% of teens between the ages of 12-17 are online and the Internet has served as their primary resource for spiritual information. ”
With the emergence of peer networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, teens have been able to create virtual networks of friends, effectively replacing a large portion of their real world social encounters. To many youth, peer-to-peer networking has become a priority in their daily lives with over 55% of those between the ages of 12 and 17 partaking (Pew Internet and American Life Project). The increase in online usage combined with work, school and other social responsibilities has left little time for worship and religious outreach.
Facing the problem head on, religious organizations have turned to the Internet in hope of reconnecting with many of today’s youth.
“Many churches have begun to adapt to the new technology-dependent world, offering web portals, live chat and even the ability to donate online. Nevertheless, too many churches have yet offer even basic services such as a website or email address where they can be contacted, which has served to alienate the younger generation.”
Although overall church attendance is on the decline, New Age churches involved with technology are seeing a continual increase in average weekly attendance. A 2001 study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that 25% of all Internet users utilized the web to research religious information. These same Internet users have been the reason for New Age churches’ continual growth, as the world wide web has allowed them to effectively reach out to and communicate with people in a comfortable environment, using methods which they are familiar with.
Faith Partnership Technologies is a Toronto, Canada based online church technology consulting firm founded by two recent college graduates. The company offers online solutions enabling churches to better communicate and create lasting relationships with Internet users. Services include live chat, online donations, instant website creation, event management, peer networking and much more.
If you would like more information on this topic or to schedule an interview or product demonstration, please contact Steve Male at 1-888-38-FAITH, or by email at steve@faithisbelieving.com.