In the past few years, many have heard me say that at the present rate of evangelism only 4% of today's teens will be Bible believing Christians when they reach adulthood. Can you believe that up to 88% of church kids abandon church after high school?

Now, even more people are raising the alarm for our teens.

Christian researcher David T. Olson predicts that by 2050, only 10% of Americans will be in church on a given Sunday, and last month, the Pew Forum released a study that found the number of adults adopting agnostic beliefs is growing at an exponential rate.

On the far opposite end of the spectrum, I'm greatly encouraged and humbled by the statistics we've gathered from our own alumni. These are young adults whose lives were often first touched by God at a moment of ministry at Acquire the Fire.

They went on to impact their own generation at the Honor Academy. Take a look at how their lives are radically different than the rest of the country:

• 70% of alumni read their Bible and spend time alone with God at least several times a week, compared with 42% of adults in America.
• 77% of alumni are actively involved with a church or ministry, compared with 32% of born again Christians.
• 85% of alumni are attending or have graduated from college, compared with 37% of adults.

In addition, 47% of Honor Academy alumni are preparing for or serving on the mission field, 30% are actively involved in evangelism, 49% are financially supporting missionaries, 37% are involved in preparing missionaries for service, 49% are discipling someone, and 67% are regularly praying for missions.

As I talk to hurting teens at the Acquire the Fire youth events each weekend, I am in awe of God's power to transform young lives in spite of the alarming statistics. I pray that the lives that God reaches each weekend will join these alumni who are changing the world, and my heart burns even more for the millions still left to be reached.

Please join me in praying that God would use all of us capture the hearts of these young people, and turn these statistics around!

Teen Mania Ministries
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