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	<title>agnosticism Archives - Mission Network News</title>
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		<title>Reaching Gen Z critical to reversing post-Christian trend</title>
		<link>https://www.mnnonline.org/news/reaching-gen-z-critical-reversing-post-christian-trend/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=reaching-gen-z-critical-reversing-post-christian-trend</link>
					<comments>https://www.mnnonline.org/news/reaching-gen-z-critical-reversing-post-christian-trend/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Katey Hearth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2018 04:00:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[agnosticism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[atheism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gen Z]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[greg yoder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[keys for kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[next generation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[post-christian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen devotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[unlocked]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[usa]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mnnonline.org/?post_type=news&#038;p=166980</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[USA (MNN) -- Is the U.S. a “post-Christian” nation?]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>USA (MNN) &#8212; Is the U.S. “post-Christian”? Recent studies like <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/08/08/why-americas-nones-dont-identify-with-a-religion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this one</a> and <a href="https://www.barna.com/research/sharing-faith-increasingly-optional-christians/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this one</a> indicate a movement in that direction. The latest report from Barna Research ranks 100 U.S. cities according to how Christianity and Scripture factor into the population’s lifestyle.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.barna.com/research/post-christian-cities-america-2017/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to see where your city ranks.</a></p>
<p><strong>The top ten cities identified as post-Christian have a combined population of more than 43 million people.</strong></p>
<div id="attachment_167029" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-167029" class="size-medium wp-image-167029" src="https://www.mnnonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Flickr_atheist-bus-sign_credit-Mr.TinDC_-300x214.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="214" srcset="https://www.mnnonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Flickr_atheist-bus-sign_credit-Mr.TinDC_-300x214.jpg 300w, https://www.mnnonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Flickr_atheist-bus-sign_credit-Mr.TinDC_-768x549.jpg 768w, https://www.mnnonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Flickr_atheist-bus-sign_credit-Mr.TinDC_.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><p id="caption-attachment-167029" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo credit Mr.TinDC via Flickr)</p></div>
<p>“I can’t help but be grieved that there are so many people who claim that they are not Christian at all,” says <a href="https://www.mnnonline.org/mission_groups/keys-kids">Keys for Kids</a>’ Greg Yoder.</p>
<blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“They don’t have any inkling to read the Bible. They probably have never been to a church. They don’t believe that the Bible is something that should be a way of life.”</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Keys for Kids wants to reverse the “post-Christian” trend by reaching young people for Christ.</p>
<h2>Reaching the Next Generation</h2>
<p>Debate surrounds which label to place on the Next Generation, sometimes called Generation Z, and where its generational boundary lines lay. However, <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/01/defining-generations-where-millennials-end-and-post-millennials-begin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pew Research Center</a> defines the “post-Millennial” generation as anyone 21 and younger as of this year.</p>
<p>This demographic fits well within Keys for Kids’ focus. The ministry seeks to reach children between the ages of four and 14 years old, a bracket Yoder dubs “The 4:14 Window.”</p>
<blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“80% of kids in that age group are looking for spiritual truth, and they’re going to find it. But, will they find it in atheism? Agnosticism?&#8230;Or, will they find it in Christ alone, Christianity?”</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>He adds, “We’re emphasizing our need to reach kids at a young age so that their foundations are firmly planted… they can acknowledge who Christ is, can grow in their faith, and become defenders of their faith.”</p>
<p>Keys for Kids exists to “ignite a passion for Christ in kids and their families,” Yoder says. They minister to younger children through a <a href="https://www.keysforkids.org/Programming/Keys-for-Kids-Daily-Devotional/Read-Listen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">devotional</a>, <a href="https://radio.keysforkids.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">radio programming</a>, and <a href="https://www.keysforkids.org/Programming/Keys-for-Kids-Daily-Devotional/Keys-for-Kids-App" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mobile app</a>. A program called <a href="https://www.keysforkids.org/Programming/Parent-Minute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Parent Minute</em></a> equips parents with advice and insight.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.keysforkids.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn more about these resources on Keys For Kids’ website.</a></p>
<p><strong>In the coming months, Keys for Kids will expand its reach to Generation Z.</strong></p>
<div id="attachment_167027" style="width: 211px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-167027" class="size-medium wp-image-167027" src="https://www.mnnonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/K4K_Unlocked-201x300.jpg" alt="" width="201" height="300" srcset="https://www.mnnonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/K4K_Unlocked-201x300.jpg 201w, https://www.mnnonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/K4K_Unlocked-768x1144.jpg 768w, https://www.mnnonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/K4K_Unlocked-688x1024.jpg 688w, https://www.mnnonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/K4K_Unlocked.jpg 1763w" sizes="(max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px" /><p id="caption-attachment-167027" class="wp-caption-text">(Graphic courtesy Keys for Kids)</p></div>
<p>“We hope to initially reach out to about 20,000 teenagers…whether they’re Christian or not,” shares Yoder. “We know that they’re looking for spiritual truth and – again &#8212; will they have the tools to be able to find Christ through the noise?”</p>
<p>Through a new devotional called “Unlocked”, Keys for Kids hopes to supply teens with biblical truth and encouragement. Teenagers need to “stretch their thinking muscles,” Yoder explains.</p>
<p>“Our new devotional will help teens understand Christ and [will] also challenge them spiritually.”</p>
<p>In light of <a href="https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/z-gen-atheist-generation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports like this one</a> about the next generation, “Unlocked” will be an especially important resource. But Keys for Kids needs your help to get it out the door. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.keysforkids.org/next" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to donate.</a></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Header photo by Hannah Nelson from Pexels.</em></p>
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