Why the Second Generation is not Coming to the Church?
Sam George

I have heard this question from pastors, youth leaders and parents of Indian churches all across America. Some in the Indian American churches have been oblivious to the silent disappearance of their progenies. Some are too busy catering to the needs of the immigrant generation that they never got to effectively address the needs of the emerging generation. Sadly some simply don’t care! Many others do not know where to start.

If we want to get to the heart of the issue, we must look beyond the second generation of Indian Americans who do come to the Indian churches or few others who go to other neighborhood American churches, but a growing number of the emerging generation who are dropping out of Christian influence all together. It is high time that we begin to think what it takes for the immigrant churches to become culturally relevant to the coming generations and develop effective ministries for them.

Over the last few years, I have asked this question to many young people who have dropped out of various Indian churches. And their responses were quite intsightful! Some of the complaints were predictable, but others were quite surprising.

Toward the book Understanding the Coconut Generation, we also conducted an online survey of youth leaders from various churches in US and Canada. In the book, we bring out top 10 reason cited by the youth leaders about this growing disinterest of the new generation with existing church forms. Here are four of the leading reasons (check out the book for other reasons) why the second generation is dropping out of the Immigrant Indian churches (in their own words).

1. “I do not get anything out of it”

Indian Church services are not engaging or life-changing, especially the music and sermon. Most immigrant church music does not strike a chord with this generation. The messages don’t relate to real life. “I do not understand what goes on there and it doesn’t help me a bit. To put it bluntly, church is dull and boring. There is nothing to look forward to or get me out of the bed and drive out to church on a Sunday morning.”

2. “Church is a club”

Indian Churches seem like cultural clubs, member-only association that meets the socio-cultural and psychological needs of an immigrant community. It is more about wearing Indian dresses, speaking Indian languages and eating Indian food. Church is unfriendly to visitors and is very cliquish. “I feel I am put under a microscope, everything you say and do are being watched. You sense a pressure to conform and cannot free to be yourself.”

3. “Church is full of hypocrites”

There is a big discrepancy in what this generation hears at immigrant church and what they see in the lives of people there. People have this double life and come to church wearing masks. “I have been seen the true colors of some of these people in the front.” Their lives on Sundays and weekdays do not match. People talk about grace, but never practices it. Church goers do not walk their talk. They have become disillusioned with peoples behaviors at church meetings and given up anything good can come out it.

4. “Church is more interested in my money than in me.”

In most Indian churches in North America every Sunday there are appeals for money that this generation can hardly associate with. Church seems to be more concerned about people’s wallet than their heart. Church discriminates people based on their wealth and their giving to the church. “My acceptance seems to be conditional to my giving. Who knows how they will be spending my money?”

Do we dare to listen to the cries of these church drop outs? Look at ourselves and what we do in the church from those outside the fence. Some of it might seem too critical and rebellious attitude of the second generation. It is not that the second generation is not interested in church at all, but they are disillusioned with the immigrant churches of their parents. Even though they have had negative experiences with church, most of them have not given up God yet.

The second generation is different. Some of the things we do at the immigrant church do not meet the unique needs of the second generation. They view the Indian churches as their parent’s church and they have not become their own. They do not feel at home there or sense that their two hours a week is really going to make a difference in their lives. They are asking, “Why should I come to church?” Do you have compelling reasons to change their view and experience of church and God?

Send your comments to sam@coconutgeneration.com