Why Churches Struggle to Keep Young Adults (And How to Fix It)

Feb 4, 2026

Churches across America are losing 60-80% of young adults between ages 18-29, and most leaders are trying all the wrong fixes. It's not about being cooler, having better coffee, or upgrading your lights. In this episode, we break down the two real reasons young adults leave your church and give you three actionable fixes you can implement this month to turn things around.

In This Episode:

• [02:00] Why "being cooler" won't solve your young adult problem
• [04:43] Reason #1: You're not giving them real responsibility or leadership opportunities
• [09:00] Reason #2: You're not providing authentic community—just programs
• [15:00] How to build natural connection points instead of more structured groups
• [21:08] The three questions to ask young adults in your church this week

Resources & Links:

📖 Read the full article: malphursgroup.com/326

🛠️ Try the Healthy Churches Toolkit FREE for 7 days: healthychurchestoolkit.com

🌐 Connect with The Malphurs Group: malphursgroup.com

Follow us on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/malphursgroup
Instagram: instagram.com/malphursgroup
YouTube: youtube.com/themalphursgroup
X/Twitter: x.com/malphursgroup

--

Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are church consultants with The Malphurs Group, helping church leaders navigate revitalization, strategic planning, and building healthy ministry systems. Together, they deliver practical, no-nonsense advice to help your church thrive.