Younger generations bring new and fresh energy to churches. Their joy and enthusiasm are contagious, and they make the church a happier and healthier place to be for worshippers of all ages. Unfortunately, church attendance among young people has been in decline for quite some time. In a recent
Deseret News/Marist national poll, only 21 percent of people in the 18 to 29 age group said they were attending church regularly, which was the lowest percentage among any demographic group. The list of those who are not going to services includes many who accompanied their families to church during their adolescent years, but stopped going once they were out in the world on their own.

A sizable percentage of younger people who’ve fallen away from worshipping would like to attend church again, at some point. But they wonder if they will be accepted and embraced by the congregation. Church buildings that are old, outdated and clearly in need of updating or renovation present a negative
image that gives the impression that the church communities that occupy them are not keeping up with the times.

Young adults (and adults of all ages, truthfully) are drawn to church campuses that look inviting and promise to provide an immersive spiritual experience for the whole family. The architectural and design qualities of the church play a tremendous role in creating a warm, welcoming and inspiring atmosphere, as
do basic choices about which type of spaces to build and prioritize. Whatever the reasons for the decline in attendance, churches need to find ways to bring young adults back. They are the key to any church’s
revitalization.

The hopeful part of this story is that churches can offer a future growth and personality. Again, a new, image-conscious building or campus is so important in the effort to attract young members to identify with your church. Listed below are some additional tips to help your church signify with young people.