Already Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit Church and What You Can Do to Stop It

Already Gone, by Ken Ham and Britt Beemer with Todd Hillard The title "Already Gone" refers to the children and teens that are attending church regularly with their parents today but have already left the church in their hearts and minds. The authors of this book have done extensive research and give statistics and reasons for the phenomenal exodus of young adults from the church. The disconnection happens when students begin to question the full accuracy of the Bible and doubt that the Bible is the true and inspired Word of God. Ken Ham, the president/CEO and founder of Answers in Genesis ministry, points out that Christians have not been educated in how to defend their faith and have changed what they believe about the bible to match what secular science has taught - that the earth is millions of years old and that evolution happened. Many Christians see no problem with going along with these scientific theories and accept that God could have used evolution, and that 6 days of creation may not be 6 literal 24-hour days. Once we question one aspect of the Bible, Ham writes, the rest of it becomes questionable as well. The solution Ham suggests is for church leaders and parents to educate themselves in creation apologetics (logical arguments in support of creation) so they are able to answer children's questions when what they are learning in school contradicts the Bible. "Most church-going adults cannot adequately defend the basics of their Christian faith or basic doctrines, let alone defend the faith against the skeptical questions of this scientific age," writes Ham. Ham is calling for a second reformation of the Church and believes that if we don't take action now, Christianity in America will become extinct. "We are one generation away from the evaporation of church as we know it," states Ham, pointing out that this has already happened in England as well as the rest of Europe. "Where Europe is today spiritually, America will be tomorrow - and for the same reasons, if the Church does not recognize where the foundational problem lies and address it," states Ham. This book contains serious warnings for every American interested in helping to preserve our country as a Christian nation. Already Gone needs to find its way into the hands of every Christian Educator, Church Leader, and Christian parent.

In considering buying this book, you need to consider that it is dealing with the mass exodus of young people from the church, which is happening across the board. However, the focus of this book is on the conservative evangelical/fundamentalist churches. This exodus is more of a crisis of faith for these churches, because of their theology. I've noticed the negative reviews are negative because Ken Ham is the author. This should not be an issue. Yes, Ham's focus is on recent creationism and his focus is mentioned in this book, but the theme of this book is the problem of twenty somethings leaving the church and how to stop it. He sees one's views of Genesis (which he feels is the foundation of all Scripture) to be part of the problem, but what do you expect? His argument here is more on the need to defend the Bible and to live it out. The co-author is C. Britt Beemer, who does research. The survey is done of 1,000 people in their 20's who went to church as children and are not now. The survey was very detailed (the full survey is in the appendix), and revealed some interesting facts. Among these is that Sunday School is not helping the problem and that there are two different groups that leave the church. Some do so because they believe the Bible is not relevant; others still believe the Bible but feel the church is irrelevant. Besides pointing out the problem, Ham deals with solutions. Those solutions are well thought out. He recognizes that a lot of what's going on in church is not the commandment of God but the traditions of man. He also realizes that those traditions may be good, bad, or neutral, but it doesn't change the fact that they are traditions. Every pastor, every youth worker, every Christian education minister and Sunday School teacher, and every Christian parent needs to read this book.

Already Gone: Why your kids will quit church and what you can do to stop it by Ken Ham and Britt Beemer with Todd Hillard Britt Beemer's America's Research Group was commissioned by Ken Ham to survey 1,000 former attendees of conservative Christian churches, who are now in their twenties, to discover why they left. Already Gone is a summary of the survey results, and a challenge to the church to heed the warning and make the radical changes required to remain relevant - not only to the younger generations, but to everyone. Do you believe in the authority of Scripture? Does your life demonstrate it? Ken Ham poses these questions to young adult Christians both in and out of mainstream churches, to pastors, Christian teachers, to parents, churches, and educational institutions. The subject of Already Gone is the generation of Christians my age (20's), many of whom have left the church. Of those who have left, there are two main groups: one whose worldview is mostly secular and skeptical of the Bible, and one that believes the Bible is true and applicable but has found the church irrelevant. How is the church failing to deliver a biblical worldview to the children and youth who faithfully attend Sunday school, church, and youth group? Of the twenty-something's who remain in the church, are they submitted to the authority of Scripture, or is their search for a worship experience prevailing over God's teachings about the Body of Christ? What about the parents, pastors, youth pastors, and Sunday school teachers who make up the older generation, the church establishment? Have they sold out God's teachings on the church for their beloved traditions? How much of what we think of when we hear "church" is actually biblical? Why is the most common accusation against the church that it is hypocritical? The church in America is losing members so drastically that we need to radically reevaluate our practices and teachings. Compromise cannot be tolerated. As founder of Answers in Genesis, Ken Ham must touch on his favorite subject: the foundational importance of Genesis, and how compromise on the historical and scientific truth of Genesis undermines all of Scripture, faith in God, and even the gospel. He calls the church back to teaching "earthly things," the correspondence between the Bible and reality. Christians need to be equipped for apologetics from an early age, to guard against doubts and to answer inquiries from a godless culture. This, more than music or games or attractive activities, is the only way to be relevant to people living in the real world and desperate for answers. Already Gone is a fair, factual, and interesting treatment of the systemic problems in the church today. Lest we become like post-Christian Europe, where church is a marginal pastime for a few elderly people clinging to vestiges of tradition in empty cathedrals, we must take action now. Several reactions to the problem are presented, with their disadvan

I am not a Young Earth Creationist. Ken Ham wrote this book, and he is. It should be no surprise that this book emphasizes the importance of reading the Bible as though its words are true. Despite my personal notions, I loaded up my five kids one weekend and drove from Atlanta to Cincinnati to experience Ken Ham's Creation Museum, and I am so thankful that we did. I was surprised that the information presented went way beyond, "but the Bible says . . . ." The high quality displays were jam packed with information based on current, observational science - not hopeful conjecture. It also highlighted many widely accepted fallacies in the areas of astronomy, geology, paleontology, etc. (not to mention thoroughly discrediting the granddaddy of them all - Darwinism). I walked away wanting to learn much more - which, I expect, was the whole point. If you believe in the Young Earth position, and you accept that there was a global catastrophic flood, then this is an excellent book. Even if you don't hold those positions, however, Already Gone remains an outstanding read - provided you have any reason to care about our children. I believe the Bible's instruction that parents are the primary educators of their kids. I believe the purpose of education is not to equip our children with the opportunity to "succeed" in life. Instead, the purpose of education is to teach them (1) the Creation Mandate, and (2) the Redemptive Mandate. The probing surveys described in this book are critical to fulfilling the purpose of educating our kids. The reality is that the results of the surveys described herein are terrifying - and highly motivating - regardless of your specific denominational affiliation. As their kids' primary educators, I believe every parent must read this book. As a man called to church leadership, and as someone who has served by teaching Sunday School for over a decade, I believe every pastor, youth leader, children's director, and Sunday School teacher should read this book and prayerfully consider its serious implications. As a former school board member, I strongly recommend that everyone associated with education, from Ivory Tower leadership to hands-on staff, carefully consider the statistical results presented in this book. If the information hits you as hard as it hit me, the book includes an appendix for you with resources that can assist you in connecting with kids before they are gone. Well done.

This book is the first of its kind. At last we get to see the questions asked that really shed light on why young people are quitting church. The church's relevance to our culture and youth is normally based on aesthetic issues of music styles, programming or even how the building looks. This book asks the questions about what really is the reason young people see the church as irrelevant and it comes down to underlying beliefs. If you want to know why your children see the bible as irrelevant and therefore also the church, you have to read this book. You will find out the major issues that remain largely unspoken in the church and not dealt with in the minds of youth and you will find out that there IS something you can do about it. At last a book that will help us all to better inform and secure the next generation.