Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

IMarch 2015 – n October, Barna Group and Cornerstone Knowledge Network took young adults, 18-29 years old, on a conceptual tour of church settings to discover what they look for in a church. They discovered that young adults gravitate to churches that signal a sense of community, represented by an adequate but not overly large sanctuary, interaction among congregants, casual dress, and a quiet setting.

“Most Millennials don’t look for a church facility that caters to the whims of pop culture. They want a community that calls them to deeper meaning,” said Barna Group’s Clint Jenkins.

When asked to choose between contrasting words to describe their vision of the ideal church, Millennials chose the following:

▶ Community, 78% (selected over privacy, 22%).
▶ Sanctuary, 77% (auditorium, 23%).
▶ Classic, 67% (trendy, 33%).
▶ Quiet, 65% (loud, 35%).
▶ Casual, 64% (dignified, 36%).
▶ Modern, 60% (traditional, 40%).

To read the whole report, go to barna.org, then search on “designing worship.”

barna.org, 11/5/14; onenewsnow.com, 12/1/14