A while back, my friend Keith Seabourn commented on a research report prepared by the Barna Research Group. The report and Keith’s comments are very insightful to the future of the church and ministry in America. Here is the link to the article and an abridged version of Keith’s comments:

I found this report interesting as it explores how people share their faith:

http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=181

Near the end of the report, is a paragraph (red emphasis is mine):

“Young adults are much more likely to share their faith through ongoing discussions with friends and through e-mail and instant message conversations than are middle-aged and older adults,” Barna explained. “They are less likely to engage in means that their generation finds offensive, such as street preaching or moral confrontation. The early signs suggest that the emerging generation – the Mosaics, who presently are in their early twenties down through early childhood – will continue along this vein. Ministries seeking to prepare people to effectively share their faith in today’s society would advance the process by enabling young adults to carry on knowledgeable conversations about the substance of the Christian faith and how it affects all dimensions of a person’s life. The ability to relate biblical principles to current issues and personal struggles – that is, to interact beyond the level of simply ‘getting saved’ – will be crucial for the future of effective outreach efforts.”

I find both of these very interesting — an increasing likelihood of young people sharing their faith, but also a growing need for a good grounding in biblical worldview for those engaging in evangelistic activities.

Keith