Church leaders share how we can keep our kids in the church

Nampa, Idaho (February 17, 2004) — An important new book full of insightful information from today’s top Adventist leaders in youth and children’s ministry will be released this week from Pacific Press®. The book is titled We Can Keep Them in the Church, and through stories, interviews, and personal testimonies, some of the church’s best and brightest explain how they are making a difference in the lives of young people today.

We Can Keep Them in the Church includes seven power-packed sections where church leaders such as James Black, Steve Case, Ron Flowers, Barry Gane, Karl Haffner, Noelene Johnsson, Baraka G. Muganda, Willie Oliver, Jose Rojas, Aileen Sox, Ron Whitehead, and others share a wealth of specific actions that show members how to love their children so they won't leave.

We Can Keep Them in the Church is compiled by Myrna Tetz, former managing editor of the Adventist Review, and Gary L. Hopkins, director of the Center for Prevention Research and associate director of the Institute for Prevention of Addictions at Andrews University.

Tetz says, “Some statistics and realities bother me, and the fact that many of our young people are not worshipping with us any more really bothers me. Try picturing ten young people from your church, some of them may be your own children or grandchildren. Then, mentally divide the group in half. Now, ask yourself, which five am I willing to lose.”

A startling question, but the truth is that in North America, nearly half of our young people are leaving the church and saying no to the Adventist way of life. Can anything be done to reverse the trend? Tetz, Hopkins, and 30 youth specialists and ministry leaders say yes!

To read a sample chapter of We Can Keep Them in the Church or to purchase it, visit AdventistBookCenter.com on the Internet or call toll-free (800) 765-6955. The book retails for $14.99 and will be available in stores after March 10.