4.

9 Analysis and interpretation of the Findings as Presented

4.10 Why are youth leaving their church?

The behaviour of some of the Pastors in the church is not a good approach to talk with the

youth when they are wrong. Some of the youth want to bring some practice of others

churches in the UMC and this lead to the pastor to be hard on those youth and some of the

pastors give suggestion to the youth to leave the church. Some of them leave the church

because for some of the pastor they regard them as people who are came to disturb the

church.

For some of youth or if not most of them, the worship service is not vibrant, some of them are

look for just that kind of service this is one of the reality. The old people and those who are in

the church for a long time and they are not too old they do not like this kind of worship

service. They want to stick to their traditional way and some of the youth leave the church

because of this. “According to Victor Counted (2013), the youths dislike their traditionally

repressive church conditions and want to be free with the play of mystery.’’

Samuel Josto, agrees as well that the District is not moving with the dynamic of the time, he

goes on to say the church wants to remain in the traditionalism and most of the churches

today are moving with the time which make the some of the youth to move from one place to

another.

Adao Santo said that some of the youth are leaving the church because of lack of innovative

programs and activities that accommodate them. Indeed holing on the past and saying, ‘Our

church does things like that,’ is one of the common thing that take place in the District. They

are not open for the innovation of the time and most of the youth are looking for innovation

this leaves for some of them the option to look for where new things are taking place. ‘The

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church that hold to the past too much will remain in the past, it will be stagnated.’ He also

said some of the youth are with peer pressure what they are seeing outside they want to

experience it, which make them to go out or leave the church.

There is the issue of peer pressure. Some of the youth, when they hear such church preachers,

the so-called prophets, Apostles, making claim of healing people, raising the dead, they start

following. They go to those ministries and someone of them they have the desire to be like

them and some of them are in a hurry to perform the same things that these people are

claiming to do in the mane of the Jesus. Youth leave the church because such things are not

taking place in the church and no one in the church can give them mentorship on those things

so they go to those so called prophets Apostles Evangelists and there they become spiritual

sons and daughters.

‘Lack of the emphasis of the Spiritual things’ Santo Edoard said. ‘No program for prayer and

fasting. He said that it is difficult for things to just happen and if there is someone who like to

promote these things in the church he or she is viewed badly. Some of the youth want retreat,

where prayer and fasting takes place but the church does not promote it.

I do not agree with those who say that the youth are leaving the church because there is no

Holy Spirit in the church. The Holy Spirit is not on the walls of the church or in the building

but He is in the people and I believe there are so many people who have the Holy Spirit. It is

very true that the church does not promote the gift of speaking in tongue but that is not a fact

that make some to claim that there is no Holy Spirit in the church.

I conclude that there are many factor that are leading the youth to leave the church in the

District of Luanda North Angola: the liturgy is strict and no changes to suit the time. The

worship services are more traditional and no emphasis in the things of the Spirit. Youth who

promote things like prayer, fasting and retreat, are viewed in bad way by some of the clergy.

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These factors make some of the youth to leave the church because some of them are really

seeking God and they have that desire of growing spiritual and to focus in the thing of the

Spirit.

4.11 What are youth seeking for in other churches?

Youth are persons who sometime have behaviour of comparing the message of their pastors

and the pastor of others churches. Some of them they came to conclusion that in other

churches, the preaching is powerful, better, or more attractive and they go for it. Some of

them they go because of the teaching, which is a fact because some of the pastors in the

church is very difficult to take their time to teach the youth.

The church does not have a healing service. Most youths are seeking for that in others

churches. While some they just feel good when a pastor is pray for a sick person in the

church. They want to see it but it does not take place in our churches. Various churches have

come up with new ways of responding to the problem that the people are facing. Another

phenomenon is of that of speaking in tongues and acknowledging the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Some of the youth have shown that there are thirsty to know and understand how the Holy

Spirit works in the life of a person. In our District, it is very difficult to give credibility if the

Holy Spirit is using one although we know that they should not just accept anyone who is

claim that is listening form God. On the other hand, the church has those who can give

guidance to the youth not to seek help from other places and this is why the youth go where

they can be assisted.

The Spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit such as, exorcism, healing, prayer, speaking in tongues,

deliverance, prophecy or vision etc… are things that make the youth to leave the church and

go to seek them. (Bonk 2007:18) the author is giving more weight to what takes place in the

District.

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Diamanda Lucas said that usually, young people are carried away by the prosperity gospel.

Especially for those who are running after immediacy. Indeed some of them have wrong

motives; they seek things like car, house, and marriage. Some of them is because of some

kind of competition among them.

Adao Santos comments some other young boys attract some young boys and girls like them.

The programs and activities that are somehow different from their own churches are

attracting others. That is true. This is one of the reasons why some of the youth of UMC go to

visit others churches and some of them by visiting they find a sister or brother in the lord they

leave the church.

In conclusion, youth are seeking the manifestation of the Holy Spirit that other churches

claim to have. Some of them want to experience it and some of them want to understand the

same Holy Spirit how He acts. They are seeking answer to their questions, which somehow

the church is not addressing.

4.12 Does the church meet the youth spiritual needs?

Filipe Amaro said some of the local churches in the district do not meet youth expectations.

Some churches in the District are doing well but many of them see the church focused more

on the doctrine than adoration in the Lord. Some of the youth want more adoration than

doctrines. This show how the church is misunderstood by some of the youth because the

doctrines of a church is a part of the spiritual guidance for every member of a church youth

included.

Some of the participant show that church does not meet youth expectations. Some of them

that are growing spiritually is clear that the church does not meet the spiritual need of the

youth. Some other participants agree with them that the church does not give emphasis in the

spiritual things, which is the primary thing that the church should focused on the most. It is

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problematic because the church is more concerned with finance and others things and not

spirituality. It is also evident that the spiritual needs of the youth are not met by the church.

Youth who show signs and concern of growing spiritually or have interest to seek Spiritual

things in the church are fought against. When they have a retreat or revival, the leader of the

church will put some people in the church to control the worship service and see that they are

doing. If one raise his or her voice in prayer, that person is stopped. If that youth is preaching

and is moving is called by the pastor and instructed not to move or raise when preaching.

4.13 Ways forward for the church to keep youth membership

Because of the changes that are taking place in the society, the youth are also changing. The

church should call the youth, listen to them, and look for means or methods and programs

that meet their expectation in this contemporary time. I agree because the world is dynamic it

is not static it moving and many things are not the same with the past centuries. Therefore,

the leaders of the church need to call the youth and have a conversation to find out what the

problem is. Together with the youth, the church should find a common ground of the issues.

With this, the youths shall see that they are special and they need to do the best for their

church.

The church should include the youth in the in its problems and seek their contribution on the

solutions. Youth should be included in the worship services because most of them they want

a vibrant worship. The leadership should show concern for the youth. This are facts that will

make the youth more comfortable in the church and they shall feel accommodated because

they are included in the issues that take place in the church and their contribution should be

first analysed and not on the first instance rejected.

Marcos Adriano said that there are so many things that he could mention: the church needs to

give more capacity to its own leadership. They should give value to the power of prayer, and

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export the power of the word of God. Indeed the leadership of the church should give more

value to the things of the spirit. They should be more equipped in this area because the youth

are full of questions where by when they approach to the leader they should be able to answer

questions concerning spiritual things. This shall avoid the issue of youth seeking for help out

side of the church.

Neves Gomes, observed that first the church should promote studies of her own doctrines.

Second, the youths should be made to feel comfortable in the church and accompanied

psychologically, emotionally without forgetting the spiritual part. Because of the

misunderstanding of the doctrine of the church on the side of some youth, the church should

organise seminars to teach and explain deeply the meaning and the advantage of it to make

the youth more equipped and have enough argument against those who stray to mislead them

to others churches.

The church should put herself strong in her territory: giving emphasis in the spiritual things,

worship service with revival, prayer, fasting, and retreats, teach of the word of God etc. She

needs to acknowledge the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and if a youth shows the sign of a gift, he

or she need the right guidance and not fighting against the person. Many of the youth are

looking for these things.

Conclusion, the District need to give attention to the youth’s needs of which most of them are

spiritual. The church is not wrong or a bad church but it should check why the youths are

leaving the church and seek to address the problem together with them. Give opportunity for

youth to express what should be done and what we can implement in our church because

youths are the future of the church. A room for changes and implantation should be there in

order for the church remain strong and have her youth around the church.

4.14 Summary

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The data collection from different participant agree that there in indeed an Exodus taking

place in the District of Luanda North Angola. Some youth are leaving the church and some of

the reason why they are leaving is focusing on the spiritual aspect of the church. The church

should address the expectation of the youth and give them space for them to peak out their

views. The church should look to primary things of spirituality and others aspect shall follow.

Youth should be comfortable in the church the leaders should look for proper are correct

ways or means to approach the youth when they are wrong. Leaders should be able to address

some of the spiritual concern that the youth have in order for them not to look for them from

other places. The things of the spirit, like the gifts of the Spirit, prayer, fasting and the

doctrine of the church should be well addressed and discussed with the youth.

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