Back in 2015, the Pew Research Center released some alarming statistics related to plunging belief in Jesus Christ. Pew reported that only 11% of those in the “silent generation” (born between 1928 and 1945) claimed to be religious “nones”—in other words, atheists, agnostics, or without any religion in particular. But among younger millennials (born between 1990 and 1996), that number leaped to 36%.
Think of that: More than one in three young adults with no connection with Christianity. That means no objective moral standard, no peace, no hope for eternal life. There may be exceptions, but generally speaking, it’s a miserable and completely self-centered existence. I know; I shared this anti-God worldview for much of my adult life. But more than one third of young adults? It’s unthinkable. Yet unless something drastic happens, it’s likely to get worse.
How did this happen? One major reason has to be that we’re now in the second, third, and fourth generations of unbelief. Young people are not even being exposed to the gospel anymore. They don’t know what they are, in effect, rejecting.
We as Christians have our work cut out for us, and we’d better get busy. In addition to doing our own share of gospel sharing, however, we need to ask the Lord to send in reinforcements. As Jesus said in Matthew 9, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
One group of laborers is too often overlooked: elderly Christians, especially those living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Whether you’re a Christian with a loved one in this situation, or simply have a little free time to make new friends of these residents, you can help them become effective evangelists. When you visit, update them on the situation, and then arm them with gospel tracts to share with their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even the staffers who serve them every day.
Never underestimate the impact these simple tools can have. Over the decades, millions of people have ended up being saved for all eternity after reading a gospel tract. Imagine how it would thrill an elderly believer to be able to play a role in that process. And you can be the key to unleashing a small army of old saints!
But don’t put it off. Today’s very aged may be the last generation with solid and widespread faith in Jesus Christ. Younger people are now moving into these facilities, and from what I’ve seen, a growing percentage of them have no interest in the things of God.
Think of that: More than one in three young adults with no connection with Christianity. That means no objective moral standard, no peace, no hope for eternal life. There may be exceptions, but generally speaking, it’s a miserable and completely self-centered existence. I know; I shared this anti-God worldview for much of my adult life. But more than one third of young adults? It’s unthinkable. Yet unless something drastic happens, it’s likely to get worse.
How did this happen? One major reason has to be that we’re now in the second, third, and fourth generations of unbelief. Young people are not even being exposed to the gospel anymore. They don’t know what they are, in effect, rejecting.
We as Christians have our work cut out for us, and we’d better get busy. In addition to doing our own share of gospel sharing, however, we need to ask the Lord to send in reinforcements. As Jesus said in Matthew 9, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
One group of laborers is too often overlooked: elderly Christians, especially those living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Whether you’re a Christian with a loved one in this situation, or simply have a little free time to make new friends of these residents, you can help them become effective evangelists. When you visit, update them on the situation, and then arm them with gospel tracts to share with their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even the staffers who serve them every day.
Never underestimate the impact these simple tools can have. Over the decades, millions of people have ended up being saved for all eternity after reading a gospel tract. Imagine how it would thrill an elderly believer to be able to play a role in that process. And you can be the key to unleashing a small army of old saints!
But don’t put it off. Today’s very aged may be the last generation with solid and widespread faith in Jesus Christ. Younger people are now moving into these facilities, and from what I’ve seen, a growing percentage of them have no interest in the things of God.
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