Inclusion and understanding are some of the main reasons for attendance in faith services

By: Victoria Parent

Inclusion and understanding could be one of the main reasons youth and young adults choose whether or not to attend church or not.

Individuals have different reasons for choosing whether or not to attend church. According to Autumn Tiessen, a student at St. Clair College, said the opportunities given to her, learning about her religion and being around other caring people are the main reasons she chooses to attend church. On the other hand, Brett Henderson, a student at St. Clair College, said a lack of understanding and interest are why he does not attend.

“I think it is a thing whhere they don’t want to give their life to God. They’d rather do what they want to do in life,” said Tiessen. Tiessen attends Windsor Christian Fellowship and said how her faith community has opened up many doors for her and encouraged her to take her current course. Tiessen also talked about how her church offers different programs and opportunities on a weekly basis that makes church more welcoming to youth.

“I believe people are their own person. I don’t believe in anything higher than yourself,” said  Henderson. Henderson was raised in an Anglican family with a father who is a pastor and said people who do attend church are kind and open minded people, but can be a bit overwhelming.

Pastor Brian Dantor has been a pastor for 30 years. He is currently working at Windsor Christian Fellowship as a youth minister.

“We really that a generational church that only caters to the middle to older generation is going to go within a generation it’s going to self destruct,” said Dantor, 64. He said one of the main reasons youth choose whether to attend or not is because the church does not or does involve and include youth.

“We get the youth involved…we have 20 some programs going on,” said Dantor. The Windsor Christian Fellowship has one of the largest youth and young adults communities with over one hundred people attending their programs on a weekly basis with the highest reaching almost 200 people. Some of the programs they offer include youth camps, games and food on Friday nights all in an effort to get youth involved and help them out.

“I really believe healthy churches reach out and create healthy communities and healthy families,” said Pastor Dantor. Whatever the reason youth choose to attend or not, one it is different for everyone. It is up to faith leaders to work with the youth to get them involved.