I'm deeply grateful to everyone who participated in the survey, and extra thanks to the five students who offered to be interviewed after. Even though many of the respondents shared a denomination, like Catholic and Lutheran, their answers still differed, so I find that denomination has much less to do with an attendee's experience than the church environment itself. Because of their honest responses, I found places where churches succeed in making youth and teens feel comfortable, and where they don't.

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     When I asked students to rate their experiences with Christianity, it averaged 7.7/10, more positive than negative. Those who rated higher explained that knowing God has significantly improved their lives, sense of peace, gave them a place to belong, and built lasting relationships within the church. Students who rated lower explained feeling judged, unsafe to be themselves, and unseen in Christian spaces. Some who rated neutral explained that they didn't find Christianity interesting, didn't understand the purpose of faith, and felt forced to attend by their parents.

     Overall, responders averaged 6.81/10 when asked to rate how comfortable they felt in Christian spaces, not so amazing. The biggest thing students shared that they believe makes a welcoming and comfortable space is a place that accepts you as you are, just like Jesus. It makes room for those who may be different, is diverse and reflects the community, and treats everyone with the same love. The people are friendly and reach out to you, so you won't be afraid to reach out to them. For the physical space itself, responders said greeters, a big room where people can gather with comfy furniture, and good vibes (like calming, happy colors and art).

     Responders said churches do great in providing spiritual guidance and a place for a community to worship together as a family, providing opportunities for people to impact their communities, building relationships, spreading the Gospel, the message of God's perfect way, and love. Students also reported that they felt churches fail at being judgemental, exclusive and turning people away, political, child abuse, lack of engagement, hypocrisy, and hating the person instead of hating the sin. Very contradicting. 

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     I believe this student survey has made it obvious the things churches do amazing, and when churches don't do those things, people feel separate from God. From what I've read, churches need to keep giving love and showing the people that there is a powerful, very real God who has fearfully and wonderfully made us. A God who knows everything about us and still loves us, a God who sacrificed His Son to die, paying our debt, all so we could live. The more like Jesus a church is, the better representative they are of His love.

​      What students and younger generations need in church is interactiveness. When the world is full of distractions from Christ, kids, teens, young adults, and everybody needs faith to feel engaging. Most churches have small groups, which are great for this because everyone has an opportunity to find one that fits them. Something I have found engaging in my experiences is activities in the lobby: a physical game for more active attendees, a photoshoot that fits the sermon theme, polls, riddles, whatever. Making your church fun to go to is important, especially for keeping youth interested and engaged.

     As a church, we should reflect our communities: Not perfect, but human. Some students said they wished their churches were more diverse, and I know you can't just add certain people to make it more colorful, but a church can show that it's for all people by representing them and their perspectives. My own church cycles between 3-4 pastors of different cultures and lives to show diversity in character. 

     Church is a family, but for many of us, it doesn't always feel like that. A few of the responders mentioned that some churches can be political, unsupportive, and abandon them when they need God the most. Really, politics have no place in the House of God, as they only divide us. We are united as a family by Christ Who died for us, and as a family, we need to be there for each other always. Jesus was always polite when conversing with people who felt differently than Him, while still telling the truth. No one can hear the truth when you're yelling, you must tell the truth with love, Jesus' truth.

     Like Jesus, churches should love a person as they are, accept them for their faults, but also encourage them to overcome their sin and be their best. Jesus realized that people aren't perfect, so He became a doctor for the sick. When a person comes to your church who is suffering from sin, their own, or the impact of someone else's, your church needs to help them heal, provide all the love they need, and all the scripture they need to hear. Pray for them, visit them. The Pharisees of Jesus' time worried too much about the rules of following God, rather than focusing on their relationship with Him. Don't make the same mistakes, teach your church that God wants their heart, and to listen to Him.

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                                                                   Be more like Jesus