This survey was conducted to consider the experience of the Christian faith among young people in the Reformed Churches. The researchers stated that they wanted to hear how the young people speak about the things that matter to them and what role their faith plays in it. The survey was conducted among 111 young people aged 15 - 25. The average age was 20.5. The respondents lived throughout the Netherlands in varying social situations. It consisted of both qualitative and quantitative sections.
The general response indicates a period in the life of young church members in which they feel lost, removed from the church and the faith, largely because other things occupy their minds and nothing in the church attracts them. They speak of their aversion to things that don’t seem to have any relevance, they express their disdain for adults who do not walk the talk. At the same time they indicate that they often struggle with their faith and the practical implications of it in their lives. Pastors and elders seem to be too far removed from their world of experience to be of any influence to them.
The research was done in a very professional and controlled manner. All actual scores are provided as as appendices. The results are interpreted thematically in a very objective fashion. No clear recommendations were provided in the end. The example of this research project has been very helpful to me in developing my thinking about my research project. Upon completion I might even be able to cross reference some of the data for comparison’s sake.