Is the church paying attention?

Is the church paying attention?

Last month, Andy Johnson attended Gulf Coast Getaway on behalf of Mission Alive. Today, he shares his insights from the students he spoke with. (You can read the original article HERE.)

While I love a good campus ministry retreat, my main purpose for being at Gulf Coast Getaway 2026 was to listen. Because they were ready for someone to care about their opinion (and because I offered the chance to win an Amazon gift card), more than 50 university students responded to our survey on what they think about church.

First, the students at GCG had concerns but were by no means apathetic. They were not saying that church doesn’t matter or that it has nothing to do with them. They were saying that something feels off and it worries them. They aren’t sure the church is responding fast enough or deeply enough to address their increasingly complex lives. The good news is that concern requires attachment. These students still feel connected enough to church to be disappointed.

Second, as we consider that connection to church, a pretty clear picture emerges. These students are emotionally invested while intellectually questioning, relationally cautious while spiritually open. They are not rebels; they are participants who feel on the outside looking in, hoping there’s room to be heard in honest ways without defensiveness. They seem to be wondering if their faith communities will grow with them or if they will outgrow them.

These students had something to say, and I will expand on it in an upcoming blogpost. But for now let’s end here: while only a small sample size, these students were not wondering whether the church is true; they’re asking whether the church is paying attention.