Sociologist Melinda Lundquist Denton was sure there had been a mistake. She tried again, recalculating her numbers, looking for the error.

But it wasn’t there. The finding in her study was correct: In 2003, 18 percent of a sample of young people reported never attending religious services. By 2013, it had risen to 51 percent.

Denton and a small group of fellow sociologists embarked on a longitudinal research project called the National Study of Youth and Religion nearly twenty years ago. Now, their project is culminating in the fourth book reporting on their findings entitled Back Pocket God: Religion and Spirituality in Emerging Adults. Denton joined CT’s online managing editor, Andrea Palpant Dilley, to talk about how young adults understand their faith, the purpose of the church, and the role of God in their lives.

The stats may seem grim, but hope is alive and well. Check out Denton’s interview for insights into the minds of young people and ideas for reaching your children with the beauty of Christ.