Recent studies reveal a concerning trend: a significant number of young adults disengage from church involvement after leaving home. At LuHi, we believe Christian schools have a unique opportunity to supplement and enhance a student’s Christian community, making a lasting impact on their faith beyond graduation. Let’s examine some recent data trends before exploring how LuHi is actively countering disengagement from the Christian community.
- A 2025 Pew Research study indicates that less than half (45%) of U.S. adults aged 18-29 identify as Christian, while 44% report no religious affiliation.
- A 2023 Lifeway Research study found that 66% of young adults who attended church regularly as teenagers stopped attending for at least a year during young adulthood.
- A 2019 Barna study discovered that 64% of young adults leave the church after leaving home.
All this data (and more) raises the question: How do we instill a sense of faith ownership in our students so their faith continues to grow after graduation?
Cultivating Christ-like Character
At LuHi, we have created a community rooted in love, discipleship, accountability, and grace—qualities that overflow from God to us and, in turn, from us to our students. When students know they are loved, they learn to love. When they are forgiven, they forgive.
A highly relational environment encourages students to explore, ask questions, and persevere through challenges. While societal norms may tempt us to control young people's decisions, we trust in God's empowerment through His Spirit, allowing us to release control and enable students to pursue the great plans He has for them. As 1 Timothy 4:12 reminds us, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity."
By setting high expectations and equipping our students with resilience, we prepare them to lead in their future endeavors.
Encouraging Christ-like Leadership
Our staff and teachers model a servant-hearted culture at LuHi. But we don’t just want our students to be servant-minded—we want them to be servant-leaders, leading others through service.
Why? Because servant leadership is at the core of who Jesus was. During His incarnation, He came to serve, not to be served. Philippians 2:5-7 says, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Every LuHi student is required to complete 20 hours of community service per year. While that’s a great start, we encourage students to go beyond the minimum—whether by going on a mission trip, consistently serving at a local organization, or joining a Lions Give Back event with their teammates. Our goal is for students to develop a lifelong passion for service, making it an integral part of their Christian walk. We hope to instill in them the humble posture of Christ as they go out to impact the world.
Fostering Christ-like Relationships
LuHi is a microcosm of the Body of Christ. We believe every person is a valued child of our Father and saved by the love and sacrifice of Jesus. We strive to maintain unity between teachers and students, faculty members, and peers. When issues arise, we teach students how to practice biblical conflict resolution, as outlined in Matthew 18. Students have many opportunities to form meaningful relationships within our tight-knit community, including Refuge Worship Nights and Chosen Small Groups. We also provide opportunities for parents to engage, such as Parents in Prayer, Thriving Parents, Loving Lions, and more.
Additionally, over 90% of our student body participates in extracurricular activities, including clubs, sports, and music and arts programs. Annual freshman and senior retreats, as well as student-led dances and events, further reinforce a culture of positive peer influence. As Hebrews 10:24 urges, we seek to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
Promoting Christ-like Living
It’s essential to teach young people that faith is not meant to be compartmentalized but should intersect with every aspect of their lives. Two classes at LuHi that particularly support this are Men’s Christian Decisions and Women’s Christian Decisions. In these courses, students learn about health and sexuality, family leadership, and making Biblically-based life decisions in today’s world.
Every student also takes a Theology course each year to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Bible, with a Biblical worldview serving as the foundation of every class. Worship is an integral part of campus life, with chapel held three times a week, and students can deepen their faith through the Chapel Leadership class.
Living the Great Commission
These four years will go by quickly, and they are crucial for faith formation. As we consider the question, “How do we instill a sense of faith ownership in our students so their faith continues to grow after graduation?” we believe the answer lies in understanding Jesus’ Great Commission. Our sanctification is not for our benefit alone—we are called to become Christ-like so that we may go and make disciples.
LuHi students watch teachers model adult discipleship. They walk alongside their peers growing in faith together, having chances to lead and encourage and also be led and encouraged at various times throughout high school. It’s invaluable experience because it lays the foundation for a life of faith.
When we teach our students to follow Christ in His character, relationships, service, and living, they will be equipped as leaders, ready to step into the callings God has for them. May they cause a domino effect for His kingdom!
Originally published in 2019, updated in 2025 for accuracy.
