churchrelevance.com

Last year, almost 4 out of every 10 U.S. births occurred out-of-wedlock. That rate is double of what it was three decades ago which means that the composition of American church congregations has also dramatically changed. It also means that the community your church reaches has changed.

Mike Stobbe of the Associated Press reported the statistic and also shared:

The Who

• While out-of-wedlock births have long been associated with teen mothers, the teen birth rate actually dropped last year to the lowest level on record.
• It was up among all age groups except youngsters ages 10 to 17.
• Births among unwed mothers rose most dramatically among women in their 20s.
• The increase in births to unwed mothers was seen in all racial groups, but rose most sharply among Hispanics.

The Why

• Experts said the overall rise reflects the burgeoning number of people who are putting off marriage or living together without getting married.
• They said it also reflects the fact that having a child out of wedlock is more acceptable nowadays and not necessarily the source of shame it once was.
• More women in their 30s and 40s, hearing their biological clock, are choosing to give birth despite their single status.

While God’s Word does not approve of sex outside of marriage, it is important that churches realize that their only chance to reverse this trend is through discipleship not condemnation.