JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Studies show an exodus of younger generations from the church.
First Coast News sat down with members of the student leadership team at Edward Waters University. The historically Black college was founded by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1866.
Johnoy Davis, Jordan Weeks, and Keith Moore all say they attend church regularly but many of their peers do not.
"I'm probably the only person in my age group in my church," Davis, 32, said. "Everybody else was like 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s."
When asked why he thinks that is the case, Davis responded, "We're doing things the same way we've been doing them in the 40s and the 30s. Young people are just not connecting with that."
The Pew Research Center study, Faith Among Black Americans, shows 49% of people ages 27 to 42 seldom or never attend church. Close behind at 46% sits Generation Z, ages 12 to 27.
"They don't want to go off old tradition, the strict ways," said Moore. "They want to be involved, and in a more modern style church that relates to them."
Tradition, in some houses of worship have kept women out of the pulpit.
This Instagram post on the topic lead to a firestorm of passionate arguments on both sides of the isle.
Davis, Weeks and Moore believe social media is part of the reason the church is losing relevance.
"You can go on TikTok right now and somebody is giving facts about the bible," said Moore. "They're giving you facts that they've learned. So you're getting their perspective. You're not getting teaching from someone who studies and puts effort into learning and teaching the word of God."
Weeks, Miss Edward Waters University Elect, is active on campus and says she's heard it all when it comes to why younger generations are not interested in houses of worship.
"A lot of these kids they'll say why they don't go to church is because of church hurt," Weeks said. "Whoever is sitting behind that podium, what are you saying? Is your life truly reflecting to really show and guide me?"
"We don't want to be told just to do something, we want to know why we're doing it," Davis said.
"Our generation is more hungry for knowledge, not just the whooping and hollering," Moore said. "We want to hear a word!"