For decades, churches have built youth ministries around entertainment and behavior management. But what if all the data says that’s the wrong approach?

In this powerful episode, Dr. Anthony Bradley joins Dru Johnson to reflect on 25 years of experience working with youth, revisiting the PBS documentary Raising Cain and what it reveals about the neglected emotional lives of boys. He shares stories from his time as a high school teacher, where the boys most emotionally adrift weren’t from broken homes—but from Christian families.

Bradley argues that youth ministry has largely failed, citing data showing a 50–60% dropout rate among church youth group kids. “What the data shows is that spiritual formation happens at home,” he says. “And instead of churches focusing on the youth, they need to be focusing on Malachi 4:6.”

He calls for churches to replace youth isolation with intergenerational community. “They need to physically experience almost in a sacramental sort of sense what a godly family is.” Boys don’t just need Bible studies—they need fathers, mentors, uncles, and grandfathers.

This episode is an urgent wake-up call to rethink how we raise boys, how we disciple families, and how the church can once again become the place for forming whole people.

For Anthony's Substack, click this link:
https://anthonybbradley.substack.com/

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Chapters

00:00 The Impact of 'Raising Cain' on Understanding Boys
02:59 Cultural Shifts in Masculinity and Education
05:43 The Emotional Lives of Boys
08:39 The Crisis of Boys in Education
11:34 Masculinity and Emotional Expression
14:38 The Role of Culture in Defining Masculinity
17:39 Christian Perspectives on Masculinity
20:24 Historical Context of Masculinity in Christianity
25:44 The Shift in Youth Ministry Focus
28:29 The Role of Parents in Faith Formation
32:21 Creating Family-Centric Church Activities
35:18 The Importance of Intergenerational Relationships
40:16 Integrating Youth into Family Life
45:07 The Need for Community and Mentorship
50:52 Long-Term Faith Development and Patience

Ian Rankin Q&A