I was thinking bit more bout this what lysander said bout when people get to college just dont go to church anymore.
If your objective is just to get bums on seats in church, sorry to be crude, thats not gonna wash with God.
Those children were either not saved to begin with or to bring them home if they were...requires that they repent like the prodigal son, no church program can do this for them.
Jesus is the answer in every single case.
The world and all its charms is very attractive to young people and I know adults in the world totally endorse this lifestyle and actually push thier children to become worldy wise. They want them to earn big bucks and get all the degrees and education they can, marry, have a house and car and pursue the american dream. If those things are not possible theres always the attractive lure of drugs to assuage their failures to live up to expectations.
The problem lies with adults saying one thing, but God saying the total opposite. God can and does protect the young if their parents are unable to do this for them when they cry out. I think we as christians ought to be on our knees praying for these children rather than forge ahead with man made programs that mostly for our benefit anyway, or give us the illusion that these children want church. I dont think any child wants church and it can be a drag going to one at times, lets be honest. I think children want Jesus to be their best friend.
Church should be a safe envrionment for them to grow and to make friends...but its not a social club. its family.