what's wrong with this picture?

LifeWay Research put this piece together and while I appreciate the valuable information in a user-friendly, aesthetic format, I can't help but cringe at the subtle message being communicated by the models.

The "Regular Attender" is an attractive young lady who has apparently been practicing her Vanna White moves. She's dressed casually, but nicely: jeans and a nice top. Her makeup has been carefully applied and she looks happy.

The "Not Regular Attender" looks less put-together. His body language is apathetic. His baggy, black t-shirt isn't working so well with whatever kind of brown pants he's wearing, and his hair and facial expression scream, "I got out of bed for this?"

One belongs and one does not. Of course I'm sure whoever set up this shot did not intend to paint a picture of who belongs in a church body and who does not, and that decisions were made regarding wardrobe and makeup based on past experiences and influences without a second thought as to their implications.

The stereotype remains, however. The fact that is was probably done unintentionally, and that you may not have noticed when you first saw the image, confirms this is what we blindly believe "Regular Attenders" and "Not Regular Attenders" look like.

So what? So how does this affect your student and young adult ministries? Who do we blindly accept as those that "belong," and who do we assume will never get it because they don't look happy to be at church?

How does this affect the design for spaces for these ministries? Are you making space for those who "belong" (i.e. who will come anyway)? Or are you making space for the "Not Regular Attenders," who really need the extra effort to feel comfortable? Is your student/young adult ministry reaching out, into the unknown, or in, to the comfortable?