When I grew up in church, it was one of the key social centers of  my life. My friends were there, many of the social events I looked forward to were held there (youth group, potlucks, Hanging of the Greens, etc.). It was a time in which if you built a church building you could almost count on the fact that people would come. It is what people did. Interestingly enough, in spite of all the time I spent at church (lots) I moved away from home after high school pretty much biblically ignorant and not very well developed in my faith life. I was a good church-person, but not a very dependable follower of Jesus. 

I've come to believe that it wasn't because people didn't try. I had hard working youth sponsors and teachers. I believe it was diluted because church was so much more than a training ground for the faith. Today, you can build a church building and open to an empty sanctuary. The church is no longer the social center of the community in most places. People often find their friends in other places. And, in some ways, that might be just as well. Without trying to fulfill that role, it allows us to focus on the really important stuff... building disciples. While there is still a part of me that probably longs for that sentimental time and how it felt, I wouldn't want to duplicate it today at the expense of people growing in their faith and discovering God on deeper levels.