I am in New York at the Transform World meeting that is looking at an initiative to have the believing community and organizations concentrate on children ages 4/14, called the 4/14 window. There is much to say here and much that can be misunderstood about this effort. Today I only want to use three statistics that were cited today.
85%-- In the last century all but fifteen percent of believers in the USA came to faith before the age of 20.
70% of those coming to faith did so primarily through the influence of their friends of that age.
3 years: the average length of time for a believer to be effective in evangelism before they become so Christianized that they lose significant contact with many of their non-Christian friends.
These numbers tell us how crucial this age group is to the future. It also raises questions about how easy it is for Christians to lose touch with engaging others about the faith. Both points are worth pondering.
I've heard these statistics frequently in my life and do not doubt their veracity. My parents were very active in child evangelism and so these numbers are ingrained in my very DNA. But whenever I hear that 85% of current believers came to faith prior to age 20 I wonder what percentage of that 85% were from Christian and/or churched homes. If a significant percentage of those 85% were/are from Christian homes we might be forced to the opposite conclusion: that reaching parents is the key to long term conversion growth.
Daniel:
Interesting point. Do not know the answer on the demographics. This is a both/and to me. Sometimes the way to parents is to minister well to children as many Christian day cares can attest. However, the second stat helps us sense that parents may not be as important as friends (They get a 70% influence rating).
dlb
I was hoping you would have the answer for me! It's something I've been curious about for a long time.
Dr Bock!
How should one understand the fact that the new testament material is silent regarding the existence of the Essenes (and/or The Qumran sect)?
Both Josephus and Philo set their number at 4.000. Why this silence? Surely the historical Jesus must have encountered them given their number?
Magnus
Magnus:
As separatists, it is not a great surprise. They had gone off mostly to do their own thing.
dlb
WE ARE NOT TEACHING THE BIBLE EVEN IN CHURCH. THE BOOK "GRAND
THIEF OF jESUS" SAYS IT ALL!!
WE "ATTEND CHURCH" SOMETIMES, WE PROBABLY HAVE A BIBLE IN THE HOME,
BUT WHEN IS IT DUSTED AND CLEANED SO WE CAN USE IT.
I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THERE IS HUGH AMOUNT OF BOYS/GIRLS AGES 8-15
THAT CAN SAY THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE, OR NAME THE TEN COMMANDMENTS,
OR REALIZE WHAT THE 23RD PSALMS AND 100TH PSALMS ARE.
WHEN THE CHILDREN COME TO CHURCH, WE FEEL WE HAVE TO BE "ENTERTAINED"
THE ONES 7 AND YOUNGER GO TO THE "EDUCATION BUILDING" FOR
CHILDREN'S CHURCH. IT IS BEYOND AMAZING THE MATERIAL THAT THEY USE
NOW IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MATERIALS THE CHURCH USED IN YEARS PAST. I KNOW, I WORKED WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CHURCH FOR
NEARLY FIFTY YEARS, BEFORE MY HEALTH "RETIRED" ME.
IF WE WANT TRUE CHRISTIANITY BACK, WE NEED TO START WITH OURSELVES!!
THEN HAVE A CHRISTIAN HOME WHERE WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN.
Teaching children 4/14 the christian values and scriptures, may be the key to maintain and pass over our religious beliefs . Of course this evangelism education should be done with parental approval, after all, each parent has the right to choose what he thinks is best for his child. I am convinced though, that these children's moral values would be improved by this kind of religious education.
In addition to the figures you presented, I'd add the disappointing statistic that 50% of teens claiming to be Christians when entering college no longer claim faith in Jesus after graduation. This is alarming on two levels. First, it means we (the body of Christ and parents together) have failed to adequately train up men and women in the faith. Second, it reveals how actively opposed to Christ most secular colleges and universities are.
I had worked for Dare 2 Share Ministries for a few years and while their primary focus is evangelism of teens this statistic was so disturbing that they decided to begin developing training materials for youth pastors to help stem the flow of this exodus. Whether you are a minister or not, a parent of not, a lay minister or not, we are all responsible for training and sharpening and assisting our brothers and sisters in Christ to finish the race.
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