Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

January-February 2018 – The biggest predictor of whether children will retain Christian faith as adults is how often they read their Bible, LifeWay Research has reported.

A September 2017 survey of 2,000 parents of young adults (ages 18-30) asked about their children’s growing up years as well as where they are spiritually now. While about half of the children of parents surveyed no longer practice Christianity, the most common factor in the experience of the children who still hold onto faith was having read the Bible regularly as a child.

Other positive influences were time spent regularly praying, serving in church, listening primarily to Christian music, and participating in mission trips and church projects.

“In the end, parents hope the light will go on and their children will want to follow God on their own,” said Scott McConnell, LifeWay executive director. “At any age, the Holy Spirit can flip on the switch, and these habits can help kids grow in their faith.”

onenewsnow.com, 10/24/17