Topic(s): Father, Mother, Youth

Elders across the nation are concerned about young people’s drop-out rate. As well they should be. It is tragic to see precious boys and girls, who are thrilled with Bible Study when young, grow cold and uninterested in the Lord's work as they grow older.

Several congregations made in-depth studies to find the problem. What is needed? More youth programs? More rallies? Special teachers? One cause began to emerge. Their faithfulness had little to do with special programs or teachers. It did not matter if they are members of large or small churches. The single most important factor was their own immediate family.

One church found that where both parents were faithful, which included interest in all programs, 93% of the children remained faithful. On the other hand, if only one parent was faithful, the figure dropped to 73%. Where both parents were only marginally active, it fell to 53%. The shocker—in cases where both parents attended infrequently, 6% of their children stayed faithful. Six percent! Do you want your children to go to heaven? Lead them there!

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” - 1 Corinthians 11:1

Parents, Pay Attention

Topic(s): Father, Mother, Youth

A recent Roper poll showed that parents may not be doing all they can to encourage their teens to remain sexually pure.

Seventy-two percent of the teens who reported having sexual intercourse said they did it in the homes of their parents or their partner's parents.

Six out of ten believe their parents know about their sexual behavior.

According to a survey of 2400 teens by Brent Miller and Terrence Olsen, the younger a girl begins dating, the more likely she is to have sex before graduation from high school. The ages and percentages are as follows: 12--91%; 13--56%; 14--53%; 15--40%; 16--20%.

“Are you absolutely sure your kid is not sneaking out of the house at night? Ninety-percent of the young girls we see—those under 16 years old—are being preyed on by 17– and 18– year-old boys. They start out by telling them, ‘This isn’t sex. It’s just touching.’” Soon that’s not all it is (from Cathi Woods, “Where True Love Waits,” Christianity Today, March 1, 1999). When we say nothing about wrongdoing, in effect they condone wrongdoing.

“Train up a child in the way he should go…” - Proverbs 22:6

Facts about the Family

Topic(s): Divorce, Family, Marriage

• Divorce has increased 800% since the Civil War.
• 20 million young people are not living with both their parents.
• Length of marriage average starting today is 7 years 4 months.
• Percentage of mothers of children under 3 not in the workforce: 46.
• Percentage of mothers of children under 3 employed part-time: 19. —U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT (7/1/96)
• Percentage of U.S. children living apart from biological fathers (1960): 17.
• Percentage of U.S. children living apart from biological fathers (1990): 36.
• Juvenile violent crime arrests in 1960: 18,000.
• Juvenile violent crime arrests in 1990: 118,000.—UTNE READER (Sept.-Oct./96)