Who Is Investing in Our Children?

"'I have no time' some adults said, but the drug pusher on the street said
'not even the threat of jail will keep me from working with your children.'
'I have no time' some adults said,
but the movie producer said, 'we will study, survey, and
spend millions to produce whatever will turn your kids on.'
'I have no time' some adults said,
but the pusher and the movie producer said,
'we will stay open whatever hours are necessary every day
to win the minds of the kids.' "
(author unknown)

The Internet, Storm Student Ministries, the drug dealer, peers, parents, Satellite TV, Children's Ministry, game systems, coaches, etc. all compete for a child's time. Which of these are you allowing to influence your child?

"Train children in the right way and when old, they will not stray."
Proverbs 22:6 (NRSV)

Statistics show:

• "... the probability of someone embracing Jesus as his or her Savior is 32 percent for those between the ages of 5 and 12. ... If people do not embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior before they reach their teenage years, the chance of their doing so at all is slim."
• "Nine out of 10 young people (93%) consider themselves to be Christian by age 13. Among those who say they are Christian, only 35 percent indicate that they are 'absolutely committed to the Christian faith.'"
• "... 3 percent of the nation's 13-year-olds have a biblical worldview, which serves as the foundation for their decision making. The moral foundations of children are generally determined by the time the individual reaches age nine (3rd grade). Their spiritual moorings are also in place by this age. It seems that by the time he or she is nine, the child shifts mental gears and begins to use the cues he or she receives from that point forward to either confirm or challenge an existing perspective."

(statistics taken from George Barna research)

How do you feel right now? Are you overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising children to have a Biblical worldview? You are not alone! As parents who are followers of Christ, we have a Biblical mandate to raise our children in the faith. Look up Deuteronomy 4:9-10 and 6:1-7, Psalm 78:4-6 and read these verses in the Bible that tell us to proclaim to our children how much God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us. If we don't spend time nurturing and teaching our children, who will?

Storm Student Ministries and Children's Ministry exists to help you in this process. We offer ongoing Biblical teaching (discipleship) and opportunities for outreach (mission). In one or two hours each week, however, these ministries cannot lay the foundation that is needed to form a Biblical worldview. You are ultimately responsible!

Who Influenced These Children?

Below are excerpts of stories from children at Central.

"I was born and raised in a Christian family. ...My dad was putting me to sleep and I asked him how you become a Christian? He told me that I needed to ask Jesus to forgive me of my sins and also to ask him into my heart. My dad prayed with me and I asked Jesus into my heart. Some people think that being a Christian is just going to church. No, being a Christian is much more. It is telling people about Jesus and reading the Bible."

"I grew up hearing my mom telling me about God and Jesus. People who have influenced my relationship with Jesus are my mom and dad."

"I received Jesus in 1998 when I was four years old, at Central's Vacation Bible School."

"I am very thankful for all of the influences in my life that keep me close to Jesus. Some of the most important ones are my Christian parents..."

"I asked Jesus into my heart when I was about 7 years old. Susan, my mom and I were done with our daily devotion, which was about asking Jesus into your heart. I thought, 'Wow! What a great idea, so I did it that night.'"

"I have believed in God as my Savior for as long as I can remember. My family has been very important in my faith in God. I have been raised with parents who take me to church and disciple me. My parents pray and read the Bible with me. At night my dad prays with me and teaches me how to have the attitude of Christ (Philippians 2)."

"I was lucky to be born into a Christian family."

"I was not raised with a mom and a dad who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but they made sure that I attended church and Sunday School every week. I have been a follower of Christ for as long as I can remember. I am thankful that God chose to love me."