What is the connection between childhood faith and adult religious commitment?
A recent study conducted by the Barna Group provides new insights into this age-old question. The survey asked adults to think back on their upbringing and to describe the frequency of their involvement in Sunday school or religious training. The Barna researchers then compared those reported early-life behaviors with the respondents’ current levels of faith activity and faith durability.
How do childhood and teen engagement connect to adult spirituality? The research examined four elements of adult religious commitment: attending church, having an active faith (defined as reading the Bible, praying, and attending church in the last week), being unchurched, and switching from childhood faith.
When it comes to church engagement, those who attended Sunday school or other religious programs as children or as teens were much more likely than those without such experiences to attend church and to have an active faith as adults. For instance, among those who frequently attended such programs as a child, 50% said they attended a worship service in the last week, which is slightly higher than the national average and well ahead of those who rarely or never attended children’s programs. Among those who frequently attended religious programs as teenagers, 58% said they had attended a worship service in the last week. In comparison, less frequent participation as a teenager correlated with less frequent adult participation.
for more details visit
http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/15-familykids/321-new-research-explores-the-long-term-effect-of-spiritual-activity-among-children-and-teens
Hello to you all, especially if you havent heard in a while. There’s a lot to do here. I’ve attached a couple of pics from the recent school outing for Grade 7 & 8 (S1 and 2 in Scotland) to En Gedi on the shore of the Dead Sea (national nature reserve). You may remember En Gedie as the place where David cut off the corner of Saul’s cloak (1st Samuel).
I also managed to fulfil an ambition of bathing in the Dead Sea. Love to all
Jimmy
Kelty Kirk Outreach Worker Part-time
Salary £9036 (17.5 hours per week, flexible working pattern, on a three year fixed-term contract)
This is an exciting new post for a committed Christian with a heart for mission and outreach into the local community. The Outreach Worker will operate within the community seeking to build contact between the Church and the local community. There will be opportunities to work alongside young people exploring Christianity with the help and support of the local congregation. Emphasis will be on developing new outreach initiatives and projects.
The candidate will have good experience in working with a wide range of age groups, have good communication skills and be able to explain biblical teaching in a relevant manner.
Starting Date January 2010
Full details and application forms are available from our website: www.keltykirk.org.uk
And also from:Lee Messeder 15, Arlick Road Kelty KY4 0BHClosing date for applications is the 30th October 2009Kelty Kirk is a registered charity SC011004
Coming out of the 2008 church attendance census we discovered that around 1/3 of those who came to church are men and 2/3 are women. The question posed by our discusison in Presbytery and also to kirk sessions is ‘Why are there more women and than men in church.’ To aid your discussions and your thinking why not have a look at the online video discussion from premier christian tv.
http://player.premier.tv/premiertv.aspx?AssetId=e42f58ed-b9f6-4634-9244-95e837fdcf9d&ChannelId=
Do you agree or disagree?
Emerging Ministries Conference (copied from web please check details)
members of St Andrews and Dunfermline Presbyteries are warmly invited to come along and share in the Kirkcaldy Presbytery conference session in October with David Currie.
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When – Tuesday 7 October, 8.00pm (We celebrate the Lord’s Supper at 7.00pm – again, you are most welcome.)
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Where – Linktown Parish Church, Nicol Street, Kirkcaldy
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What – Conference session on Building for the Future (Remits p18-25)
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Who – David Currie, Development Officer, New and Emerging Ministries
Worship in Song -Praise - Prayer - at Cowdenbeath Trinity Church on Friday 2nd October 7.30pm. Collection for Water Aid at end of service. Visit www.trinitykirk.co.uk for location map.
Cowdenbeath Trinity Church in response to requests made by a local School are running “Children - What Would you do with them” - a five week discusion group for parents to come together and discuss some of the problems we all find in bringing up young children. The group starts on Monday 26th October at 10.00am in Trinity Church Halls Sinclair Drive Cowdenbeath. Anyone interested in coming should contact Pamela Scott our Family and Children’s Worker on 01383 410530 or at the Church office 01383 512079. There wil be a creche available.
Five members of Cowdenbeath Trinity Church, Mitch and Isobell Drysdale, Caroline Bowman, Ella coates and Helen Heggie are going on an exchange trip for a week to visit the Evangelical Church of the Czech Republic. They will visit churches in Miraslov and Olomouc. During the visit they will also spend time in the churches, the local schools, a school for retarded children and visits to families in the local community. The group will take with them small gifts for their host families and two banners, one for each church, reflecting the unity we share with them. There will of course be time for some sightseeing and the hosts have planned time for this in Prague and in Cesky Krumlov one of the most beautiful towns and castle in the Czech Republic. The group will meet with the congregations and during an evening service will share some of the work that happens in Trinity Church
Dunfermline Presbytery
Dedication Service for all children’s workers/youth leaders
Sunday 6th September 2009 6.30 pm at St Serf’s Parish Church, Benarty
An opportunity for all involved in children’s and youth ministry in the Presbytery of Dunfermline to get together for worship, fellowship and an act of dedication for another year’s service. You are invited to stay for refreshments and fellowship after the service
