Pastor Al Paulauski, From Your Pal Al, Fair Haven Assembly of God Church

Pastor Al Paulauski

From Your Pal May 2005

"The role of the church is to mentor parents, the role of the parent is to mentor their children, and the legacy of faith continues to the next generation." - Ed Cole
     Josh McDowell recently stated that in 1945, more than 70 percent of the population of Great Britain attended church each Sunday - today, that figure is only 7 percent. What happened? Church historians tell us that the Church in Great Britain, as well as most of Western Europe, missed just one generation of young people and their families; the result was a deathblow to the Church.
     Culture watchers, including George Barna and Josh McDowell, report that more than 80 percent of the students attending church while in high school will not attend church one year after they graduate.
Judges 2:10 tells us - "After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel."
     What can we do about this today to make sure this is not our story? We can partner together. The Church and parents must partner together to build the spiritual lives of our children. That's my prayer and plan for the youth ministry of Fair Haven A/G.
     Why must we do it this way? Because long after students stop attending youth groups, they are still connected to their families. Although there are wonderful movements that are reaching students for Christ, by far the most influential people in a young person's spiritual life are his or her parents. Consider the following statistics:

1. In a 1993 study commissioned by the Newsweek magazine and the Children's Defense Fund it was revealed that the following factors were most influential on kids (in order): parents, extended family, teachers and other adults outside the home, peers and media.
2. A 1993 study by the Search Institute revealed that nothing influences the faith maturity of teenagers as much as "families' religiousness."
3. According to a 1997 study conducted by Barna Research, 78 percent of teenagers indicated that their parents had more influence on their decision-making than anyone else in their lives.

     As you can see from the statistics, you are the most influential people in your child's life. Even more influential than any youth pastor could ever be. So what would be my suggestion for you to get you started? Learn and apply Deuteronomy 6:4-9 - "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
     In Biblical days, parents knew it was their most important calling to impress upon their children the Word of God. They talked about it and lived out their faith daily as a family unit. Each child knew his or her place in the family and in the faith.
     In closing, let me again say to you moms and dads that Lana and I are here to partner with you. We are here not to be the biggest influence on your child's spiritual life but to walk along side of you to help you pass on the faith to your children. Your children are very important to us and we want to do anything we can to see them serving God for the rest of their lives. It's because of this that we are always open and available to you.