The Reconsider issue addresses the importance of children's ministries in providing comfort, consistency and spiritual development for children going through a difficult time at home.
Thirty percent of parents indicate that their family's spiritual life is either fair or poor, according to data cited by Reconsider from LifeWay Research. Additionally, 83 percent of individuals believe parents should be most responsible for a child's spiritual development, yet only 35 percent say their religious faith is one of the most important influences on their parenting.
LifeWay data also notes that children can and will learn about prayer and how to pray if they have significant adults in their lives who are willing to teach them. Children who have consistency, support and spiritual guidance in their lives will be more likely to overcome challenges stemming from divorce.
"We at LifeWay believe church ministries can improve their efforts to reach children struggling with family issues and support them through these difficult circumstances," said Elgia "Jay" Wells, LifeWay's director of black church outreach, who also serves as pastor at a Nashville, Tenn.-area church. "Our hope is that every child will be given the opportunity to experience the power of spiritual development and prayer through their church ministries."
Reconsider is a quarterly publication to help black churches evaluate the way they minister to people and situations in today's communities. To download copies of Reconsider, find additional information on LifeWay's black church research or learn about resources available to help churches address these issues, visit www.lifeway.com/blackchurchlife.
Adapted from a news release from LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Copyright (c) 2010 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press www.BPNews.net
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