Another View for Feb. 10, 2005
By Becky Johnson
I'm flying high. Literally, the plane on which I'm riding as I write this is cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feet. However, in a different sense, I'm flying high with hope and excitement.
As a math teacher, I enjoy numbers and statistics, and I have just learned some rather shocking statistics that indicate a wonderful opportunity.
Some of the statistics come from George Barna in his book, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions. He reports that three-fourths (that's 75 percent) of all 13-year-olds believe the devil does not exist. Think of what that could mean. If there is no devil, there is no hell. Maybe there is no sin or, at least, no consequence of sin. If there is no devil, even though the Bible says there is, maybe there is no Savior, either. From what would we need to be saved?
Barna also reports that young people acknowledge that they are influenced by their role models. Yet almost half of the preteens polled conceded that they don't have any role models. How sad! Do they really not know anyone who is a good role model, or do they just not know how to recognize the kind of person who would be a good role model? Isn't it important to help our young people see that we can live godly lives, to observe how that is done, and to appreciate that in others?
One more statistic from Barna was a real shocker for me. The probability of someone between the ages of 5 and 12 accepting Jesus as Savior is 32 percent. That is roughly equivalent to a 1-in-3 chance of a child during those years responding if you talk to him or her about trusting Jesus. In other words, if you talk to three children about trusting Jesus, one will respond.
Let that sink in. If ever there were a field ripe unto harvest, it would be our field of children. Do you feel an urge to call your pastor or minister of education and volunteer to teach children? Yes? Then do it. No? Then notice this next statistic.
The probability of someone accepting Jesus as Savior between the ages of 13 and 18 diminishes to 4 percent. You would have to talk to 25 teens to get one response. Wouldn't you love to be a part of thwarting the devil-in whom so many 13-year-olds don't believe-from controlling and destroying the lives of our youth and adults? Your best opportunity is to reach them as children!
Now for some statistics from the “Administrative Guide for Directors” from LifeWay's “VBS Ramblin' Road Trip.” In 2003:
• Over three million people were enrolled in Vacation Bible School.
• Over 100,000 decisions to accept Christ as Savior were reported as a result of VBS. This number is probably much higher, since many churches do not turn in reports.
• More than 3,000 people committed their lives to church-related vocations during VBS.
• Over 44,000 people were enrolled in Sunday school as a result of VBS.
VBS is the single largest outreach event for most churches. About 28 percent of baptisms are the result of VBS. More people have come to know Jesus as Savior through VBS than through any other single outreach event.
Why am I flying high? I am returning from the Vacation Bible School Institute in Nashville and I know something big, something eternal, is going to happen this summer. Across our nation churches will be conducting VBS. Some will only plan to teach preschoolers and children, but others will extend this potentially life-changing opportunity to all ages.
Some churches will recognize VBS as the tremendous evangelistic ministry that it can be and will promote and plan for it accordingly. New teachers will be discovered and trained, lives will be touched, decisions for Christ will be made, God's call will be heard-God's kingdom will advance. Will you be a part of it?
Special to the Herald
Becky Johnson is a member of Rivermont Baptist Church in Danville.