November 2023 Newsletter – The “Why” of Reaching Kids for Christ

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The “why” is the reason for the ministry of CEF of Schuylkill County.

*16,500 elementary age children

*59.5% of people in Schuylkill County are religious. Of that 59.5% only 15% are Baptist, Episcopalian, Methodist, Pentecostal, and Presbyterian1

*Today only 50% of adults are married2

*27% of adults say their religious views are a factor in a good family arrangement2

*71% of adults say they get fulfillment from having a career or job they love2 (having children wasn’t even part of the equation)

*We are seeing the first generation of adults who have never attended church raising children who do not attend church

*The world is promoting gender confusion

*In 2022 a study found that only 39% of Americans read their Bible multiple times a year.3

*Currently only about 10% of Americans read their Bible daily3

All these statistics point to that fact that the majority of the children in Schuylkill County do not attend church, do not hear the Bible read (they may not even have a Bible in their home), and have parents who have no interest in their children knowing God, man’s need for a Savior, and the Way of salvation. If your heart is stirred – that’s good. We are here to help. Training is available, free of charge, to all volunteers. We have a lending library full of materials and there are Good News Club locations in need of volunteers. Let’s work together to see that our Schuylkill County children have every opportunity to hear the Gospel that saves.

For the children,

Shelley Hikes

Works Cited:

  1. Best Places. (2023). Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/county/pennsylvania/schuylkill
  2. Hudson, D. (2023, October 4). The Modern Family. [Blog post]. Building Children’s Ministry. https://www.buildingchildrensministry.com/single-post/the-modern-family-what-you-need-to-know
  3. Christianity Today. (2022, April). State of Bible Reading: Decline in Report to 26 Million. Christianity Today. https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/april/state-of-bible-reading-decline-report-26-million.html
  4. Hudson, D. (2023, October 19). Driving Past Olive Garden and Texas Roadhouse for McDonald’s https://www.buildingchildrensministry.com/single-post/driving-past-olive-garden-and-texas-roadhouse-for-mcdonald-s

For a full version of the Newsletter – click here.