Bible memorization credited with keeping kids faithful

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Bible memorization credited with keeping kids faithful
Associated Press - 2/28/2009 4:00:00 AM

Associated Press - A Christian organization whose church-based clubs challenge kids to memorize Bible verses says its graduates are keeping the faith.

The president of Awana International, Jack Eggar, told CDR Radio that it commissioned a survey of adults who had spent at least 6 years in Awana when they were growing up.

"[W]e found that over 90-plus percent of these kids [now adults] remained faithful to the things of God or faithful in church, and are still active in their faith -- even sharing Christ with others," Eggar shares.

"If anybody out there...knows anything about Awana, you know that kids learn the scriptures," he explains. "They not only learn what the scriptures are saying, but they also memorize them. 'Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.'"

Eggar explains how Awana reaches entire families through youngsters' Bible memorization workbooks.

"They take [the workbooks] home and they put them before mom and dad and say, 'You've gotta help me here,'" he says. "And even unchurched moms and dads, more often than not, will grab those handbooks and start helping their kids. I could tell you many stories of moms and dads coming to Christ because it all started when they were helping little Jimmy or little Sally with their handbook."

Eggar says many U.S. churches are dormant -- but that Awana offers a tool to revive them.

"[Those churches are] not growing. They're losing their relevance within their communities," he laments. "Awana helps them restore that.

"Awana helps them become outward-focused again. And if a church becomes outward-focused, and they reach out through this servant tool -- this vehicle called Awana -- they will reach lots of kids and youth. And they will see families coming into their church that they would not otherwise have."

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