Validation of the Shema Initiatve

When I spoke to Dr. Dave Rahn, professor of youth ministry at Huntington University and staff member at the national Youth for Christ office he told me that in a ministry setting true quantitative research is not possible and that we have to focus on the qualitative.  So here is some qualitative evidence of the effectiveness of this Shema approach.  In my last post I mentioned a parent concerned about their sixth grade child.  This parent admitted that in spite of their spouses and their involvement in teaching Sunday school, no intentional action was taking place in their home for the purpose of faith formation and Christian education.  Armed with some new tools and some new motivation these parents committed themselves to making faith formation a daily focus in their home making Lenten commitments as a family and studying the gospel of John together.  In a few short weeks this parent has already seen the clear effects stating “I can definitely feel the power of the Holy Spirit in our home”. 

Consider it this way.  A sixth grade student at our church has the opportunity to attend church year round (52 hours) and Sunday school and middle school youth group during the school year (40 hours each).  That means that with %100 participation, which won’t happen, the church has 132 hours a year with a student.  If parents are intentional they can more than double that time formally, not to mention the countless informal hours a parent has to live out the good news for their children.  I’m biased, but I think it’s pretty clear how this Deuteronomy 6 way of thinking will radically improve that chances of a child becoming a lifelong follower of Jesus Christ.   Let’s be honest, I think it will have a profound effect on the discipleship of parents as well.