Will Your Children-Grandchildren

Walk Away From the Faith?

Josh McDowell to address parents Nov. 10 on saving their children

By Pastor John Blackmore

Unfortunately, according to the most recent surveys, 85% of 18-year-olds walk away from the Church and many never return. Whether we like it or not, we are not effectively communicating the Truth of the Gospel to this generation. If we are going to effectively hand down the Biblical Truth of the transforming power of Jesus Christ we must provide a solid foundation of truth of a redeeming, relational, and restoring God.

Over 75% of teenagers say that their parents are still the number one influence in their lives. Today’s parents must be prepared and equipped to answer and communicate to their children. On November 10th at 7 p.m. Josh McDowell will be at Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, IL (near Alton, IL) to present a three-hour seminar which will be open to parents and grandparents who are concerned about where their children will spend eternity.

Youth workers across America say their greatest challenge is lack of parental involvement in the lives of the kids in their youth group. If we are going to rebuild the spiritual and moral foundation of this generation we must begin at home with the parents.

Josh McDowell’s “Why Belief Matters” seminar consists of three sessions covering three topics. In session one, entitled The Source of the Distortion, Josh will explain why our kids are adopting distorted beliefs and what we can do about it. In session two, entitled Real and Relevant, Josh will share what makes true Christianity real and present the evidence for Christ being the Son of the one true God. In session three, entitled Applying the Truth about Christ, Josh will demonstrate how to instill convictions about the deity of Jesus Christ within the family, and how that conviction will lead to right choices in life.

Many parents today feel a disconnection with their child or grandchild and can’t understand why. The first step to effectively communicating with them is understanding their beliefs. Unfortunately, the beliefs and values being taught in our schools and pushed on them by our postmodern culture is having a devastating effect on their worldviews and beliefs concerning Jesus Christ. Look at these statistics according to the Barna Institute: 63% don’t believe Jesus is the Son of the one true God; 58% believe all faiths teach equally valued truths; 51% don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead; 65% don’t believe Satan is a real entity; 68% don’t believe the Holy Spirit is a real entity; 70% don’t believe an absolute moral truth exists.

Many of these kids are our own children who have grown up in our churches, yet they are not building their lives on the true foundation. Josh will help us understand why this generation’s beliefs are distorted and how we can change this devastating trend.

Quoting statistics, wring our hands or ignoring the problem certainly isn’t the answer. We have a God-given mandate to reach this generation with the Truth. This seminar and the resources that will be available can be a great start. Parents, grandparents and other adults involved in the lives of any youth today can help begin a spiritual revolution to reclaim this generation and provide them with a firm foundation.

In session two Josh will share how we can reintroduce Jesus Christ as the one and only Savior, Who is real, relevant, and Who has the power to transform lives. Many young people today have lost the idea of absolute truth. Our culture is teaching them that there are many truths, if something works for an individual then it is true for them. This type of illogical reasoning is destroying the message of absolute truth found in God’s Word.

In the final session Josh will share the importance of not only knowing truth, but being transformed by it. Our youth must rise up and shine in a depraved generation. This seminar is a must for all who want to be a part of helping our young people build their lives on the true foundation of Jesus Christ.

Mark your calendars for November 10th. Tickets are now available by calling the Bethalto First Christian Church at (618) 377-9259. The cost is $10 per individual ticket or only $7 for groups of 10 or more. Talk to fellow parents in your Sunday School class, small group or homeschool network and come together to experience a truly invigorating, exciting and vital seminar for the future of our kids. This Josh McDowell seminar is sponsored by Riverbend Youth on Fire and BAMA (Bethalo Area Ministers’ Association). For more information you can go to Josh McDowell’s website: Truefoundations.com. Seating is limited to 1,500 at the Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, IL, so be sure to order your tickets today! The address is 200 School St. in Bethalto. Just take I-255 north to exit #10, take a right and then left at the first light.

Don’t miss this vital seminar that can open the door of communication with your son or daughter and revitalize your churches’ parents. To God be the glory from generation to generation.

Pastor John Blackmore is the preaching minister of the Bethalto First Christian Church and served 9 years as a church planter in Poitiers, France from 1991-1999 with Team Expansion. He is a graduate from St. Louis Christian College and attended Lincoln Christian Seminary.