The Spartan Blog

Parenting is both a privilege and a responsibility, especially when it comes to the spiritual formation of children. At Calvary, we believe the home is the primary place where a child’s faith is nurtured and developed. Yet, recent research highlights the challenges parents face in successfully passing down their beliefs to the next generation.

A study by Francis, Fawcett, and McKenna found that only half of a parent's religiosity is successfully transmitted to their children. Even more sobering is the statistic that when only one parent is a believer, the likelihood of passing down their faith drops to just 22%. These numbers remind us of the importance of an intentional and unified effort in nurturing faith at home.

Unfortunately, family devotion time has become less common than in previous generations. This decline has significant implications for the relational and spiritual dynamics of the family. Research conducted by ACSI reveals that families who prioritize devotion time together experience notable benefits:

• A 15% increase in children feeling comfortable talking to their parents about faith.
• A 20% increase in families spending quality time together.
• A 12% increase in parents being willing to discuss anything with their children.

These findings reinforce what Scripture teaches about the importance of intentional time spent in worship, prayer, and conversation within the family unit. Significantly, studies show that the specific materials used during family devotion time are less important than the habits themselves. Simply reading the Bible together and praying as a family have the most enduring impact on children’s spiritual growth.

As parents, your role in shaping your children’s biblical worldview cannot be overstated. More than anyone else, you have the opportunity and responsibility to model and instill faith in your children. We exist to partner with you in this eternally significant work! While our programs and teaching aim to reinforce a biblical worldview and truth, the home is where these values must be cultivated and lived out daily.

We encourage you to prioritize family devotion time, no matter how simple it might be. If you need a starting point, head over to the CCS app and click on the family devotion tile. There you’ll find monthly and annual devotionals to support your family devotion routine. Your intentionality will not only shape your children’s faith but also strengthen your family relationships in profound ways. Let’s continue the work to teach truth and prepare disciples!