One of the most-quoted Bible verses by Christian parents and educators is "train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). A new nationwide survey provides some statistical support for that notion, showing that adults who regularly attended church as children are much more likely than their unchurched peers to be involved in church-based and personal spiritual activities.

Roughly 7 out of 10 Americans adults (71%) had a period of time during their childhood when they regularly attended a Christian church.

Sixty-one (61) percent of those who attended church as a youngster still attend regularly today while 78% of those who were not church-goers as children are still absent from churches today. Sixty-eight (68) percent of adults over 55 who attended church as a child still do. Fifty-three (53) percent of adults under 35 who attended church as a child still do.

Source: http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/Home.asp

Reverend John Eich is the pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alma, MI.