AWANA Study has impressive results

CBN news had a story the other day that totally grabbed my attention. AWANA conducted a study of some of their participants. For those that don't know, AWANA is a children's program that focuses on Bible memorization. It's a wonderful program. I helped with it when I was in high school. One of my teenagers was a part of the club when she was young and my step-daughter has been in the club since she was in kindergarten.
In this study, Awana studied adults that had participated in the program for 6 years. An astounding 90% of the adults that had been AWANA participants for six years as children were bible believing church goers. Ninety Percent!!!
The entire study can be viewed at the following website: http://www.awana.org/moderndayjoseph/docs/alumni-survey-report-08-web.pdf

My church uses the Mpact Girls/Royal Rangers clubs to reach children. There are similarities between the two groups. There are differences. However, both are strong biblical programs with an emphasis on scripture memorization and an accepting, club type atmosphere with badges to earn.
I wish more churches would place an emphasis on reaching children for Christ. I see so many mid-week services cancelled because attendance is down. Churches don't want to compete with schools. Schools don't honor Wednesday nights any longer as a church night. Many have no problem scheduling sports programs or extra-curricular activities on those nights. Sadly, the philosophy of the schools is that, since not all children go to church, the child that does needs to pick between the two.
One of the things that struck me was the Bible-memorization. I have done the memory verses for Mpact Girls, but I usually don't push it with my Sunday School students. After all, they don't want to do it. They are busy. They won't remember the verses anyway. They'll only remember them for a week than forget them.
God told me differently, however. He impressed upon me that His word is alive and powerful. The Holy Spirit can bring these verses back to a child's mind later, even years later. These verses, once learned, are totally different from anything else. The Word of God gets into the soul and can transform a person.
I'm not afraid of having my students memorize any longer. In fact, I'm adamant that they should memorize. I look at myself and want to memorize MORE! Thank God for letting me see that news story. It has changed my teaching.