Chapter One - The State of American Children

Chapter 1 – The State of American Children

This chapter is filled with statistics that tell us about American children. Barna defines children as 5-12 year olds. This group, some 31 million strong, represents nearly half of the under 18 year olds in the country. Pg 18.

I like Barna’s reasoning when he states, “If you want to shape a person’s life-whether you are most concerned about their moral, spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional or economic development—it is during these crucial eight years that lifelong habits, values, beliefs and attributes are formed.” Pg. 18

Barna states, “Our children will define the future, which makes them our most significant and enduring legacy. After all, God never told His followers to take over the world through force or intelligence. He simply told us to have children and then raise them to honor God in all that they do.” Pg 18

A scripture reference could be: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [5] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. [6] These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. [7] Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. [8] Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. [9] Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Barna then lists the Four Dimensions of Our Children’s Well-Being and fill each section with statistics which are enlightening. They are Educational Achievement and Intellectual Development; Health and Physical Development; Economic State; and Emotional and Behavioral Development.

One of the most startling statistics was the one out of three babies born in the United States are born to an unmarried woman. Additionally, one out of four presently lives with a single parent. Pg 22-23

Those statistics astounded me. I was staggered by that number.

Those who are commenting on this study—Do you find these numbers to be true in your areas of influence? Are there any school teachers who find these statistics valid among your students? Please leave comments on how it effects you interaction with the student’s parent.

Chapter One paints a picture of the lives and culture of the children he implores both the church and family to impact.