Dad is Vital for a Child's Faith!

When Mum and Dad both attend regularly, 72% of their children remain faithful later in life.
When only Dad attends, 55% remain faithful.
When only Mum attends, 15% remain faithful.
When neither parent attends 6% remain faithful.
Robert and Debra Bruce, Becoming Spiritual Soulmates with Your Child (Nashville: Broadman & Holman 1996)

It is now claimed that of children born into Christian families (biological church growth) that up to 80% of those children do not remain Christians as adults. It may not be 80% - but the fallout is high. Why? Obviously we are competing with a very secular world, but the statistics above give a clue - if both parents are committed Christians, living out their faith, their children are likely to follow that example. The fallout of 80% should alarm us as parents - our child's salvation is not automatic or guaranteed. Fathers are crucial - it is how important our faith is to us that counts, and we have to be on the ball teaching, living and communicating that to our children. After all - if it's only optional or expedient to you, why should your children be truly committed?