If We Plant Them They Will Grow Cont'd
{"Image DocumentName": "If We Plant Them They Will Grow Cont\u2019d", "Image ImageDescription": "The local church that she attends offers activities for youth her age as an expression of its concern for Heather and those like her. But if Heather\u2019s church is small (and a significant majority of churches are) she probably won\u2019t be highly interested in the activities or gain much from them. More than likely the congregation simply can\u2019t find the personnel to operate a strong, well-planned youth ministry. During Heather\u2019s sixteenth and seventeenth years she experiences minimal growth in her understanding of salvation, and probably only in the concepts of baptism and its significance for Christians. In her eighteenth year Heather may grow in her understanding of one group concept, the role and function of Jesus as Saviour and coming Lord. Heather finally begins to integrate her belief structure with a Christian lifestyle as her parents hoped she would, but the hour is late. Both anecdotal and research evidence suggest that it may be too late to bring Heather back into a devoted Christian lifestyle, if indeed the church can even keep her within its fellowship. Heather\u2019s support system\u2014friends, public school education, family, and local congregation\u2014have helped her chart her own spiritual lifestyle, one that may or may not include a church of any kind. Furthermore, given the price tag of a four-year degree in a private Christian college, the chances are that she won\u2019t go on to a Christian school to continue her education. Heather has effectively learned at least on thing: she doesn\u2019t need Christian education to experience what she thinks is a good life. In addition to this, because the significant people in her life have not considered Christian education to be an essential element for spiritual growth, the chances are that she will not consider it as an option for her children when they are of school age.", "Image XResolution": "37", "Image YResolution": "37", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Centimeter", "Image Software": "SlidePlayer", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered"}