One of the key points in a young person’s life is when they start to grow closer to God and develop their spiritual life. At least half of teens report sharing the same religious beliefs as their parents1, so the guidance a child receives on faith is crucial to their future. This reality led us to implement a Faith Assessment to better understand and reach the students in our program.
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
We asked students 10 questions to assess their understanding of the Christian faith, prompting real conversation around their beliefs, knowledge, and spiritual development. Questions like, “Do you feel that God loves you?” and “Do you ask God’s forgiveness when you do something wrong?” provided answers that directed the structure and topics of "God Time," our weekly Bible study sessions after school.
"God Time" is led by Pastor Brandon Rowe of Bonton Bible Church, a local community congregation that meets at BridgeBuilder’s facilities every Sunday. Strengthening the students' connection with their neighborhood pastor fosters long-term faith mentorship–an approach supported by studies that show consistent, trusted adult relationships significantly enhance youth spiritual growth and moral development2.
Pastor Brandon got involved expecting to be a help to our kids but soon found that the impact truly went both ways: “The kids truly appreciated the one-on-one time and the chance to be heard, and it moved me deeply. I learned that our work at Bonton Bible Church is not in vain. Many of the kids showed a real hunger to grow spiritually–they just needed support from adults and a church nearby.” The process led to new knowledge that guides our work, as Pastor Brandon said, “The surveys have also allowed me to form a deeper understanding of our children, and their families. A fire was lit in me to encourage our teachers to keep going, keep giving, and keep shining the light.”
Research also highlights the positive impact of faith-based education on character development, resilience, and academic engagement3. This Faith Assessment enables us to tailor our discipleship efforts to meet students where they are, ensuring culturally relevant, biblically grounded instruction that resonates with their life experiences.
In essence, we are measuring and strengthening faith literacy, reinforcing community-based discipleship, and equipping students with a faith that informs both their identity and daily lives.
The results of the survey were a revelation to us–look how students answered the same questions at the beginning and end of the semester:
Are you able to help us shape the future? We need committed partners to join us as BridgeBuddies–monthly givers who are ensuring every student in our program can grow in their knowledge and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. For about $1.75 a day, a student receives access to this and more through our program. Develop the next generation at bridgebuilders.org/bridgebuddies!
1 Pew Research, Shared beliefs between parents and teens
2 Smith & Denton, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers
3 Regnerus, Shaping Schooling Success Through Spiritual Engagement
