[3138] Birth Rate Decline Prompts Churches to Focus on Children’s Faith and Character Education

Birth Rate Decline Prompts Churches to Focus on Children’s Faith and Character Education

Reported by Sam Lee

Translated by Tsai Sheng-hsin

While prices in Taiwan have continued to increase, salaries have remained stagnant. This continuing pressure is directly related to declining birth rates and churches are also affected by this decline as well. However, many see this as an opportunity to address children’s religious life and character education – especially in today’s society.

Tseng En-tzu, a member of Sinying Presbyterian Church as well as a teacher at Sinying Elementary School, did a survey in her class and found that most of the students are the only child in their families. In addition, because these families have only one child, most parents tend to devote all of their financial resources and care to their child. The result is almost inevitably a spoiled generation of children.

With regard to this trend, Tseng suggested that churches should think and plan how to supplement families and schools in terms of what they can provide to children. For example, churches can offer some after-school programs. In these programs, children can not only obtain assistance in schoolwork but also in life education, character education, and faith education.

Even as the decline in birth rates continues, the number of Sunday school students in most churches has not decreased. Surprisingly, most churches have even seen a steady growth in the number of students. Take Sinying Presbyterian Church as an example; there are usually more than 50 students in total participating each Sunday. Moreover, most Sunday school teachers are also parents; therefore, they are better informed in regard to the needs of children. Hence, children can not only receive excellent care, but also parents can gain more spiritual support.

In another case, the weekend character education program offered by the Changhuan Presbyterian Church has been so welcomed by the local parents that more than 500 students have already participated in the program.

Rev. Kao Chun-ming, coordinator of the International Happy Family Association, has been increasingly devoted to family and marriage care ministries. He encourages young couples to have more children but he also thinks that the Government should review inefficient policies and provide a better environment so that young parents can feel more secure about building their families or giving birth to more children.

Rev. Joel Linton and his wife Judy are expecting their fifth child. Judy Linton said that her husband is the only breadwinner in the family; therefore, they cannot afford to buy luxuries for their children. However, both of them strongly believe that the best gifts for children are parents’ support and care, as well as the company of siblings.

Judy also said that parents not only need to bring children to church but also need to help children know God as well as truths and words of wisdom contained in the Bible. After all, it is written in the Bible that we need to train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6).