Mothers have played a big role when it comes to showing kids what faith is all about, according to NCLS researchers.

As many as half of Australia's church-goers also thank Mum for the positive influence on them becoming a Christian, at least within Anglican and Protestant congregations. While important, fathers are less influential in faith development.

According to researchers behind the 'Social Influences Upon Faith Development' report - produced by NCLS Research, and sponsored by the Bible Society - the major impact of parents seem to be twofold: their faith in God and in the way they lived out their faith. Other aspects such as the ability of parents to explain the faith were much less important.

By contrast other people, such as family, friends and local church workers, are more likely to be influential in other ways as well, including in their ability to explain the faith.

Co-author Dr John Bellamy says "Parents are at their most influential when a person first becomes a Christian at an early age: 75% of those who became Christians before 10 years of age said that their parents had been influential in their faith development." This declines to just 33% of those who became Christians after 20 years of age.

The report also found that parents were less influential among attenders currently aged 30-49 years (41%) than among attenders aged over 50 years (60%). However it is too early to tell whether parents have been even less influential among attenders now aged less than 30 years or whether it is a particular characteristic of church attenders who grew up during the cultural shifts of the 1960s and 70s.

Influential activities

The 'Social Influences Upon Faith Development' report reveals that among a range of activities targeted at children and adults, "church services emerge as the single most significant activity for bringing people to faith (42%)".

The strategic importance of ministry to children in faith development is also confirmed by the report's findings that Sunday school (30%) and youth groups (22%) have been significant for a large proportion of attenders.  
 
Yet, Dr Bellamy points out a shifting trend. "Sunday school, school Scripture, and Confirmation appear to have less impact on younger people coming to faith today than in the past. By comparison, church youth groups now have a much greater impact among younger attenders".  Youth groups are now almost as important as church services in bringing 15-29 year olds to faith.

Report authors suggest that youth groups, often run by the youth themselves, perhaps offer a different approach that is more appealing to younger people. "This is at a time in life when younger people are wishing to be more independent of their parents and are more influenced by their peers. Youth groups can become communities of faith their own right, fulfilling important religious and social functions for young people"

Suitable resources

The report authors point out that while further work is needed to understand the changing trends relating to the impact of various activities, it is clear that youth group ministry should be well supported in view of its impact.

The report authors also conclude that while parents are an important influence, they could still be having a greater impact than currently. Dr Bellamy says, "We hope that Christian agencies feel encouraged to ensure there are resources for parents to assist them in the important task of helping children to find faith in a context of many religious and spiritual options."

The full report, sponsored by The Bible Society, can be viewed: NCLS Occasional Paper 5: Social Influence upon Faith Development