Education for Evangelicals

Education is Essential





Are we emphasizing education enough? The Pew Research Studies show that Evangelicals are not as well educated as members of other groups http://religions.pewforum.org/comparisons

The photo above is from one of my visits to Singapore when I trained top students at the Singapore Management University. Asian nations are growing in every possible economic, relational and spiritual way. Why and how? One word explains a lot: EDUCATION.

How are we who believe in God doing as educators? Not so well. The Pew Research reveals how we stack up against other religious groups. The religious groups are listed in order of the percentage of members with College and Graduate Degrees. First are members of the Mainline churches like Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran, followed closely by Mormons.

Then we see Roman Catholics and finally Evangelicals who just barely beat Black Denominations. This does not bode well since the traditional groups have been held back by decades of low opportunity.
Members of Mainline Protestant Churches
College 20%

Grad School 14%

Mormons
College 18%
Grad School 10%

Catholics
College 16%
Grad School 10%
Members of Evangelical Protestant Churches
College 13%
Grad School 7%
Members of Historically Black Protestant Churches
College 11%
Grad School 5%

Evangelicals are doing better than in the past when we were reared in anti-intellectual churches. However, we have a long way to go. One way to advance is by setting up scholarships for Evangelical students.

My brothers and I have done that with Rend Lake College in our home town of Ina, Illinois. We donated a small amount to sponsor outstanding students who want to enter a helping career. It is a Federal Government Matching Grant Program with a scholarship in the name of our parents. Two local Pastors are advisers to the fund. If every Evangelical did the same we would have a great impact on succeeding generations.

Sweeten Life Systems has established a Mini-grant Fund for the ministry in Russia. Write me if you can contribute.