How to Raise Kids Who Truly Love Jesus (What the Research Shows)

Doing the bedtime prayers and church every Sunday, but quietly wondering if any of it will actually stick? You're not alone.  You've probably heard the scary statistics about kids walking away from the faith in college.  But the data shows it starts way sooner, often between ages 13 and 15 (and most parents have no idea it's happening).  So I dug into why kids leave, why some stay, and what actually makes the difference.  In this episode, we talk about: • Why doing all the right Christian activities isn't enough on its own (and what matters more) • The number one factor in whether kids keep their faith (hint: it starts with you, but not with being perfect) • Why your kids need other strong Christian adults in their corner, and why that's good news for you • How to connect faith to real life so it's not just a Sunday morning thing • Simple ways to help your kids build their own Bible reading and prayer habits without a fight • How to handle hard questions and doubts even when you don't have the answers There are no guarantees, and it's not all on you. But you can give your kids the best possible chance at a faith that's real. 📖 RESOURCES MENTIONED: • Brittany Ann's book: "Fall in Love with God's Word" https://amzn.to/47sWmqp (affiliate) • Brittany Ann's book: "Follow God's Will" https://amzn.to/3dLfzLQ (affiliate) • Dr. George Barna, "Raising Spiritual Champions" https://amzn.to/4iS8ybq (affiliate) • David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock, "Faith for Exiles" https://amzn.to/3VCYUj7 (affiliate)  📖 RESEARCH SOURCES: • Lifeway Research, "Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church When They Become Young Adults" (2019): https://research.lifeway.com/2019/01/15/most-teenagers-drop-out-of-church-as-young-adults/ • Lifeway Research, "The Next Generation Is Leaving the Faith Earlier Than You Realize" (2023): https://research.lifeway.com/2023/10/04/the-next-generation-is-leaving-the-faith-earlier-than-you-realize/ • Institute for Family Studies, "Secularization Begins at Home" (2023): https://ifstudies.org/blog/secularization-begins-at-home • Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts, "Evangelical Parenting" (2025): https://www.infinityconcepts.com/evangelical-parenting/ • Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts, "The Spiritual Journey" (2024): https://www.infinityconcepts.com/the-spiritual-journey/ • Barna Group, "Six Reasons Young Christians Leave Church" (2011): https://www.barna.com/research/six-reasons-young-christians-leave-church/ • Barna Group, "Only 10% of Christian Twentysomethings Have Resilient Faith" (2019): https://www.barna.com/research/of-the-four-exile-groups-only-10-are-resilient-disciples/ ⏱️ Timestamps: 05:21 Why Faith Is Mostly Formed by Age 13 09:15 The Real Reasons Kids Stop Going to Church 12:28 Modeling Real Faith (Without Having to Be Perfect) 14:32 Why Their Faith Doesn't All Rest on You 17:40 Making Faith More Than a Sunday Morning Thing 20:33 Helping Kids Own Their Faith Without Forcing It 22:24 When Your Kids Ask Questions You Can't Answer 24:39 Where to Start When You Feel Overwhelmed 🔗 STAY CONNECTED:  Website: https://equippinggodlywomen.com Support the show