Noted pollster George Barna states that America’s youth are largely unfamiliar with the Bible’s basic teachings, inviting a host of social and personal troubles.
5 in 10 students have had little or no exposure to the wisdom and knowledge of the Bible.
“God helps those who help themselves” is the most widely known Bible verse among churchgoing teens, though it appears nowhere in the Bible and conflicts with its message.
8 in 10 people cannot say who preached the Sermon on the Mount.
One might be ask, “Can these statistics possibly be real–-in East Brainerd?” Actually, statistics like these are quite real, both in our nation and in our community. For this reason, 13 East Brainerd churches signed onto a voluntary initiative to rally around a special opportunity to invest in their community.
A Community Event
On Sunday, October 3, 2010, friends gathered at the East Hamilton Middle/High School gymnasium for a community meal, a service of prayer and a show of support for our public school students.
Attendance: 900+
Committments Made: $275,000
New Donors: 215
Teachers Funded: 2 (one at East Hamilton Middle/High School in their own backyard, and one at Tyner Academy as a gift to their neighbors)
Mr. Jeff Fairbanks began teaching at East Hamilton in August 2010 (due to partial commitments received in advance of the event), and Mr. William Heard began teaching at Tyner in August 2011. The East Hamilton Gathering aimed to raise the balance of funding, in order to ensure three uninterrupted years of Bible history at both East Hamilton and Tyner.
Thank you, East Brainerd, for helping to ensure that Bible history will continue to be an enriching and voluntary part of Hamilton County’s education program, at no cost to the taxpayers.
• Apison Baptist Church • Brainerd Hills Baptist Church • Christ United Methodist Church • Concord Baptist Church • Covenant Presbyterian Church • Crossroads Church of Chattanooga • East Brainerd Church of Christ • Morris Hill Baptist Church • Redemption Point Church • Ridgedale Baptist Church • Silverdale Baptist Church • Westview Baptist Church • Woodland Park Baptist Church
