Impact of Adventist Education on Student Engagement

JOINING & JOINING & REMAINING REMAINING A Look at the Data on the Role of Adventist Education Larry Blackmer, EdD larryblackmer@nadadventist.org John Wesley Taylor V taylorjw@gc.adventist.org

Our highest priority The all-important matter in education should be the conversion of the students. Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 436 Conversion Baptism

ACCESSION TO THE CHURCH The Role of Adventist Education

Baptisms in Adventist Education Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Baptized 30,778 33,766 33,138 40,415 49,176 50,752 49,774 48,604 47,435 43,475 427,313 baptisms A conference established each year

Does Adventist Education make a difference? 3.1% 15.4% 40.1% Never baptized 96.9% Baptized 84.6% 59.9% Jim Epperson Children of Southern Union Adventist families No Adventist education 1+ years Adventist education 11+ years Adventist education N=844

Does Adventist Education make a difference? 0.0% 4.6% Never joined the church 38.3% 100.0% Joined the church 95.4% 61.7% W. E. Minder Children of Lake Union Adventist families No Adventist Education Some Adventist Education 12 Grades Adventist Education N=807

Average Years Attendance: Adventist School 8.06 2.42 W. E. Minder Children of Lake Union Adventist families Never Baptized Baptized N=807

Adventist Education Is Mission The work of education and the work of redemption are one. Education, p. 30

RETENTION IN THE CHURCH The Role of Adventist Education

Members who leave -15M -10M -5M 0 5M 10M 15M 20M 13,737,025 13,737,025 20,647,979 20,647,979 Since 1965:34,385,004church members Net loss rate:39.95% Members who left Members who stayed Of 10 members, 4 have slipped away.

Members who leave -6M -4M -52 0 2M 4M 6M 8M 5,918,483 5,918,483 7,729,798 7,729,798 Members who left In 2000-2012, there were13,648,281accessions Our net loss rate:43.36% Members who stayed

Youth who leave Landmark Youth Retention study Over 1,500 baptized 15- and 16-year-olds Representative of Adventist youth: Large & small churches, small towns & big cities, public schools & Adventist schools, all ethnic groups Interviewed each year for the next 10 years How many left the church by age 25-26? Many demographic groups, approaching: 50%

Where is the flock that was entrusted to you, your beautiful flock? Jeremiah 13:20

NAD Membership NAD Membership NAD: Membership -- (2000-2011) 1,200,000 Membership 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

NAD School Enrollment NAD School Enrollment 80,000 14.2% Drop 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 -8011 20,000 10,000 0 1946 1956 1966 1976 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2008 2012 2015

Enrollment by Grade Enrollment by Grade 04-05 05-06' 06-07' 07-08' 08-09' 09-10' 10-11' 11-12' 12-13' 14-15' 5,500 5,000 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000

Enrollment by Grade Enrollment by Grade 5,500 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 12-13' 14-15' 15-16' 5,000 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Demographics Age 85 & older Ages 75 to 84 Ages 65 to 74 Ages 60 to 64 Ages 55 to 59 Ages 45 to 54 Adventists Ages 35 to 44 U.S. Census Canada Ages 25 to 34 Ages 20 to 24 Ages 15 to 19 Ages 10 to 14 Ages 5 to 9 Under age 5 0% 5% 10% 15% 20%

Household Household Income Income 16%15% less than 25,000 25,000-49,999 50,000-74,999 more than 75,000 39% 30% K-12 = $5,229 Elem = $4,489 Day = $6,500 Boarding = $9,650 + $6,112 = $15,762 Colleges ~$30,000

Seven Studies Retention and Adventist Education: 1. Valuegenesis Study (multi-year) 2. Youth Retention Study (longitudinal) 3. Epperson Study (dissertation) 4. Rice Study (dissertation, longitudinal) 5. Minder Study (dissertation) 6. Center Creative Ministry Study (global, qual) 7. ASTR Leaving the Church Study (global)

1 Valuegenesis Study Data from 2,267 12th-grade Adventist students in Adventist schools showed that the more years of Adventist schooling, the greater the person s Denomination loyalty Adventist orthodoxy Intention to remain an Adventist at age 40 Dudley, R. (1992). Valuegenesis: Faith in the balance. La Sierra University Press, Riverside, CA. Thayer, J. (2008). Valuegenesis reanalysis. Unpublished manuscript. Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI.

Factors that Develop Religious Faith 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Attending an Adventist School Family I grew up in Mother's faith School weeks of prayer Father's faith Grandparents' faith Adventist summer camps Student weeks of prayer Pathfinders Very much My Bible teacher Not at all Bible classes in school Valuegenesis3 Study

81%of all students said Attending an Adventist school is the most important thing that has helped me develop my religious faith. Valuegenesis3 Study

2 Youth Retention Study A 10-year study of youth (N=1523), beginning at ages 15-16 Sample was about evenly divided between students in Adventist schools and students in non-Adventist schools Key finding: Number of years in an Adventist school was positively related to: Commitment to Jesus Christ My relationship with Christ is stronger now Religion is important in my life Commitment to personal Bible study Dudley, 2000; Thayer, 2008

3 Does Adventist Education make a difference? 4.5x more likely Inactive Leaving 9.3% Infrequent or no church attendance 20.8% 42.0% Regular church attendance 90.7% 79.2% 58.0% Jim Epperson Children of Southern Union Adventist families No Adventist education 1+ years Adventist education 11+ years Adventist education N=844

4 Does Adventist Education make a difference? 2x more likely to stay 6% 23% 18% 13% 5% 63% Never Baptized No Longer a Member Member not Attending Baptized and Attending 38% 77% 7% 37% Robert Rice Southern California 13-year longitudinal Public high school graduates Adventist academy graduates N=264

Does Adventist Education make a difference? 2x more likely to pay tithe Similar findings in Valuegenesis study and Youth Retention Study. 50% 74% Do not pay tithe Pay tithe 50% 26% Robert Rice Southern California 13-year longitudinal Public high school graduates Adventist academy graduates N=264

Does Adventist Education make a difference? 3x more likely to marry an Adventist Married a non- Adventist 22% 63% Married an Adventist 78% 27% Robert Rice Southern California 13-year longitudinal Public high school graduates Adventist academy graduates N=264

5 Does Adventist Education make a difference? 0.0% 1.8% 4.6% 16.4% 38.3% Never joined Joined but then left Joined and remained 10.9% 98.2% 78.9% 50.8% W. E. Minder Children of Lake Union Adventist families No Adventist Education Some Adventist Education 12 Grades Adventist Education N=807

6 Ex Ex- -Members vs. Current Members Members vs. Current Members P. Richardson, Qualitative. Global. N=925. SDA Education Other Education 44% 83% 3x 56% 17% Lapsed & Ex-Members Current Members

7 Ex Ex- -Members vs. Current Members Members vs. Current Members Only SDA Education Other Education Stayed: 3x 2.5x 2x 100% 90% 80% 53.9% 64.9% 85.7% 70% 84.5% 87.0% 60% 93.1% 50% 40% 30% 46.1% 35.1% 20% 15.5% 14.3% 13.0% 10% 6.9% 0% Ex-Members Current Members Ex-Members Current Members Ex-Members Current Members Elementary/Primary School Attendance Secondary/High School Attendance Tertiary: College/ University Attendance ASTR. 9 divisions.

Train up a child in the way he should go Proverbs 22:6, NKJV

BARRIERS TO THE REDEMPTIVE PURPOSE of Adventist Education

Barrier #1 Many children and youth from Seventh-day Adventist homes are not attending Adventist schools.

Adventists and Adventist Education Adventists and Adventist Education Percentages: Highest level of Adventist education experienced Over half of global church members report noexperience of Adventist Education 17.13% 52.58% 17.54% 12.75% Elementary/Primary School Seconday/High School Tertiary/Higher Education No Adventist Education 2014 data. 9 divisions.

Proportion with No No SDA Education by Division 76.0% 80.0% 66.0% 65.5% 70.0% 60.3% 55.9% 60.0% 52.2% 48.4% 47.5% 50.0% 40.0% 29.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% ECD IAD NAD SAD SID SPD SSD TED WAD

All our youth should be permitted to have the blessings and privileges of an education at our schools, that they may be inspired to become laborers together with God. E. G. White. Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 44.

Dismantling Barrier Administrators, Pastors and educators must find methods to instill the values of Adventist education on our administrators and pastors. 60% of seminary students second career- no Adventist education Seen as detriment not advantage

Dismantling Barrier Administrators, Pastors and educators proactively share with parents the positive relationship between Adventist education and the proportion of children and youth joining and remaining in the Church

Dismantling Barrier Church leaders intentionally establish initiatives, in partnership with local fields and congregations, to boost the availability of Adventist education to Seventh-day Adventist children and youth

Barrier #2 Increase the number of Adventists in our schools Ensure that all of the Adventist teachers have something to catch (Infectious for Jesus)

Teachers in Adventist Schools Adventist 71.4% Non-Adventist 28.6% December 31, 2015

Teachers in Adventist Schools 100% 25.5% 30.2% 32.1% 90% 33.9% 80% 70% 60% 50% 74.5% 69.8% 67.9% 40% 66.1% 30% 20% 10% 0% Elementary Secondary Wkr Train Tertiary Adventist Non-Adventist December 31, 2015

Proportion of Adventist Teachers 80% 78% 76% 74% 72% 70% 68% 66% 64% 62% 60% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

The mission of the Church is evangelistic Adventist education must fulfill the mission

To be effective An evangelist must first be a believer

It is essential that teachers be trained to act well their part in the important work of educating the children of Sabbathkeepers, not only in the sciences, but in the Scriptures . E. G. White, Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 168

If the instructors have a religious experience themselves, they will be able to communicate to their students the knowledge of the love of God that they have received. These lessons can be given only by those who are themselvestruly converted. (Caught not Taught) E. G. White, Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 168

Barrier #3 Many pastors are not aware of the evangelistic role of Adventist education, nor perhaps convinced of its efficacy.