This essay attempts to show how the Christian faith is instilled into the youth of America by showing students as young as third-graders up through seniors in college.  The ritual and teaching is emphasized in younger children, while entertainment and fun are emphasized in high school.  In college, the social, peer-led activities are shown.  Several institutions and organizations were chosen to show the different age groups, these include St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Bowling Green Christian Academy, Hillvue Heights Baptist Church, and Western Kentucky University’s Campus Crusade for Christ and Baptist Student Union.  The purpose of this project is multi-faceted.  The driving force behind it is to document how the young people in America are becoming more involved with their faith and that many of the stigmas attached to Christian education have now changed.  In another way, this project shows aspects of private education, which is an important issue in voucher programs proposed by the President and Congress.  Overall, I wanted to show the faces behind these issues, the ones that will truly be affected by the decisions we make today.

Christy Wilkens and Peyton Duhon, L-R, pray together on most Thursday mornings in Mrs. Chenault’s third-grade class at Bowling Green Christian Academy.  There is a prayer time everyday in her class, but she says she likes to change up the style.  On Fridays, they pray in a big circle, on Thursday in groups or by themselves.

In Mrs. Chenault’s third-grade class at Bowling Green Christian Academy, students take turns drawing the names of God out of a basket.  Allison Woodward reads a passage of the bible while classmates try to guess the descriptive name for God.  Chenault says she thinks this is a fun way to show all the things God does.  Today’s name was “Restorer.”

“We like to let them express themselves,” third-grade Mrs. Chenault said.  In her class at Bowling Green Christian Academy, her students are allowed to go anywhere in the room they want to pray on Thursdays.  Justin Graham chooses to go under the desks.  Chenault says she tries to teach her students that prayer can be fun, too.  Bowling Green Christian Academy is a kindergarten through eighth grade school and is part of the Association for Christian Schools International.

Ciara Scott, Vanessa Bolton, Allison Baseheart, and Emma Goetz, L-R, line up for morning prayer at St. Joseph’s Catholic School.  Every morning prayers are printed up for every student by the administration.  The prayers are then read in the gymnasium by the entire student body in unison.

In Mrs. Alexander’s third-grade class at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, students were given space in one of their workbooks to show how they could better keep God’s commandments.  Students at St. Joseph’s have religion class three days a week.

Alex Kloda slides towards his classmates Rachel French and Ben Stringer, L-R, on the playground at St. Joseph’s Catholic School.  Recess at St. Joseph’s is after lunch.  Mrs. Alexander said that the biggest punishment that she gives out is sitting out during recess.

Lillie Stivers and Megan Reid, L-R, third-graders at St. Joesph’s Catholic School, play with a caterpillar, which they have named “Squishy.”  “I just don’t want him to pee on me,” said Stivers.  “The last one I got peed on me.”  Their teacher, Mrs. Alexander, allowed them to retrieve a container from her classroom to keep it in.

Emma Goetz talks with Donovan Love as they go to Tuesday morning Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic School.  The Mass, which the whole school attends at once, takes the place of the first morning class on the day.

Allison Baseheart, right, teaches classmate Donovan Love a nursery rhyme quietly during Mass.

Children pray during Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic School. St. Joseph’s was established almost 150 years ago and contains kindergarten through eighth grades.  The closest Catholic High School is located more than 70 miles away in Owensboro.

Travis Goodwin attends the Hillvue Heights Baptist Church senior high youth group.  The youth group meets every Wednesday and includes grades 9 – 12.  They have their own praise band made up by members of the group, and play a game at the beginning of every meeting.  The group meets during the same time as the adult Wednesday night church service.

Eric Baker, the youth minister at Hillvue Heights, prays after he delivered his message to the senior high youth group, called The Journey.  He told them of a missionary who went overseas.  One night the missionary was approached by three teenage prostitutes.  The missionary arranged a meeting time at his hotel room, and when they arrived he had bought them each banana splits and they watched Disney movies all night.  Baker said he told this story to show that goodness may not make any permanent impact, but that it is still important to God.

Lauren Carter and Joe Tichenor pray together at a meeting of senior high youth group at Hillvue Heights.  They both perform music for meetings of The Journey.  "That church and those people are my life," Lauren said.

The high schoolers at Hillvue Heights were invited to attend the “Allnighter” lock-in in the multi-purpose room of the church one Friday night.  There were between 50 and 100 attendees who took part in games based on the show “Fear Factor,” a basketball tournament, Xbox competitions, ping-pong matches, and a concert.  “We want you to have a blast tonight,” said youth minister Eric Baker.  “But we also want to teach you and fill you up.”

Members of one of Hillvue Heights Praise and Worship bands meet for prayer before they perform at “Allnighter.”  They prayed to reach their audience through the music.

The “Allnighter” concert included comtemporary Christian rock music and utilized all the amenities that the Hillvue Heights stage had to offer.  The music was followed by a message delivered by a local high school football coach who is also involved in the ministry.