Factors influencing the young people’s interest and involvement in Christian education programs under the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC) in Sara, Iloilo

Abstract

This descriptive study determined the forty-six young people’s interest and involvement in Christian Education Programs (CEP) under the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, Inc. in Sara, Iloilo. The level of interest and involvement in CEP are measured through a point scale. The influences of age, sex, and educational background on these religious outcomes were also examined. Moreover, it also seeks the influences of parent’s religious background such as religious affiliation and position in church; and socio-economic status, which includes their parent’s occupation and yearly income. Further, it was assumed that family relationships might influence young people’s interest and involvement, too.

This descriptive inquiry should help heighten understanding of and provide essential information about the young people in barangay churches under the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC). Thus, this study would also help Christian Educators, Pastors, and Church Workers under the CPBC to make use of the results in developing relevant CEP that could motivate young people to participate and actively involve in the church.

Using the Survey Questionnaire - Checklist and interviews, the data support the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference in the young people’s interest and involvement when they were grouped according to age and sex. There is a significant difference in young people’s involvement when it comes to educational background. There is no significant difference in the young people’s interest and involvement in CE Programs irrespective of parent’s religious affiliation. There is a significant difference for young people whose mothers are church workers or officers of the church. The data rejected the hypothesis that there is no significant difference in the young people’s interest and involvement in CE Programs when the respondents’ parents are classified according to socio-economic status. There is significant difference in the influence of the mothers to the interest and involvement of the young people in CEP when religious background and socio-economic status were considered. Skilled worker mothers tend to be more influential than the self-employed ones. Similar research is needed to investigate the social influences of religious practices on various outcomes in the lives of these young people in CPBC who were not included in this study.