-58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-26% said they attend once a week

-6% indicated they attend once or twice a month

-10% said they attend a few times a year or not at all

ºthis was true for 13% in 1993

ºit was true for 10% in 1995

ºit was true for 6% in 1997

•57.8% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-this was true for 62% of those 14 years old or younger

-it was true for 67% of those 15-16 years old

-it was true for 57% of those 17-18 years old

-it was true for only 33% of those 19-20

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-this was true for 43% of the respondents in 1993

-it was true for 46% of the respondents in 1995

-it was true for 55% of the respondents in 1997

Coupling this data with an understanding of the Youthfest population allows us to conclude that youth groups provide a likely strength of involvement resulting in church attendance that is not sustained in the post-high school years, and—in fact—peaks during middle adolescence. How does this data correspond with other religious behaviors?

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-31% of these students report that they read their Bible “one or more times daily”

º20% of all students in the survey report that this is their practice

-34% of these students report that they read their Bible “once or twice a month”...or less

º53% of all students surveyed report that this is their practice

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-75% of these students pray on their own at least one time a day

º62% of all students in the survey report that this is their practice

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-89% of these students spend time with Christian friends outside of church or youth group activities more than once a week

º73% of all students surveyed report that this is their practice

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-36% of these students estimate that they “verbally shared with others about (their) personal relationship with Christ” more than once a week

º25% of all students surveyed report that this is their practice

-24% of these students estimate that they “verbally shared with others about (their) personal relationship with Christ” a few times a year...or less

º37% of all students surveyed report that this is their practice

The group responding to the survey was committed to a religious lifestyle, and a significant majority demonstrated patterns reflecting a high social commitment within their Christian faith. The personal discipline of daily Bible study was uncommon among two-thirds of this religious population, giving insight into the nature of their religious commitment. How does such a commitment affect their drug use and sexual behavior?

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-93% of these students do not smoke at all

º81% of all students surveyed report that they don't smoke

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-77% of these students estimated that they did not consume any alcoholic beverages in the current year

º60% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-98% of these students reported that they did not get drunk during an average week in the current year

º91% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-94% of these students reported that they did not use pot in the current year

º87% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-98% of these students reported that they did not use other illegal drugs in the current year

º94% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-91% of these students reported that they did not have sexual intercourse in the current year

º80% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-89% of these students reported that they did not engage in oral sex in the current year

º76% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them

•58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week

-73% of these students reported that they did not engage in any sexual fondling in the current year

º60% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them

Given this social/programmatic dimension of one's religious commitment, there is still evidence that a high pattern of church attendance is a good predictor of a more moral lifestyle. Is it as good an indicator as is the discipline of daily Bible reading?

•20% of those surveyed indicated that they currently read the Bible on their own “one or more times daily”

-96% of these students reported that they did not smoke at all in the current year

-92% of these students reported that they did not consume any alcoholic beverages in the current year

-100% of these students reported that they did not get drunk during an average week in the current year

-98% of these students reported that they did not use pot in the current year

-100% of these students reported that they did not use other illegal drugs in the current year

-88% of these students reported that they did not have sexual intercourse in the current year

-88% of these students reported that they did not engage in oral sex in the current year

-84% of these students reported that they did not engage in any sexual fondling in the current year

Generally speaking, daily Bible reading—an indicator of one's religious commitment without benefit of social support—is the best of the religious behaviors in predicting a moral lifestyle. While the sexual intercourse activity is still a struggle for some, the patterns of sexual activity suggest that more students in this category apply a “zero tolerance” approach to sexual behavior.