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"Going to church is an indicator that [students] are teachable," he says. "And if they're teachable at church, they'll probably be teachable at school."

John DiIulio Jr., former White House director of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, says urban congregations leverage 10 times their human and financial weight. He calls them the "army ants of civil society."

A 1998 study by University of Pennsylvania researcher Ram Cnaan agrees. Cnaan found it would cost taxpayers more than $250 million to replace the goods, services, and volunteer hours that urban congregations deliver each year to the city of Philadelphia alone.

Studies on the role of faith in social development are beginning to attract the attention of Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-Connecticut) and Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania). Johnson says he hopes the Regnerus/Elder study will serve as a clarion call to encourage churches of all socioeconomic levels to invest in youth from low-income communities.

At the same time, the Chicago school system's Parker says the importance of educators must not be discounted. When a community of faith comes alongside a supportive school, students have twice the opportunity for success, she says.

In Seattle, Hairston still marvels at the church's seven-year investment in the life of young Jackson—and his ascent from an under-performing student with a learning disability to a high school graduate balancing work and college.

A beaming Hairston quotes Jackson: "I'm still trying to figure out my future, but at least I know I have one."

Amber Anderson Johnson is a freelance writer based in Chicago.

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A Bible study based on this article is available in Christianity Today'sCurrent Issue Bible Study Series. This unique series uses articles from current issues of the magazine to prompt thought-provoking discussions in adult Sunday school classes or small groups.

The Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society's Web site includes abstracts from publications related to the study of religion and academic performance.

Related articles include:

Rural Education — Education Week (June 13, 2001)

See more articles on faith and schooling in our Education archives.

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May 21 2002, Vol. 46, No. 6