Wow. You're right: those statistics are very sobering and should remind all of us that, no matter how long we've been memorizing, none of us are exempt from falling into that 10%. Before memverse I had a very systematic (and complicated) method of memorizing Scripture that involved many many note cards, multiple containers to divide them up by how well I knew them, and a time-consuming review system. When I first joined memverse I did my best to do it both ways and maintain and updated collection of note cards, but I have long since abandoned them and rely on memverse entirely for my Scripture memorization. If it were not for this site, I have no doubt that I would have far fewer verses memorized if I was still memorizing at all.
Anyway, I love your suggestion to memorize with a friend. Knowing that you would be letting someone else down if you quit does wonders for your own personal commitment. I used to have a Scripture memory group with a couple of my cousins, but we unfortunately let it dwindle into nothing. I should probably see about getting another one together with my friends/family. Do any of you guys want to join me? Send me an e-mail at jumpingmaniac@gmail.com and let me know what you think.
Those are sobering statistics; it is very reminiscent of the parable that Jesus told about the sower who sowed seed; some fell in rocky, thorny, or bare ground and sprouted for a time but soon dwindled to nothing; but the grain that fell on good soil produced ten and fifty and a hundred fold. May we be among those producing one hundred fold from what has been given us!
I also like the suggestion of memorizing with a friend to help to keep both of us accountable... I have a friend in mind (also a member of memverse)... Anyways, thanks for this post and the statistics!
Thank you for this post. It was a great reminder!
I also want to capitalize on something you said...Over the next year, we are planning to make the 'first five minute' experience more engaging and less confusing. Though I love MemVerse, I will admit that it can be slightly confusing at the start. I would love it if MemVerse just totally spelled things out for new users; like, when they first join, taking them straight to a descriptive, concise, and helpful tutorial which tells them everything they need to know to start.
I recently was trying to write an article on MemVerse for my homeschool co-op's newspaper; however, I realized that a fair portion of it was spent on telling you HOW to do MemVerse as opposed to WHY you should do MemVerse. I think that, the less confuisng and more engaging MemVerse becomes, the more people will join AND stick to it.
Again, MemVerse is a great site! But more people would enjoy it for a longer amount of time if it was slicker, more engaging, and more obvious.
sorry so lengthy - hope it helps!
I also like the step-by-step idea.
I think the video tutorial will make it a TON easier for newbies. It took me about 3 weeks to figure out everything Dakota said in that video!
I think that Andy has said before that he is working to make a new design for the website, but we probably won't see it for a while.
If it is any encouragement, the same is true for small businesses: 50% don't last the first year, then another 50% don't last the next five years etc. The test is for faithfulness and I agree that God's grace is what keeps the few, the humble, the faithful on track. I also agree that streamlining things for newcomers would work.
One reason I can use MemVerse regularly is because it fits in with my objective of memorizing a book, a few verses at a time every week, no matter what. Having the most popular verses available might be good but you also want people to see their own goal being reached: memorizing a chapter, a favorite book, or a large number of verses related to one topic of particular interest.
Our younger friends might be less goal-oriented but that doesn't mean it's to soon for them to learn too, if there is some way we can help them on that.
I remember first signing up for Memverse and when I first logged in, I had no clue what to do next. Some of the things didn't make sense to me. I just had to look around for a while. It took me a while, but I am so glad that I figured it out. I <3 Memverse!!!!!! I think it will really help me with the Bible Bee this summer!