Ministry News

The Revolving Church Door

Details: Thursday, 30 April 2009 15:19

QUOTE: "There is a huge, wide-open back door at most churches. Churches around the country may be able to attract people, but they can't keep them." -Michael Lindsay, author of Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite, responding to the recent Pew Research study that found roughly half of all Americans have switched religions at some point in their lives. Among those who abandoned their childhood faith, one out of three has jumped around three or more religious expressions-including having no religious affiliation. In fact, for pastors the study's silver lining can be found among those currently unaffiliated with a religion, who the study indicates are the most open to embracing a faith. "We tend to think that when people leave [religion] they leave," said Stephen Prothero, chairman of Boston University's religion department. "But a lot of these unaffiliated are unaffiliated for now. ... It's not a one-way street. It's not like after you've left a religious affiliation, you can't get back in." [washingtonpost.com, 4/28/09]

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0 #1 sandie medlin 2009-05-02 06:01

In our local newspaper today another of our churches has decided to FOCUS on missions. And here we have the problem. In the last several years here in this city the churches have decided to leave the needs of the congregation and place the emphasis on other nationalities and creeds. After all, so many are doing that now. Then I wonder why I hear so many countless people complain that their church is so dry these days. Missions are good...but not everybody in ministry is called to missions in other countries. Why do people insist on following the crowd? Where are the Davids, the Elijah's, the Noah's, the Mose's, the Job's..and so on and so forth?? People will not become interested in church without any power or anointing. Let us learn to get out of God's way and allow him to minister to the people before they perish and we're held responsible for it.

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