One Man’s Winding Path Back to Religion
(adapted from USA Today) Kyle Dodig, 38, began a year-long search after realizing the Catholic realized he wasn’t sure he believed in God. He read the Bible in search of ways to “bring faith back into his life.” Every weekend for 12 months he promised to visit a different place of worship. “I guess you
College Students and Church
(Outreach, January/February 2007) 52% Percentage of students who regularly attend religious services before going to college 29% Percentage of college juniors who regularly attend religious services 60% Percentage of college freshmen who report questioning their religious beliefs 2ProphetU2ProphetU is an online magazine/website, started by Warren Wiersbe and Michael Catt, to build up the church, seek
Preaching by Faith and Sight
A 2007 Leadership journal survey of preachers shows the visual revolution is well underway. Leadership surveys 515 subscribers who, as lead pastors, preach regularly. Most have entered the visual fray–some signed on willingly, others feel conscripted–but almost all have felt the ground shift beneath their pulpits as technologies, audience expectations, and Game Boy learning styles make new demands on
How wired are teens and their parents?
(as seen in USA TODAY Snapshots) Parents Teens Cellphone 89% 63% Desktop Computer 83% 72% Laptop Computer 37% 25% iPod or MP3 Player 29% 51% PDA 13% 8% 2ProphetU2ProphetU is an online magazine/website, started by Warren Wiersbe and Michael Catt, to build up the church, seek revival, and encourage pastors.
How People Find a Church
(from LifeWay Research, as appeared in Facts & Trends) Resources “Unchurched” would likely use if looking for a church and “Church Switchers” did use to find a new churchUnchurched – February 2008 study; defined as people who have not attended a religious service in the past six months.Church Switchers – December 2006 study; defined as
Getting to Know the Unchurched
(LifeWay Research, as seen in Outreach Magazine, March/April 2008) 86% “I believe I can have a good relationship with God without being involved in church.”78% “I think Christianity today is more about organized religion than about loving God and loving people.” Which of the following sources would you consult if you were seeking inspirational guidance?32%
Getting to Know New Christians
(“New Christians Study,” Michael Anthony and Gary McIntosh, Talbot School of Theology, as seen in Outreach Magazine, March, April 2008) 59% Came to faith through family or friends64% Came to faith as a result of conversation Age of New Christians47% Baby Boomers40% Gen-X17% Builders or Seniors 2ProphetU2ProphetU is an online magazine/website, started by Warren Wiersbe
Effective Preaching
What is the ultimate key to effective preaching?Author Unknown Very simply, stay in your study until you know that the Lord will gladly accept what you have prepared to preach because it rightly represents His Word. Let me give you this unforgettable plan suggested by an unknown parishioner as to how a pastor can discover
You Might Be a Pastor If…
(Author Unknown) Everybody stops talking when you enter the room. You’ve ever lied at a funeral. You always read the obituaries. You’ve ever suffered an anxiety attack while playing Bible Trivia Pursuit. You wonder why people who have some time to kill want to spend it with you. You get your second wind when you
How You Know You Are a Teache
Jeff Foxworthy’s Take on Teachers 1. You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.2. You get a secret thrill out of laminating something.3. You walk into a store and hear the words “It’s Ms./Mr. _________” and know you have been spotted.4. You have 25
Reaching the Christmas and Easter Crowd
Inside the minds of holiday-only attenders. John Huffman, Jr.October 1, 1999 Every pastor encounters them: the Christmas and Easter faces that appear in church only on the holiest of days. It’s easy to grow cynical about the once-or-twice-a-year crowd. On the other hand, holidays provide the opportunity to touch the lives of the “under-churched.” John
Holy, How?
(Source: The Barna Update, February 20, 2006. Appeared in On Mission, Summer 2007) Most professing born-again adults are confused about the concept of holiness. When asked to describe what it means to be holy here’s how they responded: 21% I don’t know19% Being Christlike18% Making faith your top priority10% Having a good attitude about people