Old Churches Don’t Die…
(taken from “Old Churches Don’t Die…They Turn into Bars, Eateries” by William Underhill, Newsweek as appeared in Levitt Letter) Across much of England, churchgoing is in long-term decline. More than 1,600 churches–about 10 percent of the country’s total–have been formally declared redundant by the Church of England. And the English have recogizned the new reality: if church
Gambling Addiction Self-Test
(as seen in LEADERSHIP Magazine) The National Council on Problem Gambling offers a 24-hour hotline: 1-800-522-4700. Their website (www.ncpgambling.org) also offers resources and a directory of counselors. Here is one of their diagnostic tools: – Have you often gambled longer than you had originally planned?– Have you often gambled until your last dollar was gone?– Have
The Generation Next Mindset
Church Executive Magazine ran an article in March 2007 about Beloit College’s “Mindset List.” Each year the Wisconsin school identifies the worldview of 18-year-olds entering college. Among this year’s findings… Among the 75 citations of what last fall’s college freshmen will never have known:– The Sovient Union has never existed and therefore is about as scary
Learning From the Fall
U.S. News recently did an interview with Cullen Murphy, author of the new book, Are We Rome? The Fall of an Empire and the Fate of America. Murphy’s book examines the striking similarities between present-day America and ancient Rome. When asked how we reverse our own tendencies toward decline, Murphy answered with the following: “One
Our Place
One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car, and got out. Another car pulled up and the driver got out and said, “I always park there! You took my place!” The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat, and sat down. A young lady from
Divorce Rate
U.S. Divorce Rate at Lowest Level Since 1970 AP–NEW YORK (May 11) – By the numbers, divorce just isn’t what it used to be. Despite the common notion that America remains plagued by a divorce epidemic, the national per capita divorce rate has declined steadily since its peak in 1981 and is now at its
The Real Christian Divorce Rate
(On Mission Magazine, Summer 2007, Pastors’ Edition) “It’s commonly believed Christian marriages end in divorce just as often as non-Christian, but according to a recent survey by the University of Connecticut’s Bradley Wright, this is not true. Christians, especially those who frequently attend church, have relatively low divorce rates. The divorce rate among Christians who
Evangelism vs. Outreach
(On Mission Magazine, Summer 2007, Pastors’ Edition) “A new Ellison Research study finds 39% of U.S. pastors aren’t highly interested in offering more community outreach programs. They prefer to focus on their own congregation and on spiritual needs rather than physical needs. When asked what was holding their church back from being more involved in
Random Musings
According to the AAA Petbook, more and more hotels are becoming pet friendly. The number of hotels allowing pets has increased 28% since 1998. Just what I need: fleas to go along with the dirty carpet, mildewed bath tub, noisy neighbors, flat pillows, loud air conditioners, and low watt bulbs. Can they do anything else to make
10 Steps for Facing the Next 18 Hours Head-On
(Adapted and summarized from an article in Christian Single Magazine, by Joy Fisher) 10 STEPS FOR FACING THE NEXT 18 HOURS HEAD-ON: Clean your slate. Don’t carry things over day after day. Get the “to do” list done. Freshen up. clean up. Reduce the clutter. Stop piling stuff on top of stuff. Find your shoes.
Top 10 Family Issues
(from a survey by lifeway.com) 1) Anti-Christian culture2) Divorce3) Busyness4) Absent father figure5) Lack of discipline6) Financial pressures7) Lack of communication8) Negative media influence9) Balance of work and family10) Materialism 2ProphetU2ProphetU is an online magazine/website, started by Warren Wiersbe and Michael Catt, to build up the church, seek revival, and encourage pastors.
How Satisfied are Pastors?
Pastors are surprisingly satisfued, according to the Pulpit & Pew research project at Duke University–especially in the following areas: 74% are very satisfied with their current position71% are very satisfied with lay leaders73% are very satisfied with staff73% are very satisfied with family life But only…36% are very satisfied with their overall effectiveness in the