Most Americans satisfied with lifeNearly four out of five American adults (78 percent) are completely or mostly satisfied with their lives according to a new nationwide survey by the Barna Research Group. The proportion of satisfied individuals is highest among those who are highly educated, highly paid, older, religious and married with children.
When asked to describe the most pressing challenges and difficulties they face in their life today, the most common difficulties related to finances (28 percent), health (19 percent), career concerns (16 percent) and parenting struggles (11 percent). Smaller numbers identified problems with family relationships (7 percent) and accomplishing personal goals (7 percent) as areas of concern. One out of five adults said they have no such challenges.
Adults were much more likely to identify one or more national issues that concern them than they were to list personal concerns. The top three areas of greatest concern were the war and related fears about terrorism (52 percent), economic issues (30 percent) and the moral decline of the nation (19 percent).
Although born-again Christians were more likely than non-born again adults to cite moral decline as a serious national problem (25 percent versus 15 percent, respectively), a substantial number of non-born again individuals also mentioned the deterioration of Americas moral foundation and behavior as a major worry.
Source: Barna Update, March 26, 2002, www.barnaresearch.com
You dont say!
If Oprah Winfrey can teach about Islam, theres no reason why we cant teach [children] major world religions.
Gary Knell, president of Sesame Workshop, which produces Sesame Street
Source: Christianity Today, March 11, 2002, citing The Journal News [White Plains, New York]
Help for churchesA recent study found three principles that can help churches prioritize their evangelism efforts. Says John Yarbrough, vice president of Evangelism at NAMB: It demonstrates the need to equip Christians to share the gospel and shows the awesome willingness of Southern Baptists to share Christ in our culture.
1. Witness training substantially increases the comfort level that people have in sharing their faith and helps them to be more productive as on mission Christians.
2. The spiritual development and nurture of children and youth should be the top priority for Southern Baptist congregations. Leaders should be trained in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development of children and youth and in developmentally appropriate methods of sharing the gospel. If people are not reached and discipled when they are young, the likelihood of that happening in adulthood greatly decreases.
3. A call for commitment should be an essential part of every worship service. One out of eight people in Southern Baptist worship services has not made a decision for Christ.
Source: U.S. Congregational Life Survey, Summer 2002
Southern Baptists help refugees settle in U.S.
More than 35 million people around the world have been uprooted from their homes and communities by war, poverty and natural disaster. More than 1 million of those people are refugees because they fled to another country. The North American Mission Board has partnered with Church World Service to assist Southern Baptist churches that desire to help these refugees make a new life in the United States. In 2001 Southern Baptists helped 282 refugees from 23 countries settle in the United States. For more information about how your church can get involved in refugee resettlement, visit www.namb.net/refugee.
Top five countries of origin Cuba Ukraine Sudan Vietnam Russia
Source: Fast Facts, North American Mission Board, April 11, 2002
Are gay men more active in church?The quick answer: yes. The surprising long answer: A new study found that the percentage of gay men involved in religious organizations is significantly higher than the percentage of heterosexual men. The study by Darren E. Sherkat, a professor of sociology at Southern Illinois University, was published in the latest issue of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. Sherkat said that gay men attend church without having to be dragged to services by female partnersas is the case for heterosexual men. As for possible reasons, Sherkat wrote gay men may avoid the risk of eternal punishment by gravitating towards religious consumption. Sherkat also asserts that gay men may find relief in a male-oriented religion where salvation is attained through devotion to a male (Jesus).
Source: Harvard Institute for Religion Research, April 2002
ILLUSTRATION: MARK HERRON
Seniors are heading back to schoolLasell College in Newton, Massachusetts, has opened a retirement facility on its campus. Residents of the retirement village are required to attend 450 course-hours per year. Instead of tuition, the villagers buy their apartments and pay $2,000 to $4,000 in monthly fees for meals, health care, nursing-home insurance and instruction. Spurred by medical research that suggests mental fitness may ward off dementia, retirees want less time on the fairways and more time in the classroom. In the last five years, 70 colleges and universities have opened retirement facilities.
Source: Newsweek, June 10, 2002
Charitable giving reaches abroadWhen it comes to charitable giving, Southern Baptists have huge hearts and deep pockets. Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund reports that Southern Baptists gave more than $8 million in 2001. More than 3.5 million meals were served in North America alone because of this gift from Southern Baptists. There were 13,500 professions of faith directly related to these meals. Every dollar that is given is divided and sent into the field to help people who live in poverty. Eighty cents of every dollar goes to the International Mission Board, and 20 cents of every dollar goes to the North American Mission Board to help families abroad and here in the United States and Canada. World Hunger Sunday is October 13, 2002. For more information visit www.beathungerweekend.com.
Southern Baptists are also very involved in Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritans Purse Relief Organization. In 2001, Samaritans Purse collected more than 5.4 million shoe boxes and hand-delivered them to underprivileged children in 95 countries. The shoe boxes are filled with personal gifts, school supplies, candy, necessity items and easy-to-read gospel literature. This year they expect to receive more than 6 million shoe boxes. Many Southern Baptist churches have adopted Operation Christmas Child as a hands-on missions project for Royal Ambassadors, Girls in Action and families. The official shoe box collection week is November 18-25, 2002. To find the nearest location, call 800-353-5949.
Source: Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission (SBC) and Samaritans Purse Relief Organization 2001 reports
Worth repeating... Fewer than two percent of Christians are taking seriously the implication of the question What is the greatest thing that has ever happened to you? If knowing Christ is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me then telling others about Him is my only appropriate response.
Bill Bright in his keynote address to the 2002 Southern Baptist Convention
Nine out of 10 Native Americans do not have a relationship with Christ. Were not reaching native people who live in our cities.
Mark Custalow, church planting strategist for the North American Mission Board (NAMB) speaking about the need to reach Native Americans at the Womans Missionary Union Annual Meeting at the Southern Baptist Convention, June 2002
When youre born you get your talent, but when youre born again you get your spiritual gift.
Dr. George O. McCalep, Jr., pastor of Greenforest Community Church in Decatur, Georgia, encouraging listeners at SBCs annual African American Fellowship dinner not to sit on the sidelines of evangelism