QUICK QUOTES

 "Where there is despair, [Southern Baptists] provide hope, and you help those who need love find love."

President George W. Bush addressing Southern Baptists at the annual Southern Baptist Convention, June 21, 2005

 "I came here willing to die if I have to, so that I can help our Marines and sailors see their need for a personal relationship with God. I hope to show my commitment and concern for their spiritual well-being by being here every day that I can. I plan on helping with their hurts and supporting their celebrations."

Lt. Cmdr. Phillip Endel Lee, a Navy chaplain serving at Camp Fallujah in Iraq. When Lee is finished with his service in Iraq, he will return to teaching at Leavell College of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

 "The Cooperative Program is the best way for churches to prove that you can't outgive God. Although our gifts to CP Missions have been more than $1 million each of the last three years, God has blessed us with an amazing budget surplus every year. I believe if churches would give away more, they would see their total offerings increase. I believe the Cooperative Program was born in the heart and mind of God. We see it as the best way to promote missions and evangelism throughout God's world. Every church that claims to be a mission-minded church should be a strong CP Missions supporter."

David Dykes, pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler, Texas

 "I was taught moral principles from childhood and tried to win God's approval by good works, but I was motivated by guilt. I finally came to realize that if anyone is trying to impress God, it is not of Him. Then in 1995 as a result of the Braves chapel services I came to understand my need to have a personal relationship with Christ."

Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz
Source: Baptist Press

Successful parenting

U.S. Parents described the most important outcomes they want for their children and are devoted to helping their children experience in a study by The Barna Group.

Source: The Barna Update, February 28, 2005

Gambling mania

As many as 73 million Americans will patronize one of the nation's more than 1,200 casinos, card rooms or bingo parlors this year. In 2005 gamblers will lose more than $80 billion on everything from horse racing's Triple Crown to the flop of a card.

Source: U.S. News & World Report, May 23, 2005

8 hours  33 minutes Average amount of media content U.S. children ages 8 to 18 are exposed to each day, up from 7 hours 29 minutes in 2000 1 hour  2 minutes Average amount of time kids spend each day on computers (not counting homework), up from 27 minutes in 2000 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation and Time, March 21, 2005

Steroids-not just for athletes

Teenage girls have begun using steroids to build the lean, muscular physiques of models and movie stars. About 5% of high school girls and 7% of middle school girls, some as young as 9, admit to having tried anabolic steroids at least once. While some of them are trying to improve athletic performance, many are looking for a quick way to get a better body.

Source: The Week, May 13, 2005

Disaster Relief responses reach all-time high

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers last year prepared more than 3.5 million meals, repaired more than 2,600 buildings and completed nearly 11,000 cleanup and recovery projects.

More than 15,000 of the 30,000 trained Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers gave their time, talents and energies in response to 193 natural disasters that included hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and ice storms.

Teens like church

One of the most widespread and persistent stereotypes about U.S. teenagers is that they are alienated from established or organized religion and that this alienation is increasing. However, data suggests that most U.S. 12th graders are not alienated from organized religion. Only about 15% appear to be alienated from religion and another 15% are neither warm nor cold toward organized religion.

Two-thirds of 12th graders closely agree with the religious ideas of their parents. One-half believe churches and religious organizations are doing a good job for the country. Among 12th graders, seven in 10 would like to see religion exert the same, more or much more influence in society.

Sixty percent of protestant teens say that religious faith is very or extremely important in shaping their daily lives, 59% report having a prayer answered by God, 62% recall having had a powerful experience of worship, and 69% say they have committed to live their life for God.

Source: National Study of Youth and Religion 2005

In a survey, 90% of new teachers agreed that involving parents in their children's education is a priority at their school, but only 25% described their experiences working with parents as "very satisfying." When asked to choose the biggest challenge they face, 31% of teachers cited involving parents and communicating with them as their top choice. And 73% of new teachers said too many parents treat teachers as adversaries. Christian parents have wonderful opportunities to reach out to public and private school teachers. This fall when your child heads back to school, let the teacher know that you want to be a partner with him or her in your child's education and development. Convey your respect for the teacher's skills and authority. That respect will find its way back to your child. When possible, volunteer to help in the classroom or with school activities, and build relationships with the teachers and other parents. These relationships are a great way to bring Christ into the classroom. Source: The 2004 MetLife Survey of the American Teacher and Time, February 21, 2005

Sharp divide between European and American religious beliefs

We hear about the need for reaching non-Christian Asians or Africans or other populations in their countries of origin or in their new homeland, the United States of America. But what about Western Europeans, whose heritage many Americans share? Their countries once were cradles of great faith-birthplaces of Luther, Calvin, Knox, Wesley and followers who settled and populated what became the USA. Here's a sampling of beliefs and worship attendance, comparing religion by country.

Sources: U.S. News & World Report, May 30, 2005; "Sacred and Secular," Cambridge University Press, 2004; and Barna Research Group, 1999-2000 European Values Study.

Moviegoers prefer cleaner films

Is Hollywood finally hearing the outcry for more family-friendly films? Maybe so. 2004 was the first year in the last two decades that PG films outgrossed R-rated flicks-$2.3 billion to $2.1 billion-according to the Hollywood trade newspaper Variety. And 45% of last year's films involved positive Christian or family content, said Dr. Ted Baehr, founder of the Christian Film & Television Commission. "We've seen a tremendous growth in the number of films with Christian and positive contents," says Baehr. Studio execs have noticed the declining financial returns on R-rated films and have responded by making fewer. Even theater owners are asking studios to send them family-friendly movies. Source: Citizen, June 2005

this & that

Hispanic population leads growth
The nation's foreign-born population grew 2.3 percent to 34.2 million in 2004, accounting for 12 percent of the total U.S. population. Within the foreign-born population, 53 percent were born in Latin America.

Source: Hispanic Trends, March/April 2005

Billy Graham sets record
Question: How many people has Billy Graham preached in person to in his long career? Answer: At 86, the evangelist says he has preached to more than 210 million people in at least 185 countries and territories more than anyone else in history.

Source: Parade magazine, May 8, 2005

Married men live longer
Married people, particularly married men, enjoy healthier and longer lives than their unmarried counterparts. A recent study found that married adults were healthier than unmarried adults within every population group (including age, sex, race or ethnic groups) and within groups with similar health indicators (whether they were smokers, disabled, or physically inactive, for example). The only negative health indicator for which married adults had a higher prevalence was being overweight.

Source: Population Bulletin, Population Reference Bureau, March 2005

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