Quick Quotes
The Cooperative Program is a way in which we can fulfill the biblical mandate. Its a way in which our resourcesregardless of the sizes of our churchescan accomplish a common goal of going into all the world and preaching the Good News that God loves all people.
Pastor Horatio Jones of Fremont Bible Fellowship on why he feels its important for the local church to give to the Cooperative Program.
Source: Baptist Press, March 2, 2004
The reason Jesus is so controversial is because Gods response to us depends on our response to Jesus.
Anne Graham Lotz speaking at Jerry Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, February 20, 2004
We might have seen the end of the beginning.
Dr. Anton Koekenoer, on new observations by the Hubble Space Telescope. Astronomers using the Hubble telescope said they reached far enough out in space to be within a stones throw of the Big Bang.
Source: New York Times, March 10, 2004
God is looking for people who will be seriously disturbed by what they see in the world. The problem with HIV/AIDS is bigger and much more painful than I imagined. The equivalent of the city of Chicago dies every year of AIDS. If were going to care about God we have to care about the least of these. I cannot ignore the rest of Gods creation who are going to bed hungry, being sold into prostitution and those who are dying every day. This is a call of God.
Kay Warren, advocate for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS and wife of pastor and author, Rick Warren
Dads can make a difference
In an analysis of nearly 100 studies on parent-child relationships, father love (measured by childrens perceptions of paternal acceptance/ rejection, affection/ indifference) was as important as mother love in predicting the social, emotional and cognitive development and functioning of children and young adults:
Having a loving and nurturing father was as important for a childs happiness, well-being and social and academic success as having a loving and nurturing mother.
Withdrawal of love by either the father or the mother was equally influential in predicting a childs emotional instability, lack of self-esteem, depression, social withdrawal and level of aggression.
In some studies, father love was actually a better predictor than mother love for certain outcomes, including delinquency and conduct problems, substance abuse and overall mental health and well-being.
Other studies found that, after controlling for mother love, father love was the sole significant predictor for certain outcomes, such as psychological adjustment problems, conduct problems and substance abuse.
Source: Father Facts, fatherhood.org, National Fatherhood Initiative
Youth gambling on the rise
a growing number of young people are gambling, and millions are becoming addicted. Studies in the U.S. and Canada reveal that between 9.9 percent and 14.2 percent of adolescents are experiencing some symptoms of problem gambling, and between 4.4 percent and 7.4 percent meet the criteria for pathological gamblers. This amounts to about 7.9 million teens who are either problem or pathological gamblers according to statistics from the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. Research shows that these teen gamblers who begin as children tend to start at around age 10 or 11.
Source: Focus on the Family
photo by john swain
illustration by dale glasgow
From pulpits to PowerPoint
Churches moving toward more contemporary worship styles are outpacing those moving to more traditional styles by an 11-to-1 margin, according to a study by Ellison Research. Fifty-one percent of the Protestant ministers who participated in the survey said their churchs worship style has become more contemporary in the last five years. Just 5 percent said their style has become more traditional recently, while 44 percent said their worship style has not changed.
The study also found an increase in the use of technology and the arts in worship. The greatest growth was in:
Video clip usage (up 625 percent from five years ago)
PowerPoint or similar graphic presentations (up 620 percent)
Christian rock, pop or country music (up 178 percent)
Praise and worship choruses (up 95 percent)
Drama sketches or skits (up 83 percent)
Childrens sermons or childrens worship services (up 38 percent)
Even though the greatest growth was in contemporary elements, there was still growth in some of the most traditional elements of worship. Passing an offering plate or basket was up 19 percent, using printed worship bulletins was up 25 percent and using traditional hymns was up 17 percent.
Source: Facts & Trends, March/April 2004
Even Coppertone won't help
in 1965 the U.S. divorce rate was 2.5 per 1,000 people; it reached a high in 1979 and 1981, with 5.3 per 1,000. Today the figure hovers around 4.0, pretty much where it has been for five years. The divorce rate of any place in the continental United States can be reliably predicted by knowing the number of days out of the year that women there can wear swimsuits. Generally, the more warm weather days suitable for bathing attire, the higher the divorce rate; the more cold weather days unsuitable for swimwear, the lower the divorce rate.
To illustrate, draw a line across the midsection of the continental United States (along the northern borders of North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona, and continuing through southern Nevada and central California). More than 60 percent of the total U.S. population lives above what might be called the tan line. Yet less than half of all divorces occur here, and all 10 states with the lowest divorce rates are above the tan line.
Massachusetts is No.1 in marital stability followed by New York. Conversely, almost all of the states with the highest divorce rates are found below the tan line. And four of these statesAlabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennesseeare located right in the heart of the Bible belt.
In 1998 the divorce rate in Canada was 2.3 per 1000 population. Rates vary widely from province to province. In the Yukon Territory 55 percent of couples are expected to divorce within 30 years. In Newfoundland, 23 percent of couples are expected to divorce within 30 years.
Source: Time, January 19, 2004, Smart Marriages Archive, divorcereform.org and Statistics Canada
illustration by scott brooks
Number of Buster pastors is booming
The number of Busters (born 1965-1983) who serve as senior pastors has doubled in just two years from about 22,000 to more than 45,000 (out of 324,000 Protestant senior pastors). These younger pastors are experimenting with communication methods, ministry priorities, education and many other aspects of their church-based work. Compared with older pastors, Buster pastors are more likely to use drama (32% to 21%); more likely to show movies, videos and DVDs (30% to 21%); and more likely to tell stories (28% to 13%). These multi-media and experience-laden forms of communication appeal to younger, often postmodern people. The study also indicated that young pastors more frequently use art, music and interactive dialogue as part of their efforts to communicate biblical truths.
Buster pastors are not taking the conventional path of ministry education. Less than half of Buster pastors (46%) currently have a seminary degree, compared to two-thirds (62%) of Boomers (born 1946-1964). Part of this gap stems from the fact that some pastors obtain their seminary degree later in life. However, many young pastors are avoiding seminary due to their growing skepticism about its necessity and relevance to their ministry. Studies also show that a growing number of large churches are training congregants for full-time ministry from within, rather than sending people off-campus for more traditional academic training for ministry.
The ministry priorities of young pastors have shifted from those of their predecessors. Buster pastors (46%) are more likely than are Boomer pastors (30%) to prioritize ministry to families, youth and children. The study showed that Buster pastors are also focusing more attention than do their predecessors on spiritual growth, discipleship and Bible study (37% to 27%). Both groups are equally likely to prioritize teaching and preaching, evangelism and worship.
Source: Barna Update, February 17, 2004
Music downloads
Need a clever way to share your faith? Cant find the latest Bebo Norman CD at your local music store? Look no farther than your Internet browser and CD burner. You can now download and copy Christian music from lifewaystores.com/getmusic, and its all legal. Downloading music is a growing trend led nationally by Apples iTunes and Buymusic.com for secular music, but LifeWay is the first Christian retailer to offer a site dedicated to Christian music. The new digital music downloading service offers single songs for 99 cents and complete albums for $10 to $12. You can download a variety of artists from Salvador to George Beverly Shea.
Overseas baptisms passed historic mark
Southern Baptist International missionaries and their overseas partners baptized 510,357 believers in 2003, a net increase of 76,838 (17.7 %) and the first time the number of baptisms has passed a half million. While more than 5,000 people groups still have little or no access to the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, Southern Baptist missionaries and their overseas partners also opened work among 192 new people groups during 2003. Those new works included the engagement of 146 unreached people groups with a total population of more than 359 million. This is a cause for tremendous rejoicing, says Avery Willis, the International Mission Boards senior vice president for overseas operations. God is blessing as we are proving faithful to the vision of bringing all the peoples of the world to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
By the numbers
26.5 million Dollar amount brought in on the opening day of The Passion of the Christ. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers brought in $26.2 million on its opening day. The Passion is on track to make $400 million in the U.S.
42,886 Number of visits to www.PassionChrist.org, NAMBs website dedicated to helping churches go past The Passion of the Christ to tell the rest of the story
17% Percent of Americans who think its O.K. to cheat on their income tax, up from 11% five years ago
$300 billionAnnual amount owed by taxpayers for under-reporting, nonfiling and nonpayment of balances
14.5% Percent of the population over age 50 who had Internet access in 1998
47.1% Percent of the population over age 50 who had Internet in 2002
Sources: Movie Web, USAToday.com, Time, March 22, 2004 and AARP Bulletin, March 2004
Do Americans have too many choices?
Modern life has provided a huge array of products to choose from. But do we have too many? Consider this: at your local supermarket youre likely to find more than 360 types of shampoo, 40 kinds of toothpaste and 250 varieties of breakfast cereals? A simple trip to the grocery store can easily become overwhelming.
One would think that increased choice improves well-being. However, the opposite is true. People feel overwhelmed by the time it takes to make the best choice and then later may regret having made the wrong choice. Social scientists David G. Myers and Robert E. Lane say that increased choice and increased affluence have been accompanied by decreased well-being. In the last 30 years the proportion of the population describing itself as very happy has declined by about 5 percent.
This might not seem like much, but 5 percent translates to about 14 million Americans. More Americans than ever are clinically depressed. By some estimates, depression in the year 2000 was about 10 times as likely as it was in 1900. Although this can't be attributed to a single factor, evidence from psychological research indicates that the explosion of choice plays a significant role.
Source: Newsweek, March 22, 2004 and Parade, January 4, 2004