“If you want a change in your life and in your church come out here. Get out of the walls of the church. Your life will never be the same. People are hurting out here, but the gospel can save them.”
Shawn McCloskey, an Intentional Community Evangelism volunteer, talking about his experiences sharing Christ during Crossover San Antonio
“We’re reaching a lot of unchurched young families through our ministries to children and students. They’re like a window display, parents will eventually want to peek behind the curtain to see what their kids are so excited about.”
Rodney Gage, church planter and pastor of Fellowship of Orlando, speaking about the church’s commitment to reaching Orlando for Christ through exciting and meaningful ministries to children and teens
“I want my kids to know that all people, no matter who they are, have the same basic need—Jesus. I hope my kids take away from this a desire to share Christ in our local community.”
James Tew on what he hopes his children learned from participating in a Families On Mission project this summer
Sources: California Southern Baptist, July 2007 and Baptist Press
“What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men, men of prayer.”
E.M. Bounds
Is your student ministry accomplishing these five things?
71% Understand better what I believe
66% Worship or make a connection with God
65% Volunteer or help others
63% Spend time with close friends
62%Get encouraged and inspired
Source: The Barna Group
Volunteering among Americansrose 32% between 1989 and 2005. The growth was driven primarily by three age groups:
Age Group 1989 2005
16 to19 13% 28%
45 to 65 22% 30%
Over 65 17% 24%
Source: Corporation for National and Community Service and Discipleship Journal, July/August 2007
In the 2000 census, 45 million (18%) people said they spoke a language other than English at home. The U.S. ranks fifth in the number of languages spoken in an individual country. At least 311 languages are spoken throughout the U.S.—that’s 4.5% of the world’s languages. As more and more internationals move to North America, the need for cross-cultural missions is essential. Read “Favorable Exchange” on page 32 to learn how you can impact the world by reaching out to international students and visit www.onmission.com for more articles about cross-cultural evangelism.
Source: Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th ed. (2005) & CIA World Fact Book
Some 52% of Americans say they believe the Bible is God’s authoritative Word. Of these people only 36% say they believe people should live by the Scriptures. Some 45% say they operate by a mixture of God’s commands and their own inclination. And 15% ignore God’s Word if it conflicts with their own plans.
Source: The Culture and Media Institute and Outreach, July/August 2007
About 2,700 military chaplains minister to an active duty force of 1.4 million. That’s one chaplain for every 518 service members. In peacetime, the ratio is deemed adequate, but with the military fighting a war on two fronts, our military chaplains are being stretched in their ministry. Service members fighting the war on terror often need daily counseling to cope with emotional trauma.
“It is a chaplain’s duty to sustain and strengthen soldiers for another day in the combat zone, pray for them as they are assigned to one more convoy or take one more air mission, and comfort them as they look for hope and courage while facing death,” says Doug Carver, U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains. Carver was promoted to major general in July. He is the first Southern Baptist to hold the position of chief of chaplains since Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Ivan L. Bennett held the post in 1954. Southern Baptists endorse 1,082 military chaplains. Remember to pray for our chaplains as they help our soldiers find healing in the midst of war, and pray that their faith would remain strong as well.
Did you know?
Nearly 11 million U.S. residents aren’t fluent in English, up from 6.6 million in 1990. If you engage these people in conversation you’ll find many of them would appreciate an opportunity to practice English with a native speaker. So, take a little time to share the love of Christ simply through conversation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Interested in church?
Are the unchurched interested in church? 38% are receptive or highly receptive to attending church. 82% say they would be open to attending church if a friend invited them. Unfortunately, only 21% of active church-going Christians invited someone to church last year.
Source: Lifeway Research
Reaching Muslims
With a 1.84% growth rate from 2000 to 2005 and 1.3 billion adherents, Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion. Chances are you know at least one Muslim family, but do you know what they believe or how to share Christ with them? To find out visit NAMB’s apologetics website www.4truth.net. God is doing amazing things among Muslims in North America. Visit the www.namb.net video gallery to find out how one NAMB missionary is reaching out to Muslims in his community.
Source: Time, June 11, 2007
68% of high school seniors say their top reason for going to youth group is their youth pastor.
Source: Fuller Seminary’s Center for Youth and Family Ministry
As young people transition from high school into the workforce or college life, they are faced with many choices—including whether or not to continue attending church. 70% of Protestants age 18 to 30 drop out of church before age 23, according to a recent survey by LifeWay Research. By age 30 about 34% had dropped out entirely. That means about one in four Protestant young people have left the church. Unfortunately, at many churches, when you graduate from high school there’s a lack of opportunity for connection within the church—a frustration felt by many young adults.
Why they leave
27% Wanted a break from church
26% Found church members judgmental or hypocritical
25% Moved to college
23% Tied up with work
22% Moved too far away from home church
22% Too busy
20% Felt disconnected to people at church
18% Disagreed with church’s stance on political/social issues
17% Spent more time with friends outside church
17% Only went before to please others
The good news is many of those who drop out do eventually return. Among church dropouts who are now ages 23-30, 35% currently attend church twice a month or more. Another 30% attend church more sporadically. About two-thirds of those who leave do return at some level. This return to church after being gone for at least a year is primarily the result of encouragement from others. 50% of those who return were influenced by the encouragement of family or friends. To learn more about the study and ideas on how churches can reverse this trend, visit www.lifeway.com/research.
Source: LifeWay Research