What did YOU do this weekend?

Church attendance is highest in the South (39 percent), followed by the Midwest (31 percent), then the East (28 percent) and the West (23 percent), according to a recent Gallup Poll. The poll also found that nearly one third of Americans claim to attend a place of worship regularly. Respondents were asked how often they attended their "church or synagogue." The poll found that the majority (41 percent) attend occasionally while the smallest group (13 percent) included those who attend almost every week.

Source: Gallup Week in Review, September 12-18, 1999.

"Films and sports are two of the most prominent shared cultural reference points. Leaders ignore both at their peril."

Leonard Sweet

Source: Aqua Church, Essential Leadership Arts for Piloting Your Church in Todays Fluid Culture, Group Publishing, 1999. For examples of how both sports and films can be used evangelistically, see "Super Bowl party", "Minding your peas and cucumbers" and the review of The Prince of Egypt video.

According to a recent study by UCLA, its more important than ever to give American teensespecially teen girlssome real hope by telling them about Christ. The study found that girls in their late teens are at a high risk for major depression and remain vulnerable for several years after high school. The study followed 155 senior girls for five years after graduation. It found that 47 percent reported one or more episodes of major, clinical depression.

Chad Childress, of the Student Evangelism Unit at the North American Mission Board, told On Mission: "Depression after high school is no surprise because many high school students place their whole identity in friendships and relationships that cease to exist after high school. The realization of hopelessness then sets in and they become confused about life and the future. That is where true hope comes in. They must understand hope is found in a Person not any material, tangible item or any earthly friendship. It is found only in Jesus Christ."

Source: "Teen girls depression hits hardest away from home," by Karen Peterson, USA Today, June 24, 1999; Student Evangelism, NAMB.

While parents are extremely anxious about the Internet content their children are seeing, many lack the time, understanding and tools to help their children develop discerning Web skills, according to the latest Pathfinder Study released by Arbitron NewMedia.

A new Gallup poll on education found that recent school shootings have generated fears among parents. The poll found that nearly half of parents (47 percent) fear for their childrens safety at school. Rural parents are more likely to be afraid (54 percent) than those in urban (46 percent) or suburban (44 percent) school districts. Parents in the South are more likely to be afraid (56 percent) than parents from any other region.

"Every parent has a reason for concern," Richard Leach, manager of the Family Evangelism Unit at the North American Mission Board, told On Mission. "But concern doesnt mean we have no hope. For instance, families in Arkansas have taken to praying around a campus prior to the start of the school day. Parents must be wise, but their attitudes in their communities and homes must not be anxiety but confidence in God."

Source: Gallup Week in Review, September 5-11, 1999; Family Evangelism Unit, NAMB.

With 1.99 billion self-professed Christians and a projected 2 billion plus in the year 2000, more people profess to be Christians than any other religious worldview.

Islam came in second with 1.19 billion. Hindus with 774 million were third followed closely by people who claim to have no religion, 768 million. Buddhists number 359 million.

Source: "Christians to number more than 2 billion worldwide in 2000," Baptist Messenger, May 6, 1999.

Looking for ways to help people realize that science isnt a block to belief but a stepping stone to point the way. According to contemporary scientists, the very science that "killed" God is restoring faith as science stumbles onto signs that the cosmos seems custom-designed for life and consciousness. Listen to these scientists:

"It was my science that drove me to the conclusion that the world is much more complicated than can be explained by science. It is only through the supernatural that I can understand the mystery of existence."

Allan Sandage, astronomer

"Science may not serve as an eyewitness of God the Creator, but it can serve as a character witness."

W. Mark Richardson, Center for Theology and Natural Sciences

"When you realize that the laws of nature must be incredibly fine-tuned to produce the universe we see, that conspires to plant the idea that the universe did not just happen, but that there must be a purpose behind it."

John Polkinghorne, physicist

Source: "Science finds God," by Sharon Begley, Saturday Evening Post, January/February 1999.