Pastors take note: Americans believe they make more new friends in sports bars and restaurants rather than your churches.
A survey of nearly 800 people, of whom more than three-quarters identified themselves as Christians, reveals that only 16 percent believe their church is "their favorite place to meet new friends."
"Our churches are losing ground to other venues for people-to-people connections," says Jon Vaughan, corporate marketing director of Group Publishing, the Colorado-based firm specializing in church resources, which commissioned the poll. "Since the Internet has become an integral element of our daily lives, pastors and church leaders must be more creative in facilitating social networking -- both face-to-face and through the web."
But the survey also found that while people may meet more new friends in a sports bar, the church is still seen as the friendlier place in general.
-- Group Publishing
Baptist group to pass out Bible CDs
The Baptist General Convention of Texas, the largest state Baptist group in the nation, is aiming to give a CD of Bible passages to every household in Texas – about 9 million of them.
According to wire reports, the multimedia, multilingual CD contains audio of key Bible passages, a downloadable version of the New Testament, video testimonials, and more.
The group is looking to reach every household by April 4.
Survey Says
Among all regions, the Middle East-North Africa has the highest government and social restrictions on religion, while the Americas are the least restrictive region.
Among the world's 25 most populous countries, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and India stand out as having the most restrictions when taking into account government actions, policies and laws and hostile acts by private individuals, organizations and social groups.
Brazil, Japan, the United States, Italy, South Africa and the United Kingdom have the least restrictions.
-- Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
Good Book?
“Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People” by Dorothy C. Bass
An updated edition of the down-to-earth resource that offers 12 practices to make Christian faith a way of life.
Many Christians are looking for ways to deepen their relationship with God by practicing their faith in everyday life. This best-selling guide helps take belief out of the realm of theory and shows how to live it out in a series of central practices such as hospitality, forgiveness, healing, testimony and keeping Sabbath.
