Category: Illustrations and Research

Stories, news events, testimonies, history and more.

Catholics Desire Pentecost

MIAMI HERALD – 2/6/2000 Headline:   “CATHOLIC CHURCH ADJUSTS, Leaders seek new members:” I quote: “Life for us has to change” “In South Florida, Catholics continue to lose many Hispanics & Hatians to the tamborine-thumping, foot-tapping, bear-hugging ferver of small charismatic churches [including Pentecostals]”!!! “Internationally, Protestant churches are gaining ground in Catholic strongholds.   There… Continue reading Catholics Desire Pentecost

When Should Denominations Plant Churches?

AT WHAT LEVEL SHOULD DENOMINATIONS BE INVOLVED IN STARTING NEW CONGREGATIONS? By George W. Bullard, Jr. The executive director of a regional denominational organization felt proud of the work his executive leaders did over the past year. They had identified and implemented three key leverage strategies that should significantly increase their ability to help their… Continue reading When Should Denominations Plant Churches?

Church Gains New Life with Outreach

Several outreaches have brought new life to a Wyoming church that almost closed its doors five years ago because only a few people attended the congregation. According to the Assemblies of God (AG) News, New Life Assembly of God in Buffalo, located in the north central part of Wyoming, now has a vibrant congregation of… Continue reading Church Gains New Life with Outreach

Positive Growth for Small Churches

By Jim Czegledi How do traditional mainline churches attract new generations of believers when they are not mega-style, seeker-driven churches? The answer does not always lie in new or radical models of ministry, but in a rediscovery of the type of ministry that has served the church for many years. A sense of piety and… Continue reading Positive Growth for Small Churches

Mega Churches Change to Survive

America’s Megachurches Are Reinventing Themselves to Continue Growth Some observers predict that in the next decade a church in the United States will hit the 50,000-member threshold by Leigh DeVore The number of megachurches–congregations numbering 2,000 or more–nearly doubled during the 1990s to an estimated 500 today, “The Los Angeles Times” reported last week. These… Continue reading Mega Churches Change to Survive

Church Goers Live Longer

A national study to be published next month in “Demography” magazine says those who worship regularly at a church or synagogue live 10 percent longer than those who don’t attend services. The report, called “Religious Involvement and U.S. Adult Mortality,” says life expectancy for weekly churchgoers is 82, and 83 for those who attend more… Continue reading Church Goers Live Longer

Churches Don’t Answer Phones

God may be calling sinners, but His people are not answering when they go looking for help. A nationwide telephone survey failed to make contact with a real person at 40 percent of churches, despite repeated callbacksCup to a dozen times. Only half of those churches in which no one picked up the phone had… Continue reading Churches Don’t Answer Phones

Religion Important to Americans

According to a survey of 5,916 Americans conducted by the Brand Futures Group of Young and Rubicam, 54 percent of respondents said “religion plays an important part in my life.” The report also noted that religion is popping up in everything from tattoos to teen-age apparel to the popular “What Would Jesus Do?” merchandise. “The… Continue reading Religion Important to Americans

Church Offers ‘Express Worship’ Service

Church Offers ‘Express Worship’ Service for People Too Busy for God Fast faith initiative draws newcomers but offends other pastors by Andy Butcher A Florida church has come up with a novel way of reaching out to those who have no time for God–an express worship service. Family Bible Church in Eustis guarantees its 9… Continue reading Church Offers ‘Express Worship’ Service