What draws people to church? Poll has insights

What draws people to church? Poll has insights – BWCUMC.org | Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church



Barna Poll Methodology

Barna’s Seeker Study used a national, random and representative sample of 406 young adults across the United States, drawn from an online panel. Individuals on the panel were screened to identify people who met the criteria of a seeker.



To be considered a seeker, a person must be: currently ages 18 to 34, not affiliated with The United Methodist Church, not an active churchgoer (infrequent church attendance) or not committed to a church (frequent church attendance).



The person also needed to answer “yes” to at least four of the following statements:

• Searching for meaning and purpose
• Something feels missing from your life
• Have emotional pain or frustration that you’d like to resolve
• A spiritual person
• Seeking something better spiritually in life
• On a quest for spiritual truth
• Want to have a difference with your life
• Have a passion for social justice
• Contribute to the common good of your community

Barna weighted the sample by gender and region to be nationally representative. Research took place Nov. 26-Dec. 7, 2015. The margin of error is 4.7 percentage points, and the survey has a 95 percent confidence level. Barna estimates the survey findings represents 20-25 million Americans, about one-tenth of the U.S. adult population.

To see complete study

Church: Can We Get Over Ourselves?

Great Article by Elaine Heath. I believe this is where the conversation on the future of the church needs to be. The article does not cover every detail and nuance but it is great for a conversation starter. So start the conversation, share your views. Church: Can We Get Over Ourselves?

Preaching As Though We Had Enemies by Stanley Hauerwas | Articles | First Things

I decided that I needed to share with you this powerful article by Stanley Hauerwas. In Church we were talking about our need as followers of Jesus to cause trouble in the world, as Hauerwas puts it: "...may we preach so truthfully that people will call us terrorists." Living out the faith in the subversive Jesus should leave a profound mark in the world we live. Enjoy it!

Preaching As Though We Had Enemies by Stanley Hauerwas | Articles | First Things

A wonderful meditation from one of the members of Trinity United Methodist Church in Frederick, MD. We have been doing the study written by Mike Slaughter: "Christmas Is Not Your birthday."

Enjoy it!!

Dear Prayer Warriors

Thank you for all your prayers for our church.  The atmosphere at Trinity has been building  in intensity from an exciting autumn with a successful stewardship drive and a fabulous Operation Christmas  Child  to The fourth week of Advent.  This week culminates in the birth of Jesus, the Messiah and Redeemer for all mankind. This is a time of jubilation for all Christians.  However, we all know there is a secular, cultural side of Christmas which sometimes threatens to overwhelm
the religious celebration.

Our author Slaughter reminds us that Christmas is not our birthday.  It is Jesus' birthday.  Thus His wishes should be a Christian's concern.  And Christ made His wishes known in Scripture:

"In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven."   Matthew 5: 16

Or  "And the crowds asked him, 'What shall we do?' "And He answered them, 'Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none and whoever has food is to do likewise.' " Luke 3: 10-11

God gave us the greatest gift--Jesus, who came to redeem us.  Then Jesus taught us how to live in His way.  That is, we are to do His work on earth before we take the place He saved for us in Heaven.  That is the gift He asked of us, for His birthday and all days.  Let your Advent celebration include Christ's gift--  help for those in need.

Prayer-- Dear Lord, we praise you and rejoice in your sending Your greatest gift of all: Your Son.  In addition we thank you for providing abundance in our lives.  In our joy of celebrating Our Redeemer's birth, let us remember your wishes for us.  Help us to love you by loving the least of these in tangible ways this Christmas.  Please bless the poor, the oppressed, and the sick at this time.  Give our world leaders wisdom in their decisions;  let them benefit the world.  In Jesus' name we pray.

"Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do.  Expect unexpected things above all that we ask or think."      Andrew Murray

"He has told you, O Mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."      Micah 6: 8

Teaching the Truth About America's History: Only the Truth Can Make Us Free | Marian Wright Edelman

Powerful article on the importance of teaching a history that is going to bring truthful information to our children and to our people. Do not let those who want only to focus on the positive, and triumphalistic aspects of our history to high-jack our right to know and understand the truth about OUR history. As you know history is a complex compilation of our past experiences and the drama of the lives that lived through it. Read and share.

Teaching the Truth About America's History: Only the Truth Can Make Us Free | Marian Wright Edelman

Prayer warrior message no. 4 - valentin.castanon@gmail.com - Gmail

At my current appointment in Frederick, MD, we are having our stewardship campaign using a new resource prepared by Jim Harnish. As part of that program we have a team of folks leading our church in prayer as we study Wesley's use of money: Earn. Save. Give. Here is the meditation #4. Enjoy it!



Dear Prayer Warriors



Thank you for your continuing prayers for our Trinity's Annual Commitment to Ministry.  I am invigorated with the thought of our prayers ascending daily to God's attention. We know he hears and ANSWERS prayers.  A successful campaign will be so exciting.  So keep those daily prayers coming.



The topic-- EARN, SAVE, GIVE-- from John Wesley's sermon ("The Use Of Money") is the focus of the campaign for the month of October. His sermon focused on wise management of money and putting it to the best, most Christian use.   Peter Storey said, "By far the most important element of Wesley's engagement with social issues was his development of a Gospel-shaped behavior toward money and riches that was predicated on his commitment to the poor."  The wisdom involved in managing money was a strong emphasis for those early Methodists and provides us a good example.  Harnish reminds us "How we use our money is no small matter.  It goes all the way to the heart of our relationship with God and our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ."



Prayer--Dear Lord, thank you for all the love and kindness you so abundantly bestow on us.  Help us to be good stewards of your bounty.  Open our hearts to the urgent needs of others.  Move us to provide for those needs through our campaign for the ministries.  Be with all those around the world in need of your help, the Christians, the refugees, the poor and sick everywhere.   Give us the loving and giving hearts you deserve. Help us to remember that through your love, you gave us your son to ensure our salvation.  In His name we pray.



"The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity.  If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!"

                                                                              J. Hudson Taylor



"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"  Acts 20:35

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: U.S. Territories (HBO)

Excellent report from John Oliver about the reality of the colonial status of U.S. territories. Watch and share.