Christian Portal News

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India (MNN) — India’s decision to split Andhra Pradesh state into two plunged the state into chaos and the government into crisis. Dave Stravers of Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission India says it highlights the tensions between the ethnic and linguistic groups. However, protests erupted over the decision. “Many of our Children’s Bible Clubs and adult literacy classes in this region have not been meeting for the past two weeks. Normally, they meet every day. But when these things happen, people are fearful. They stay home. It really is a big obstacle to doing ministry when you have this kind of civil unrest.” There’s no telling when it will settle down. Their teams are anxious to get back out. Why? “The Telangana region of India has very fast church growth. We have many partners working in this region. It’s just a pretty typical situation where the Gospel is progressing in the midst of a great deal of uncertainty.” With rioting still in full force, Stravers says their director sent a plea. “He’s asking us to pray for peace: social and political peace.”

(author unknown) Bible, Church Growth, Gospel, India, People

Read the Full Article at Christian News

Violence continues plaguing Christians across India. Christians are the targets of violence on a weekly basis. Until now, Christians could only guess that they were being attacked because so many Hindus were turning to Christ. Now, there’s hard evidence, reports MNN.

President of Mission India of Grand Rapids, Michigan Dave Stravers says the evidence comes from hardline Hindu groups. “We [received] a power point presentation from a Hindu extremist group warning people in the state of Karnatak… >>

(author unknown) Church Growth, Cross, India, People

Read the Full Article at Mission Network News

India (MNN) — Violence continues plaguing Christians across India. Christians are the targets of violence on a weekly basis. Until now, Christians could only guess that they were being attacked because so many Hindus were turning to Christ. President of Mission India of Grand Rapids, Michigan Dave Stravers says now there is hard evidence from hardline Hindu groups. “We [received] a power point presentation from a Hindu extremist group warning people in the state of Karnataka that the Christians are growing so fast that they’re worried the state might actually become a majority Christian state.” Hindus also believe Andhra Pradesh could become Christian, and radicals are responding with violence. Just recently they attacked a pastor supported by Mission India. “About 11:30 in the morning, in the middle of the service, a group of approximately 50 men ran into the church wielding clubs. They ran up to the pulpit area and just began beating the pastor.” Pray that believers will remain strong in their faith and that the church will grow in the face of this type of persecution.

(author unknown) Church Growth, Cross, India, Pastor, People, Persecution

Read the Full Article at Mission Network News

Indonesia (MNN) — Indonesia continues to mourn the dead and the missing, following two devastating earthquakes measuring 7.6 and 6.6, respectively, on the Richter scale. Some believe up to 4,000 people are buried in the rubble. While the devastation pales in comparison to the 2004 earthquake and resulting tsunami, David Lu with AMG International says, “This is a wake-up call for us: we have to do something for our brothers and sisters who need Christ. This is a very good opportunity. I see it as the hand of God working in our world today. He Himself opens up opportunities for us to go inside a place that is very, very closed to the Gospel.” Lu says while this part of Indonesia is Muslim and antagonistic to the Gospel, AMG has work there. “We have church planting and also a child sponsorship program. We have to work as if we’re walking on a tight rope. We have to keep our balance. If not, they will just close churches. They can destroy churches.” Despite the threats, Lu says church growth is unstoppable. Pray that God will work to accomplish His purposes through the ministry of AMG in Indonesia.

(author unknown) Church Growth, God, Gospel, Indonesia, Muslim, People

Read the Full Article at Crosswalk.com - News

Almost two-thirds — 64 percent — of congregations that switched to contemporary worship in the last five years saw an increase in worship attendance of 2 percent or more.

Adelle M. Banks and Angela Abbamonte Church Growth, Music, Worship

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Shared by Kerygma

These churches are part of what researchers say is a worldwide shift toward evangelical faiths among Hispanics. Their popularity in the United States also underscores another cultural shift — that of immigrants taking on that all-American penchant to choose one’s own faith.

The trappings of the religion that dominates the Latin American culture in which these worshippers were raised — the Roman Catholic rosaries and golden chalices — give way to shouts and tambourines at this Pentecostal church in Southeast Raleigh. Congregants shake their hips and throw their heads back in praise for more than two hours.

aBetterWay Catholic, Church Growth, Cult, Culture, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Worship

Read the Full Article at www.mlive.com

In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, evangelical churches experienced a spike in attendance as people sought ancient truths in response to contemporary tragedy.

A more recent September event — the beginning of the economic downturn — has these churches seeing another, if less dramatic, rise in attendance.

Pastors from area evangelical churches say the worldwide economic meltdown has been one — but certainly not the only — factor contributing to an increase in attendance.

aBetterWay Church Growth, Evangelical, Pastor, People, Tragedy

Read the Full Article at sentinelsource.com

Shared by Kerygma

Its entire existence is a rebuke to the Christian right, a subset within evangelicalism that has been accused of politicizing and polarizing Christianity.

This is Amplify Church, a parish of young evangelicals in Colorado Springs, Colo., who just happen to worship in a bar where Miller Lite and Budweiser posters, not crosses, hang on the walls.

The pastor — forgoing suit and tie in favor of worn jeans, sandals and T-shirt — is as casual as the setting.

“All I want is a church full of people who are real,” the Rev. Dan MacFadyen, 26, told his 23 congregants at the Parrot that night.

aBetterWay Church Growth, Church Issues, Cross, Emergent Church, Evangelical, Evangelicals, Pastor, People, Worship

Read the Full Article at News2

Ken Johnson, Phantom Pew Sitter, sounds like the title of a dime novel. A “phantom pew sitter,” a title coined by Johnson, is a church’s answer to the secret shoppers who slip through retail stores to assess the sales staff and facility. Johnson, now retired, has been a church consultant, preacher, church business manager, church music director and held other pivotal roles. He’s booked this time of year. –

The Denver Post reports “The three most important times of the
year for churches are the Sunday before Christmas, Easter Sunday and
the Sundays in late July and August,” Johnson said.

“In summer, young couples with children have moved before
school starts and are trying to find a church. Most churches have a
tendency to lie back and relax in August. The pastor goes on vacation.
The choir takes a month off. But that’s the time when you need the real
service — the service people are going to be used to if they start
coming to church here.”

Johnson has his phantom pew sitter consulting service down to
a science. Before visiting a church, he checks its website and calls
its main number, at night, to hear the recorded message.

aBetterWay Business, Christmas, Church Growth, Church Issues, Easter, Music, Pastor, People, Santa, School, Science, Web

Read the Full Article at News2

Worship services may still be the USA’s most segregated hour, but fewer congregations are now completely white, finds a study comparing churches, synagogues and mosques last year with a decade ago. –

USA Today reports The study, in the journal Sociology of Religion, compared 1,505
congregations in 2006-07 with 1,234 in 1998. It was based on surveys by
the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.
Margin of error was plus or minus 2.5 percentage points for the 2006-07
data and 3 percentage points for 1998 data.

Worship is not only more diverse, it’s also “more informal and more
enthusiastic by every measure,” Chaves says, with more shouting,
clapping and hands raised overhead in praise. Use of drums in worship
jumped 70% in eight years, from 20% in 1998 to 34% in 2006-07. “We find
drums almost everywhere, even in Catholic and Jewish services,” he
says.

aBetterWay Catholic, Church Growth, Church Issues, Santa, Survey, University, Worship

Read the Full Article at News2

While tens of thousands of Americans have been laid off in recent months and religious leaders have blamed corporate greed for the economic crisis, churches have not seen a jump in attendance numbers as many might have expected, according to a new poll. –

The Christian Post reports Over the last three months, about 42 percent of Americans reported
that they attended church, synagogue, or mosque weekly or almost every
week, which the Gallup Poll found to be the same percentage reported
earlier in the year.

History has shown that a significant crisis usually results in
fuller pews, as was seen after the September 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks. During this latest crisis of economic challenges, some reports
have indicated that houses of worship have drawn larger crowds.

But while some churches have seen higher numbers, the recent
Gallup Poll found “absolutely no change” in church attendance after
reviewing almost 300,000 interviews Gallup conducted throughout this
year.

aBetterWay Church Growth, Church Issues, Financial, History, Santa, Survey, Worship

Read the Full Article at News2

As one-time leaders of the emergent movement have recently distanced themselves from the term, the network itself dropped its organizational leader. –

Christianity Today reports The decision of Emergent Village’s board of directors to eliminate its national coordinator position marked the latest sign that the movement is either decentralizing or disintegrating.

The decision leaves the future structure of emergent leadership
unclear. “We know how to run traditional organizations,” said Brian
McLaren, a board member and one of the group’s most prominent pastors.
“We don’t know how to run networks. [But we know] there’s a place for
leadership in networks.” McLaren says there have been ongoing questions
about the label itself. “For many people, the name emergent
has allowed them to remain in the evangelical world,” he said. For
others outside the conversation, he admitted, the name has become an
epithet for theological heresy or cultural trendiness.

aBetterWay Church Growth, Cult, Culture, Evangelical, Pastor, People, Santa, Theology, Web

Read the Full Article at News2

For the Southern Baptist Convention, 2008 was filled with bad news. –

USA Today reports Baptisms reached a 20-year low. Church
membership dropped, prompting fears the Nashville-based Baptist body
was on a downward slide. And its outgoing president warned that within
20 years, more than half of Southern Baptist churches could die off.

In response, the Baptists announced a new
national evangelism strategy called “God’s Plan for Sharing.” Nicknamed
“GPS,” the new strategy would spread the Gospel throughout the U.S. and
Canada by 2020, said Geoff Hammond, president of the North American
Mission Board.

But critics within the denomination say the new
initiative is in danger of failing. Some blame a lack of funding.
Others wonder if the mission board leadership is up to the task.

aBetterWay Baptist, Canada, Church Growth, Church Issues, Denominations, Evangelism, God, Gospel, Santa

Read the Full Article at News2

The Rev. Robert Chase, the founding director of Intersections, a multicultural and multifaith initiative of Collegiate, acknowledged that the church is “using a variety of techniques from the advertising world” to help disseminate “a sacred message.” –

The NY Times reports (with video) The most visible current campaign is an assertive effort from the
Collegiate Churches of New York, with a budget estimated at more than
$1 million. The campaign is being described as the first from the
church to use a variety of media, including television, print, posters
and the Internet (collegiatechurch.org).

The campaign’s theme is expressed in ads that carry headlines like
“You’re invited. So are your questions,” “Faith is a verb,” “You don’t
have to accept everything to be accepted” and “Diversity is what unites
us.”

aBetterWay Business, Church Growth, Church Issues, Cult, Evangelism, Internet, Santa

Read the Full Article at News2

It’s that time of year when millions of Canadians wonder about venturing into the church of their youth for a Christmas service. –

The Vancouver Sun [CA] reports The Canadians who are most likely to be feeling an unusual tug to again
try out church at Christmas — who have kept only a loose link to their
Christian identity– are typically mainline Protestants.  

Evangelicals, by contrast, have a higher rate of regular church attendance than mainline Protestants. And Catholics
seem more polarized about the church in which they were raised: They
either remain highly active in it, or they harshly reject it.

Mainline Protestants – such as members of the liberal United Church of Canada, as well as Anglicans, Lutherans and Presbyterians – tend to be in-betweeners.

aBetterWay Anglican, Canada, Catholic, Christmas, Church Growth, Church Issues, Culture, Evangelical, Evangelicals, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Santa, Unusual, Youth

Read the Full Article at News2

Like evangelical churches around the country, the three churches have enjoyed steady growth over the last decade. But since September, pastors nationwide say they have seen such a burst of new interest that they find themselves contending with powerful conflicting emotions — deep empathy and quiet excitement — as they re-encounter an old piece of religious lore: Bad times are good for evangelical churches. –

The NY Times reports A recent spot check of some large Roman Catholic parishes and
mainline Protestant churches around the nation indicated attendance
increases there, too. But they were nowhere near as striking as those
reported by congregations describing themselves as evangelical, a term
generally applied to churches that stress the literal authority of
Scripture and the importance of personal conversion, or being “born
again.”

Part of the evangelicals’ new excitement is rooted in
a communal belief that the big Christian revivals of the 19th century,
known as the second and third Great Awakenings, were touched off by
economic panics. Historians of religion do not buy it, but the notion
“has always lived in the lore of evangelism,” said Tony Carnes, a
sociologist who studies religion.

aBetterWay Catholic, Church Growth, Church Issues, Conversion, Culture, Evangelical, Evangelicals, Evangelism, Financial, MegaChurches, Pastor, Santa

Read the Full Article at News2

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the poorest Catholic congregation in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and one of the poorest in the state, church officials said. It is made up largely of Latino farmworkers often living in ramshackle trailer parks dotting the eastern Coachella Valley. There is also a large contingent of Purepechas, indigenous people from the Mexican state of Michoacan, who attend. –

The LA Times reports Despite the poverty, Lucas launched an ambitious fundraising effort two years ago for a new church.

But
in a place where annual incomes often fall under $10,000, where
unemployment is rife and where Lucas says the average parishioner drops
about $3 a week into the collection plate, the odds were against him.

Then
the money began trickling in. It arrived in crumpled envelopes: a
dollar here, two dollars there, a fistful of change. In one case a
woman brought in a bag of dates.

“She said, ‘Father Lucas, I
have no money. Sell these dates and use the money to build the church,’
” Lucas said. “If she came with a bag of dates, then I will use the
dates to build a church.”

That spirit soon infected others.

aBetterWay Catholic, Church Growth, Church Issues, Easter, Immigration, People, Santa

Read the Full Article at News2

The 80,000-square-foot behemoth is Wave Church’s new worship center, an $18 million complex with a 2,500-seat, high-tech auditorium and a bookstore, cafe and coffee bar. –

The Virginian-Pilot reports (with video) What it intentionally doesn’t have, inside or out, are any of the
symbols – steeple, bell tower, stained glass, even a cross – that
traditionally say “church” to the public.

“I just don’t think that’s what people are looking for in the 21st
century,” said the Rev. Steve Kelly, senior pastor of the evangelical
church since 1999. “I was looking for something more corporate,
something more contemporary.”

aBetterWay Books, Church Growth, Church Issues, Cross, Evangelical, MegaChurches, Pastor, People, Santa, Worship

Read the Full Article at News2

The pioneering project has been going for just over a year now. It is run by volunteers from many different denominations every Friday night from 10.30pm till about 4.00am. –

Christian Today reports Gitana Street is a back street during the day time, but at nights it
is a hub of activity because there are several night clubs along here
and so many people come past the church on their way to and from
different clubs.

Just over a year ago, Gordon and the team started off monthly and
opened their doors from 10.30pm until about 2.00am, but the response
and the needs have been so huge that they have had to start going
weekly and extended the time to 4.00am. As the Bible says, ‘the harvest
truly is plentiful’.

“Hospitality has always been key to the initiative,” said Gordon.
“We have welcomed all kinds of people: asylum seekers, people sleeping
rough, clubbers and older people who are in the city at night just
wanting something to do or someone to talk to. People come in just for
tea or coffee or for prayer or to talk and ask questions about matters
of faith.”

And lives are being changed, he notes.

aBetterWay Bible, Church Growth, Church Issues, Denominations, Evangelism, People, Prayer, Santa

Read the Full Article at News2

The winter vegetable crop being harvested on the small farm run by All Saints serves a practical purpose: to help feed the 70 or so refugees from the Karen province of Myanmar who worship at the Rutherford County, Tenn. church. But it’s also a sign of hope for this Middle Tennessee congregation whose declining membership hampered its ability to pay bills and threatened its very existence until the refugees arrived. –

the Nashville Tennessean reports Michael Williams, the volunteer manager of the farm, believes God used the farm and the refugees to save All Saints.

“It’s a classic example of the Advent story,”
Williams said. “We could not find God, but God found us. In this case,
he appeared to us in the form of 70 people who came from Myanmar.”

Eight months ago, the future of All Saints
looked grim. It had been limping along since a 2006 church split, when
the rector and most of the congregation left to join the Convocation of
Anglicans in North America, one of several conservative rivals to the
Episcopal Church.

The remaining 20 or so church members left behind couldn’t afford to pay the mortgage on their building.

aBetterWay Anglican, Church Growth, Church Issues, Episcopal, God, People, Saints, Santa, Scism, Worship