Did you know?

Question

That 96% of unchurched people would go if they were invited?
Read this poll on this website - it is interesting.
And was asked to non-Christians!
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bcl/areas/missions/articles/102704.html

Answer 1

Did you know...
Church Attendance:
1. Church attendance is the number-one predictor of marital stability. (Journal of Marriage and the Family, 40)
2. Attending church is helpful in the prevention of cancer, heart disease, and mental illness. (National Institute of Healthcare Research in America, June 2000)
3. Teens who attend church are four-times less likely to commit suicide. (Journal of Chronic Disease, 25)
4. People who attend church are more likely to remain married and have a better sex-life. (David Larson, National Institute of Mental Health)
5. Church attendees stay half as long during hospital stays. (Duke University)
6. Those attending church are five-times less likely to require antibiotics. (Southern Medical Journal, July 1998)
7. There is lower blood pressure among men who attend church versus those who do not. (Duke University)
8. There's an additional average life expectancy of seven years. (Demography, May 1999)
9. People attending church report a 50% higher weekly average family income. (UCLA School of Medicine)
10. Church-goers have fewer heart attacks than non-church-goers. (David Larson, National Institute of Mental Health)
11. Those who attend religious services in their youth have about $11,000 more in yearly income by their early 30's. (UCLA School of Medicine)
12. Cities with high church attendance have the lowest crime rates. (Crime, Values and Religion, 1987)
13. People attending church are physically healthier and less depressed. (The American Medical News. 3/4/96)
14. Alcohol abuse is 300% less for those who attend church. (UCLA School of Medicine)
15. Church attendance moves the underprivileged out of poverty and into the middle class. (Why Religion Matters: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability. The Heritage Foundation)

Answer 2

I suspect that the percentage given is a little high.

It depends upon where, and how the person is invited.

* A flyer in the mail saying "Visit us on Easter Sunday?" Probably not;
* A casual conversation at a booth at a street fair? Flip a coin;
* Somebody you don't know, knocking on the door? Probably not;
* A coworker, who talks about their Christianity off the job? Possibly;
* A coworker who talks about their Christianity on the job? No.way;
* A neighbour? Possibly;

The difference I am making here, is that the person who asks, has to be somebody who has already earned both the trust and right to ask that individual to the church.

Now, if you want statistics that might shock you:
i) Divide the number of people in your church, that have _converted_ to Christ within the last year, by the number of people in your church. [Confirmations, and baptisms from families in the church don't count here.]
ii) Divide the number of people who joined your church in the last year, coming from other churches, by the number of people in your church;
iii) Divide the number of new converts to your church, by the number of people who joined, from other churches;
iv) Compare those figures with the change in size of the local population;

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For the person that thinks that not getting invited is an excuse.

It isn't.

You might know that only the cantor reads the lines in italics, but does that strange women sitting by herself know that?

For a person used to a service at a liturgical church, a non-liturgical service can be confusing. For a person coming from a non-liturgical denomination, a liturgical service can be very confusing.

As one priest explained to me. There is a difference between the way a practicing Catholic, a lapsed Catholic, and a non-Catholic approach for communion. The practicing Catholic I gladly give communion to. The lapsed Catholic may have the communion. Having to convey to the Non-Catholic that they won't get communion, without embarrassing them, is both painful, and difficult.

Without somebody to help guide them thru the service, a person could easilly, and unintentionaly do something "wrong". How the congregation reacts to them doing that "wrong" thing, will affect future attendence, or even conversion --- if that is the goal.

I would seriously suggest you study all three volumes of _How to Be A Perfect Stranger_. The differences in expected, and acceptable behaviour at different worship services is considerable.

Answer 3

Just because people would go to church if invited, doesn't mean they'd believe anything taught in the church. Am I supposed to accept that a donkey talked and a virgin got pregnant by having sex with a ghost just because I step inside a church building? Maybe I'm only going for the potluck dinner!

Answer 4

why do you feel the need to invite everyone into your church? Why cant folks be free to go anywhere? In fact it may do evengelicals some good to go spend time in other churches for a while to get exposed to some other ideas once in a while.

Answer 5

Did you know that most of the people that are invited to church, always have an excuse not to go. So there goes your poll.
I attend church regularly, and go on visitation with my church, we invite people constantly and they all say no, or i'll think about it.
I am out there inviting people to church. your poll is totally wrong.

Answer 6

What an excuse. You DON'T have to be invited to church. That is like saying, "I would breathe if someone told me to."

Answer 7

wow, i really didn't know that. but i guess its not surprising, church people are so tight knit it would be awkward to go alone. this is why we christians have to start inviting people to church. think of it this way, you are not just inviting them to church, but to god.

Answer 8

i'm guessing about 50% of those people were trying to be polite to the questioner but were lying thru their teeth...or, maybe that's my cynical side coming out

Answer 9

I think I would go if i was invited

Answer 10

That # sounds very very high. I don't take polls anything like accurate anyway.