Barna Research Group reports that 31% of U.S. adults (10 million people) have not attended a Christian church service in the past 6 months. This is up from only 17% just 18 months earlier. The jump is attributed to growing numbers of Baby busters, men and non-white adults not attending church. This group is more common in the West and Northeast (40%) than in the South and Midwest (25%). Younger, politically liberal, and unmarried people are much more likely to be in this group. Interestingly, 40% of the unchurched people assert that their religious faith is very important and 62% call themselves Christian. 35% claim to have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important to them. Barna concludes the American public is saying, “Make Christianity accessible and practical or don’t expect their to participation.” (Pastor’s Weekly Briefing, 3/5/99)
http://www.garydfoster.com