If you haven't checked church attendance stats recently you may be in for a shock or a laugh or possibly both. While the subject of church attendance isn't actually funny the reality of the situation is. Here's what I mean: Close to 40% of Americans claim that they attend church regularly. Actual statistics, however, indicate otherwise. This means that of the 40% that claim to attend church regularly - many (almost half) are, um, well...They're lying. Or maybe they're confused; perhaps some think they are attending church when they really aren't. Either way, there's a problem. If a Christian is lying then they aren't a really a Christian. If a Christian thinks they are attending church regularly and they aren't they may indeed be in need of prayer - or a reality check. Or both.
Church attendance (weekly) in France and the U.K. is around 12%. In the U.K., however, attendance seems to be dropping about 1% a year. Several northern European nations have regular church attendance below 5%. Perhaps more surprising is the statistic that in many nations the percentage of people who NEVER attend church is greater than the percentage of people who do regularly attend.
I am Pentecostal by heritage. At its best - a good Pentecostal church is hard to beat. Sadly, a good Pentecostal church is quite challenging to find. Revival is rare, miracles are uncommon, finding people that are still receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is unusual... And this is in Pentecostal churches. Many churches with lesser emphasis on the miraculous must be suffering from dreary nothingness. I recall reading of one pastor who was fanatical about having live foliage and flowers in his church building. When pressed for a reason he finally admitted, "It's so I can say that everything in here is not dead!"
I still believe that America needs revival in a great, transforming way. I believe that we need more services like 'the Toronto blessing' and more revivals like Brownwood, Texas experienced in the mid '90's. More repentance, more baptisms - both of water and Spirit.
When we become willing to let God revive us - we will find that church attendance will skyrocket. Revival, you see, heals all.
A final word... I'm told that in the U.K. many years ago ministers came together for what was called the Keswick week. It was a week of prayer and ministry; together many ministers banded together to seek a revival from God. During the course of one meeting, a spectacular move of the Holy Spirit occurred. It did not come as some of the ministers wanted, however, and the actions of a few that experienced the power of God were mocked and quenched. The ministers at Keswick week mocked the birth of what they had gathered for! We must be careful that when God moves we accept with grateful hearts what God is doing in our midst.
If we do not experience revival in our churches soon our dwindling attendance may prevent us from experiencing meaningful revival at all.
For more information on Jonathan please visit his little spot on the web, JonathanMilam.com
Church attendance (weekly) in France and the U.K. is around 12%. In the U.K., however, attendance seems to be dropping about 1% a year. Several northern European nations have regular church attendance below 5%. Perhaps more surprising is the statistic that in many nations the percentage of people who NEVER attend church is greater than the percentage of people who do regularly attend.
I am Pentecostal by heritage. At its best - a good Pentecostal church is hard to beat. Sadly, a good Pentecostal church is quite challenging to find. Revival is rare, miracles are uncommon, finding people that are still receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is unusual... And this is in Pentecostal churches. Many churches with lesser emphasis on the miraculous must be suffering from dreary nothingness. I recall reading of one pastor who was fanatical about having live foliage and flowers in his church building. When pressed for a reason he finally admitted, "It's so I can say that everything in here is not dead!"
I still believe that America needs revival in a great, transforming way. I believe that we need more services like 'the Toronto blessing' and more revivals like Brownwood, Texas experienced in the mid '90's. More repentance, more baptisms - both of water and Spirit.
When we become willing to let God revive us - we will find that church attendance will skyrocket. Revival, you see, heals all.
A final word... I'm told that in the U.K. many years ago ministers came together for what was called the Keswick week. It was a week of prayer and ministry; together many ministers banded together to seek a revival from God. During the course of one meeting, a spectacular move of the Holy Spirit occurred. It did not come as some of the ministers wanted, however, and the actions of a few that experienced the power of God were mocked and quenched. The ministers at Keswick week mocked the birth of what they had gathered for! We must be careful that when God moves we accept with grateful hearts what God is doing in our midst.
If we do not experience revival in our churches soon our dwindling attendance may prevent us from experiencing meaningful revival at all.
For more information on Jonathan please visit his little spot on the web, JonathanMilam.com
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