Switching Churches

[Mr. Steinway]

This was in The Tennessean newspaper this morning:

According to a study by Ellison Research, one-third of Protestants may switch churches in the future.

Of that group, one-fourth would consider only a church of the same denomination.

The median figure for attending the same church is 6.6 years. However, those denominations with less longevity among individual churchgoers have more active worshippers.

Pentecostal, Presbyterian and nondenominational churches are the least likely to show denominational loyalty, according to the study.

If the median amount of years attending the same church is 6.6 years, then it can be assumed that in Pentecostal churches the average years of loyalty is lower.

In my experience, the churches I've been involved in had a core group that was loyal, but we did have many that went out the back door as fast as they came through the front door.

Is this true at your church?

[Sister Truth Seeker]

This was in The Tennessean newspaper this morning:



If the median amount of years attending the same church is 6.6 years, then it can be assumed that in Pentecostal churches the average years of loyalty is lower.

In my experience, the churches I've been involved in had a core group that was loyal, but we did have many that went out the back door as fast as they came through the front door.

Is this true at your church?Interesting...but I don't know that I agree about the loyalty statement...I don't think this is anything new either...I think people that do attend church do for a lot of reasons, and not all of them are to have a relationship with God!!! Yes there are a certain number who just kind of pass through, that is one of the problems is getting people to stick...some are just shopping for the "Perfect" church which we all know does not exsist!

[Steve Epley]

I think when speaking of Pentecostal churches the spectrum to them is everyone as in AG to whatever. I will admit in some Pentecostal churches the turn over is large and shortlived. However in many churches there is the backbone that has been there throughout every trial and test for years. The oldest member is yet with us which makes nearly 50 years.

[freeatlast]

We have many with us that have been here over 25 years.
I have been where I am since 1991.

I was a part of my former church for over 20 years. i don't move around much.

The church I was in for 20 years was due in part to a pastor who taught very forcfully that ya just couldn't make heaven if ya left his congreagation.

Most other church's were called worldly. other churches were spoken evil of from the pulpit.

Fear kept most of us there, not loyalty.

[hammondb3klingon1]

There are 2 issues I see. 1. Pastor's come and go every 3-5 years in a lot of places. So, what message does that send to the saints?. 2. People looking for the perfect church will find it, for a perfect few Months, Days, Weeks, etc... There is a perfect church; God's Church!! The people will not be. Church hopping is a waste of the a saints time. I say get in a church where you know the preacher will be there for a while, he's committed, and love God, go to heaven, etc... If you have places like where Bro. Epley pastors, there will be stability in the saints because you have that in the pastor.

[hammondb3klingon1]

FreeatLast, I too came from the same background and almost the same amount of time. Did not leave because 1. I loved that ministry 2. When that ministry got out of the book, it took me a long time to leave because of fear.

[RevDWW]

FreeatLast, I too came from the same background and almost the same amount of time. Did not leave because 1. I loved that ministry 2. When that ministry got out of the book, it took me a long time to leave because of fear.

I thought Klingons weren't 'fraid a nuttin?

[hammondb3klingon1]

After researching the internet I found that Klingons are afraid of something called a tribble. I have not idea what that is, because quite frankly I have never seen that show:). But the picture on the internet shows the tribble and it looks like a hamster or fuzzy rat :) How funny kind of like the Elephant and mouse analogy

[Garfield]

Church hoppers by any other name are still church hoppers.

[SDG]

After researching the internet I found that Klingons are afraid of something called a tribble. I have not idea what that is, because quite frankly I have never seen that show:). But the picture on the internet shows the tribble and it looks like a hamster or fuzzy rat :) How funny kind of like the Elephant and mouse analogy

Mousey, mousey, mousey ... Victory shall be mine ... my over-sized rat ...

http://www.mindpulse.com/users/lizlady/images/V-STARTU.GIF

[hammondb3klingon1]

Father I stretch my hand toward the "Danster" right now and loose him of his evil ways. ... I realize that I am just spinning my wheels, but I had to try

[Margies3]

The other thing that has to figure into this is that we live in a very
'mobile' society today. People move from one location to another much more often now than they did a generation ago. When you move, you naturally have to change churches.

[The Mrs]

The other thing that has to figure into this is that we live in a very
'mobile' society today. People move from one location to another much more often now than they did a generation ago. When you move, you naturally have to change churches.

I would have to agree with this...

It seems people are out looking for jobs and will move to where the best job is...not just settle down into any old job where ever they happen to live.

[Neck]

This was in The Tennessean newspaper this morning:



If the median amount of years attending the same church is 6.6 years, then it can be assumed that in Pentecostal churches the average years of loyalty is lower.

In my experience, the churches I've been involved in had a core group that was loyal, but we did have many that went out the back door as fast as they came through the front door.

Is this true at your church?

I know this to be true. I attended a very large chuch UPCI for years until just recently. A couple of years ago they asked folks to stand. Then they asked folks to sit down as they called off each year.

When they got back to 1980 there was maybe 80 of us still left.

The church in 1980 ran 750.

Most of that church today is 95% folks post 1997.

Where are the other 30 or so thousand that have been baptized?

In many of the AG and independant churches in my area....

[Mr. Steinway]

I know this to be true. I attended a very large chuch UPCI for years until just recently. A couple of years ago they asked folks to stand. Then they asked folks to sit down as they called off each year.

When they got back to 1980 there was maybe 80 of us still left.

The church in 1980 ran 750.

Most of that church today is 95% folks post 1997.

Where are the other 30 or so thousand that have been baptized?

In many of the AG and independant churches in my area....

I went to the 50th anniversary of the church my father started last summer. The church was running about 350 back when I left for JCM in 1974. My father announced his resignation to start a new church in Tennessee my last service before leaving for college. They moved two months later.

Anyway...they had folks stand that were attending when my father was paster there. Only about ten people stood!!!!! I thought the fact that there were only that many left out of 350 pretty amazing!

What is your opinion about whether folks leave our Apostolic churchs for another Apostolic church, or whether they leave for a totally different denomination and doctrine?

[Mr. Steinway]

After researching the internet I found that Klingons are afraid of something called a tribble. I have not idea what that is, because quite frankly I have never seen that show:). But the picture on the internet shows the tribble and it looks like a hamster or fuzzy rat :) How funny kind of like the Elephant and mouse analogy

Pastor Tribble...Be afraid, be VERY afraid!! :killinme

[Neck]

I went to the 50th anniversary of the church my father started last summer. The church was running about 350 back when I left for JCM in 1974. My father announced his resignation to start a new church in Tennessee my last service before leaving for college. They moved two months later.

Anyway...they had folks stand that were attending when my father was paster there. Only about ten people stood!!!!! I thought the fact that there were only that many left out of 350 pretty amazing!

What is your opinion about whether folks leave our Apostolic churchs for another Apostolic church, or whether they leave for a totally different denomination and doctrine?

In the UPC they get tuned off and burned out. When many of the folks who look holy are so negative.

So they go off and attend AG or Independant churches.

Our area has hundreds of folks that attend several churhes on our area.

It's not the message of salvation.

It's the add on items that ministers think are truth...

[Blubayou]

Church hoppers by any other name are still church hoppers.

I have never understood the negative feeling toward people who switch churches. NO, I am not a church switcher- I have attended UPCI churches for 36 years and attended a total of 2 churches. But, why is it if someone changes churches for various reasons, we call them church hoppers. We are all part of a bigger Kingdom of God?????? Am I missing something?

[stmatthew]

I think we need to understand that a church will only grow spiritually as the Pastor grows spiritually. There are times when in order to grow, one must move on.

This really should not be the case, and if the 5 fold ministry was activated, functioning, and being used on a local church level, it would probably never be the case. But when you have Pastors who only use other Pastors for "revival meetings", then the congregation never gets the balanced diet of the full ministry, and is left imperfect, and often feels lack.

[Neck]

When the Church building is paid off. It's usually time to leave. The minister get's comfortable and starts to change.

Not sure what it is.... but it is the truth.

Just hope he adds on to the building and gets another mortgage.

He needs people to pay for the building.

[Mr. Steinway]

When the Church building is paid off. It's usually time to leave. The minister get's comfortable and starts to change.

Not sure what it is.... but it is the truth.

Just hope he adds on to the building and gets another mortgage.

He needs people to pay for the building.
You might be on to something here!

Keep our churches in deep debt so the pastor needs each and every tithes payer! I would bet the approbations would be hearty, and lots of positive sermons. :D

[stmatthew]

You might be on to something here!

Keep our churches in deep debt so the pastor needs each and every tithes payer! I would bet the approbations would be hearty, and lots of positive sermons. :D

Or lots of sermons on giving and tithing. :killinme

[philjones]

You might be on to something here!

Keep our churches in deep debt so the pastor needs each and every tithes payer! I would bet the approbations would be hearty, and lots of positive sermons. :D

Ya'll are both so carnal you stink all the way to Louisiana!:tease :tease

BTW... I like the logo you designed for yourself. You been playing much or has the weather been uncooperative? We have been having a lot of wind and rain and the play that has been possible has been difficult due to the 30+ mph winds. I shot an 87 the other day and was THRILLED! 5 irons from 110 yards! It was the worst wind I have ever played in and I am from Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping across the plains.