03/29/2024
Thoughts While Shaving
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The list of Democratic presidential candidates continues to shrink and the list may shrink more, and soon. One of the latest, former NY Mayor Bloomberg, decided if a half billion does not get the job done, maybe it’s time to halt the campaign … and he did.

Time changes this weekend. Move your time pieces forward 1 hour before ‘retiring’ for the evening, Saturday … will want to be to church on time … or meet the folks at the ‘smart shop’ for a cup of coffee … ‘on time’.

Many church congregations are facing difficult times. Business North Carolina magazine has a timely article in the latest edition … “Fate of the faithful” … and begins with “Religion’s declining influence forces N.C. spiritual leaders to rethink their institutions’ roles”. Author Edward Martin quotes a prominent leader in the state, “Over the next 20 years, I think 25% of the churches in North Carolina will close their doors or replant as very different congregations.” John Butler, director of business services of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, was quoted as saying “new generations are opting for a spirituality distinct from the small, close-knit congregation that have played a vital role in the state since its inception”

Other prominent religious leaders agree. … The writer list several churches state-wide that are for sale, priced from a few thousand dollars to one in an urban area offered for sale for $2.5 million.

“A decade ago, more than half of Tar Heels attended service weekly, a figure that has decreased to 38%. Membership in religious organizations nationally has dropped 20% since 1999”, and no denomination is exempt, all included in the article.

So what happens next? To be determined. … Must be a hundred or more churches in Bladen County, some have closed, some will close. … To be perfectly clear, many will survive, some will hopefully thrive … but church as we have known over the years will likely be different … and the change is occurring now…

I am from ‘old school’ with the ‘mindset’ that church grounds are ‘holy ground’. Future churches are likely to be a building that offers a place to worship, and to provide other needs for the congregation and others outside the close knit group, even share with businesses…

Good, thought provoking article. I recommend it … And it’s not just churches in metro areas, changes in urban and rural areas are facing similar situations. … Bet you. as I. have heard, ‘the building is not the church’. … Change is here for many, others strugglin’, as they attempt to deal with the issue.

Church signs…

Let’s meet at my house Sunday before the game … God.

Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up.

Wrinkled With Burdens? Come to Church for a Faith Lift.

robert g hester
rgh4612@gmail.com
910-876-2322

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