Where Are the Children Coming From?
According to our research, the children being baptized are coming from both inside and outside the church. There is a fairly even distribution among the numbers from those in the church family (33%), regular attendees (38%), and those new to the church (29%). Whether the church is small, medium, large, or very large, there remains an even distribution. Regardless of the size of the congregation, community context, or type of program used to attract and minister to kids and their parents, effective children's evangelism almost equally reaches kids from church members, regular attenders, and those whose parents do not come to church services. For many, that is a "dicey" proposition-how do we reach the children of unchurched parents in a way that is sensitive, appropriate, and biblical. Many churches have found ways and many more still need to do so.

• Read full report: Not Just Playtime: Insights from Evangelistic Churches Reaching Children (pdf)

Research results released for the first time in the January/February edition of Facts & Trends magazine show one out of every four Protestant churches in the United States has virtually no involvement with the World Wide Web.

• Presbyterian churches are the major denominational group most likely to be using the Internet (92%).
• The current study shows 27% of all churches have no connectivity at all -- no staff e-mail, no Web site, and no Internet connection.
• Only half of all churches provide staff with e-mail, and just under half maintain a Web site.

• Download PowerPoint® Slides 

LAKE FOREST, Calif. (BP)--Chad Thompson began by telling his story.  “I remember sitting on my bed when I was in the fourth grade. I hadn’t even hit puberty yet, but I knew I was different,” said Thompson, author of “Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would” and a featured workshop speaker at the “Disturbing Voices” HIV/AIDS conference at Saddleback Church.