Quitting chruch?

“In Vancouver, regular church attendance, for the committed, is ‘every other Sunday’” said Jim Packer (who wrote “Knowing God” and many other great Christian books) in a meeting I had with him at Regent College some fifteen years ago. Since then, as I travel across Canada, I hear about this spreading trend from church leaders at most every conference I speak at. Last year in Oshawa, Ontario, a friend who is the Pastor of a large congregation, said: “David, I am concerned. My church attendance numbers are going down steadily - but I have not lost anyone. I cannot count on my people coming to church as faithfully as they once did”. While ministering at a conference in one of the largest and most vibrant churches in Edmonton, Alberta, the Senior Pastor, who is a wonderful leader and Christian statesman, made this comment: “Today if I want all my people at an event I need to announce it strongly and creatively for eight consecutive weeks. If we only draw attention to it for four Sundays then only have half the people will come. They are just not in church every Sunday any more”. Recently in Vancouver, BC, I met with a friend who is a lay leader and on the board of his home church who lamented that “most of our friends not only are seldom in church today but a large number, who were once very committed and involved, no longer attend any church at all”. Statistics Canada bears this out. Those who indicated not attending any place of worship is a growing national trend.
Many people today are "Quitting Church" so in my next blogs I want to talk about Canadian congregations that are growing and “bucking this trend” and discuss solutions.

David Arrol Macfarlane ministry update
Please pray that new doors will continue to open for us to minister in churches and at conferences. Pray that I will be a help and encouragement to all who attend the many events I will be speaking to in the months ahead.

View this four minute promo video on the Cross the Street conference in
Ontario(http://www.billygraham.ca/ministries/training/cross-the-street.aspx).

View this three minute message: http://www.youtube.com/user/davidarrolmacfarlane

Some upcoming speaking engagements are: Fellowship Baptists national convention in Banff; Peace Portal Alliance Church in BC; Napanee city wide event; Christian Camping Association convention in FL; at REconneXions seminars in MB (http://www.billygraham.ca/ministries/training/reconnexion.aspx)and many more


Every blessing,
David Arrol Macfarlane
arrol.mac@hotmail.com
Cell. 519 503 8380
Website: davidamacfarlane.com