Growing Number of Americans Love Jesus but Don't Go to Church, Barna Finds

While an increasing number of Americans are reportedly abandoning the institutional church and its defined boundary markers of religious identity, many Americans still believe in God and practice faith outside its walls, a new Barna study has found.

Barna has released a report on the first of a two-part exploration of faith and spirituality outside the church, looking at the "fascinating segment of the American population who, as the saying goes, 'love Jesus but not the church.'"

One-tenth of the population comprises those who self-identify as Christian and who strongly agree that their religious faith is very important in their life, but are "dechurched," meaning they have attended church in the past, but haven't done so in the last six months or more, the Barna study says, adding that only seven percent of the population belonged to this category in 2004.

More than 60 percent of the people in this group are women, and 80 percent are not millennials, between the ages of 33 and 70.

"This group also appears to be mostly white (63%) and concentrated in the South (33%), Midwest (30%) and West (25%), with very few hailing from the Northeast (13%)," the study reveals.

"This group represents an important and growing avenue of ministry for churches," says Roxanne Stone, editor in chief of Barna Group. "Particularly if you live in a more churched area of the country, it's more than likely you have a significant number of these disaffected Christians in your neighborhoods. They still love Jesus, still believe in Scripture and most of the tenets of their Christian faith. But they have lost faith in the church."

What's more, their beliefs about God are more orthodox than the general population, even rivaling their church-going counterparts, the study shows.

"For instance, they strongly believe there is only one God (93% compared to U.S. adults: 59% and practicing Christians: 90%); affirm that 'God is the all-powerful, all- knowing, perfect creator of the universe who rules the world today' (94% compared to U.S. adults: 57% and practicing Christians: 85%); and strongly agree that God is everywhere (95% compared to U.S. adults: 65% and practicing Christians: 92%)."

Furthermore, while they might not be comfortable with the church, this group still maintains a very positive view of religion, the study adds.

"When asked whether they believe religion is mostly harmful, their response once again stood out from the general population, and aligned with their church-going counterparts (71% strongly disagree, compared to 71% among practicing Christians and 48% among U.S adults)."

However, only 55 percent disagree, either strongly or somewhat, that all religions basically teach the same thing, much closer to the general population at 51 percent. Eighty-six percent of evangelicals disagree with the statement and believe in the distinctiveness of Christianity.

The study notes that this group falls outside of the characterization of "spiritual but not religious" folks. "But unlike practicing Christians and evangelicals, this spirituality is deeply personal—even private—with many preferring to keep spiritual matters to themselves: only two in five (18%) say they talk with their friends about spiritual matters often."

For the study, Barna interviewed 1,281 U.S. adults via web-based surveys, in each of the 50 United States between November 4 and 15, 2016. The sampling error for this study is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points, at the 95% confidence level.

"The critical message that churches need to offer this group is a reason for churches to exist at all," Stone concludes. "What is it that the church can offer their faith that they can't get on their own? Churches need to be able to say to these people—and to answer for themselves—that there is a unique way you can find God only in church. And that faith does not survive or thrive in solitude."

- By Anugrah Kumar , Christian Post Contributor, Source: http://www.christianpost.com/news/americans-love-jesus-dont-go-to-church-barna-179227/

PASTOR STEVE HILL - God’s General

Steve Hill was born in Ankara, Turkey on January 17, 1954.  His family was in Turkey while his father was on assignment with the US Military.  He has one brother, and two sisters.  Although his father was not much of a church attender, his mother was faithful to the Lutheran church.  She was a praying woman who loved the Lord, and always interceded for her family.  As a young boy, Steve was superficially involved in the church, but he never had a real encounter with Jesus until he was 21.  At the age of twenty one on a Tuesday morning October 28, 1975 Steve Hill accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

            Steve had been in rebellion for fifteen years and his body was being racked with convulsions from all his drug and alcohol abuse.  His body was reacting so severely, Steve was afraid that he might die.  Hugh Mozingo, a Lutheran minister came over to his home and prayed with him to lead him to the Lord.  When Jesus came into Steve’s heart the convulsions stopped and he felt the presence of God fill his room.  Immediately, as he cried out to Jesus, he received the gift of new life and was freed from all the torment that had been a constant part of his life.  Steve can recall when he was born again everything was new he went outside and said look at the green grass the trees and all of nature was like it was the first time he saw it.

            Soon after being saved, Steve was arrested incarcerated because of some old, outstanding warrants.  A local minister named Jim Summers, came to visit him in jail.  The judge probated Steve Hill into Teen Challenge, a drug rehab program called outreach Ministries of Alabama, directed by Mr. Summers.

            Four months after receiving Christ as Savior, Steve was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  His passion for souls and love for Jesus continued to deepen.  He attended Twin Oaks Academy in Lindale, Texas, under the direction of David Wilkerson.  At this training center, there were teachers like Leonard Ravenhill who taught on prayer, and Nicky Cruz, who taught evangelism.  It was a school where you were held responsible for what you learned.  And if you did not learn, they would kick you out.  They would teach the students on evangelism and then put them in a van, drive them to the streets of Dallas to a dope party, dump them out and say, “Go into that dope party.  We’ll pick you up at four in the morning.”  That is hard-core evangelism.  Instead of teaching the Four Spiritual Laws, they’d say, “Get out there, learn from experience.”  While a student here, he met his wife Jeri.  They married shortly after graduation and immediately entered the ministry.  Steve and Jeri were open to follow the Lord and serve him in whatever capacity he would lead.  They served as youth pastors in Florida, and while leading a group of teenagers on a mission’s trip to Mexico, God called them into full time missions. 

            After studying Spanish in Costa Rica, they began a work in Neuquen, Argentina, and over the next seven or eight years, planted several churches and an orphanage that continue to thrive today.  One of their first experiences in Argentina was at a crusade led by Carlos Annacondia.

            They went on to work in Granada, Spain and Baranovichi, Belarus, where they also began a Teen Challenge facility, the first ever Christian drug rehab program in all of Belarus.  

            Pastor Hill continued to travel as a Missionary/Evangelist, and was planning to continue work in Russia.  During one of his trips, while on an airplane, Steve Hill read a magazine article about a revival happening in London, England.  The church was Holy Trinity Brampton, the vicar was Sandy Miller.  Steve arranged to meet with Pastor Miller, wanting to know more about what was going on.  As he arrived at the Church, a conference was in session.  Holy Trinity Brampton was located in downtown London right by Harrods’s, the richest area of town, and was known for its influential, distinguished people.  But as he walked toward the front of the sanctuary, he had to step over about 500 bodies, people on the floor, shaking all over the place.  The Lord spoke to Pastor Hill’s heart and said, "You don't need to talk to Sandy Miller, just have him pray for you."  So, he walked up to Sandy Miller and said, "My name is Steve." "Oh my,” replied Pastor Miller, “we have an appointment at three o'clock, but look what's happened in my church."  Steve Hill said, “We do not have to meet, just lay your hands on my head and pray for me.”  When Sandy Miller did, Pastor Hill was hit mightily by the power of the Lord, and a powerful anointing was imparted at that moment.  This was January 1995, unbeknown to Steve Hill; the Pensacola Revival would be erupting in June of that same year.  Pastor Steve Hill was used by God to help spark the revival at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida on Father's Day 1995 until 2000. Over 100,000 people have responded to the Gospel in over five years at Brownsville.  “From 1995 to 2000, Steve served as the evangelist of the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida. Widely covered by the media, this incredible series of meetings drew over 4 million people through the doors of the Brownsville Assembly of God Church.  News began to spread around the world that something out of the ordinary was happening at this revival.  During those five years, the devout, the cynical, and the curious came from all walks of life, traveling from as many as 150 different nations around the globe.  Hundreds of thousands wept at the altars, repented of sinful lifestyles, and gave their lives to Jesus. Lives were dramatically changed, marriages were restored, and addictions were broken as the Gospel of Jesus Christ was presented with clarity.  Steve and his evangelistic team held arena and stadium crusades around the world.  These widely attended events prove once again that the unaltered teachings of the Bible are still relevant and applicable to life today.”(1)

            Pastor Hill and his wife, Jeri were the founders and senior pastors of Heartland World Ministries Church, in the Dallas, Fort Worth area.  At Heartland, thousands are coming to Christ and receiving a fresh touch from God.  Pastor Hill continued to call sinners to repentance and challenge believers to go after God with all the heart.

            “Jeri and I have discovered that the same Jesus Christ who changed our lives years ago is alive today, and He radically saves and heals on the streets of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.  The same Holy Spirit who touched our lives also touches the lives of young and old throughout the United States.  The same love of God that penetrated our hearts is available to our poverty-stricken neighbors in the slums of Mexico.  The same forgiveness that we’ve received is available for the millions in Canada, Argentina, England, India, Japan, and Africa.  You see, people are the same everywhere you go.  Languages change, customs differ, but the heart is the same in every culture.  The Bible says that the human heart is “deceitfully wicked!” Only God can change it.”(2)

            I had the privilege for many years to listen almost every week to Pastor Hill preaching the word of God at Heartland World Ministries Church.  Being under the teaching I receive each week has expanded my knowledge of the Bible, and more revelation of God.  Pastor Hill always called for alter calls at the end of each service.  I loved this because I know that is one way God deals with the sinner and change happens in a person’s heart when they ask Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior during an alter call.  I know this for a fact because I am a product of one that answered to an alter call in July 2000 at a Church service in Albuquerque, NM.  When I saw Pastor Steve preach, I saw firsthand how lives were changed by the preaching of being cleansed from sin through repentance and faith alone in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, with alter calls.

            This short article of telling the story of Pastor Steve Hill has been a true honor for me and has blessed me.  I am inspired by what God has done in and through Pastor Steve Hill during his life.  He was truly one of God’s Generals.

- Donnelly Cameron

References

1)     http://www.stevehill.org/

2)     Stone cold Heart, by Stephen Hill, p. 55

3)     Veronica 'Ronnie' Rosas, former Executive Assistant to Pastor Steve Hill (helped with all the details.)