Sunday At North Anderson
North Anderson family and friends,
Here are a few need-to-know things about this Sunday:
- If you haven't already plugged into a Bible Fellowship Class, we'd LOVE for you to do so this week! Because I realize the incredible, life enriching, fruit producing, church strengthening benefit that engaging in small groups affords, one of the key areas that I focused in on when the Lord gave me the privilege of serving as the Pastor of North Anderson was encouraging every member to be involved in a small group of some kind. Whether it was a Bible Fellowship Class on Sunday mornings, one of our DiscipleU Classes on Wednesdays, the Men's Bible Study on Thursday mornings, or whatever, the hope was simply to get more of our folks engaged in the life of a small group of some kind.
The great news is that the Lord has blessed this effort and we've witnessed an incredible increase in small group attendance over the past couple of years. In fact, I sat down a few weeks ago, ran the data, and found that on the average, approximately 83% of the people who join us for worship on Sunday mornings are also involved in a small group! To understand how incredible (and increasingly rare) that is, consider the following statistics from Lifeway Research: Thirty-five percent of SBC churches have fewer than 50% of those who gather for worship also participating in a small group. Almost two in five churches say their participation rate is an average of 61%.
Now, just so that you don't think these numbers are inconsequential, check out what the Director of Lifeway Research, Scott McConnell included in his report, “Declines in Sunday School and small group participation not short-term problems. It also does not bode well for the future,” said McConnell. “Having a higher percentage of your attendees attending small groups each week is one of four measures that predict higher worship attendance five years down the road.”
Let me say two quick things before moving on - First of all, THANK YOU to our incredible Small Group leaders and to those who've plugged in. Secondly, while I'm thrilled that 83% of our worship attenders are engaged in the life of a small group, knowing what a blessing it would be to those among the 17% who aren't yet in one, we're going to keep praying, encouraging and nudging them until they are!
- Speaking of Bible Fellowship time, before you head to your class tomorrow, drop by the Family Life Center at 9:15am to say a word of thanks to the newly retired Diana Beall as the Faith Builders Class host a drop-in reception honoring her many years of dedication as Administrative Assistant at North Anderson.
- We will continue our series of messages in the book of Nehemiah during our worship service tomorrow morning, examining the great prayer of confession found in Nehemiah 9. I do want to ask you to do something a little different this Sunday (you'll see why on Sunday). Please bring something to write on and with!
- THANK YOU for giving towards missions in North America! As of today, our Annie Armstrong Easter Offering total has climbed to $5,738.48. I have been asked if it's ok to still make a AAEO contribution and the answer is yes! Just make sure you designate the gift by check or online.
I look forward to worshipping with you all at North Anderson on Sunday! I love you and thank God for you.
Grace, peace, and blessings,
Pastor Kyle
Here are a few need-to-know things about this Sunday:
- If you haven't already plugged into a Bible Fellowship Class, we'd LOVE for you to do so this week! Because I realize the incredible, life enriching, fruit producing, church strengthening benefit that engaging in small groups affords, one of the key areas that I focused in on when the Lord gave me the privilege of serving as the Pastor of North Anderson was encouraging every member to be involved in a small group of some kind. Whether it was a Bible Fellowship Class on Sunday mornings, one of our DiscipleU Classes on Wednesdays, the Men's Bible Study on Thursday mornings, or whatever, the hope was simply to get more of our folks engaged in the life of a small group of some kind.
The great news is that the Lord has blessed this effort and we've witnessed an incredible increase in small group attendance over the past couple of years. In fact, I sat down a few weeks ago, ran the data, and found that on the average, approximately 83% of the people who join us for worship on Sunday mornings are also involved in a small group! To understand how incredible (and increasingly rare) that is, consider the following statistics from Lifeway Research: Thirty-five percent of SBC churches have fewer than 50% of those who gather for worship also participating in a small group. Almost two in five churches say their participation rate is an average of 61%.
Now, just so that you don't think these numbers are inconsequential, check out what the Director of Lifeway Research, Scott McConnell included in his report, “Declines in Sunday School and small group participation not short-term problems. It also does not bode well for the future,” said McConnell. “Having a higher percentage of your attendees attending small groups each week is one of four measures that predict higher worship attendance five years down the road.”
Let me say two quick things before moving on - First of all, THANK YOU to our incredible Small Group leaders and to those who've plugged in. Secondly, while I'm thrilled that 83% of our worship attenders are engaged in the life of a small group, knowing what a blessing it would be to those among the 17% who aren't yet in one, we're going to keep praying, encouraging and nudging them until they are!
- Speaking of Bible Fellowship time, before you head to your class tomorrow, drop by the Family Life Center at 9:15am to say a word of thanks to the newly retired Diana Beall as the Faith Builders Class host a drop-in reception honoring her many years of dedication as Administrative Assistant at North Anderson.
- We will continue our series of messages in the book of Nehemiah during our worship service tomorrow morning, examining the great prayer of confession found in Nehemiah 9. I do want to ask you to do something a little different this Sunday (you'll see why on Sunday). Please bring something to write on and with!
- THANK YOU for giving towards missions in North America! As of today, our Annie Armstrong Easter Offering total has climbed to $5,738.48. I have been asked if it's ok to still make a AAEO contribution and the answer is yes! Just make sure you designate the gift by check or online.
I look forward to worshipping with you all at North Anderson on Sunday! I love you and thank God for you.
Grace, peace, and blessings,
Pastor Kyle
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