Q & A: What does Reverend Deal say this week!
‘14% of the “Unchurched” are Black Americans’
Question: Is it acceptable to have a church on every corner in our community?
ANSWER: Throughout South Florida there are many churches in the Black community. Fort Lauderdale has enough places of worship that we should be able to grow ‘wings and fly’. But, are there too many churches in our community? The Gallup Company and the Barna Group performed research (Gallup poll) on the number of “Unchurched” Americans. In this case ‘unchurched’ signify individuals who do not attend church.
The polls indicated that 115 million adults do not attend church. More alarming was that 42 million children and teens do not attend worship services as well. The Gallup Polls stated that’ out of 157 million unchurched individuals 14% percent were Black. Now, that’s a whopping 22 million Black folks not going to church. Other than attending church for a wedding or a funeral we have forgotten what the inside looks like; not to mention the power of what a Spirit filled church brings.
Other compelling poll results were: (1) Men are more likely to be unchurched than women (2) Republicans are the least likely group to be unchurched (3) 1 out of 3 (33%) does not attend church (4) There’s enough Unchurched folk in America that is equivalent of being the 8th largest country in the world. So, with 22 million Black folk not attending church I feel that we do not have enough churches in our community.
Instead of a teen robbing you at gun point he should be at a gospel concert in the church. Instead of engaging in sexual activities she should be at a girls retreat in the church. Instead of having a hang over at home on Sunday morning, man you should be in church. And instead of uncontrolled anger that’s causing your child to be abuse by you we should learn how to dispel that horrific rage by the Spirit of God in church. Psalms 107:32; David says’ Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders’.
Search for a spiritual based church that follows the doctrine of the Trinity. One of the dangers of not attending church regularly is the lack of accountability to God. You want to do things your way and not God’s way. Hebrews 10:25 sums it up: ‘not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching’.
Rev. Deal is the senior pastor at Every Christian’s Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Please write to Reverend David Deal in care of the Westside Gazette, 545 NW 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Fla 33311 or email @ David.deal55@gmail.com
