WHY CHURCH?

God's word is like the manna that the Israelites ate in the desert. Jesus said in John 6, I am the bread of life. In Matt 4:4 Jesus said “man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The word of God is like food for us, not physical food, but food for our spirit and soul. You may be mad hungry right now trying to find a way to fill the void, but only God’s word can feed this kind of hunger! Where can you get this food, well the food is in the store house according to Malachi 3. That’s church. Now you can get some food on your own to, by reading the bible, fix yourself a meal, but church is where the food is stored! And if your answer is “I don’t always like church”, well then I might say that not all food tastes the same. In fact some food, like asparagus, tastes bad to me. But I know it’s good for me, so I eat it. If the goal is to grow and be healthy, then we have to eat healthy. Sometimes the food at church tastes great, and other times it may really challenge you, even disagree with your stomach a bit. So what! Now sit there at the table and clean your plate, no Krispy Kreme doughnuts for you until you eat your veggies.

CHURCH ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Attending church is helpful in the prevention of cancer, heart disease, and mental illness.
(National Institute of Healthcare Research in America, June 2000)

Teens who attend church are four-times less likely to commit suicide.
(Journal of Chronic Disease, 25)

People who attend church are more likely to remain married and have a better sex-life.
(David Larson, National Institute of Mental Health)

Church attendees stay half as long during hospital stays.
(Duke University)

Those attending church are five-times less likely to require antibiotics.
(Southern Medical Journal, July 1998)

There is lower blood pressure among men who attend church versus those who do not.
(Duke University)

There’s an additional average life expectancy of seven years.
(Demography, May 1999)

You say I don’t have time for church?!
Attend church for next 50 years.
add 110 days to your life.

Statistics say going to church prolongs life up to 7 years.
Bible says give it be given unto you…10 fold, 20 fold, 100 fold…
10 fold is exactly 3 years…20 fold is 7 years…for some 100 fold 30 years…

People attending church report a 50% higher weekly average family income.
(UCLA School of Medicine)

Church-goers have fewer heart attacks than non-church-goers.
(David Larson, National Institute of Mental Health)

Those who attend religious services in their youth have about $11,000 more in yearly income by their early 30’s.
(UCLA School of Medicine)

Cities with high church attendance have the lowest crime rates.
(Crime, Values and Religion, 1987)

People attending church are physically healthier and less depressed.
(The American Medical News. 3/4/96)

Alcohol abuse is 300% less for those who attend church.
(UCLA School of Medicine)

Church attendance moves the underprivileged out of poverty and into the middle class.
(Why Religion Matters: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability. The Heritage Foundation)

Church attendance is the number-one predictor of marital stability.
(Journal of Marriage and the Family, 40)

GSS survey 2000-2004 attend church on regular basis 26% divorce rate compared to national average of 54%...

1,135,000 divorces last year. If they attended church 317,000 marriages don’t divorce.
Tom Elis Council on the family:
Those marriages that attend church on regular basis and attend marriage seminar yearly…1 in 39,000 marriages fail or .00256%..

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