wfn.org | Helping Others Is the Way to Fill Church with Youth, Poll Finds

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

16-January-1997 
 
 
97023       Helping Others Is the Way to Fill Church  
                      with Youth, Poll Finds 
 
                 by Ecumenical News International 
 
Princeton, N.J.--The key to attracting many young Americans to church is to 
ask them to help less fortunate people, according to a recent survey. 
 
          Serving the needs of others appeals to 80 percent of teenagers 
polled by the Gallup organization's Princeton Religion Research Center and 
reported in the latest issue of its "Emerging Trends" newsletter. 
 
          Twenty percent of teenagers polled in the Gallup Youth Survey 
said they were currently involved in "church-sponsored activities to help 
less fortunate people."  Sixty percent claimed they would like to be 
involved in that kind of religious activity.  And 68 percent of teenagers 
who "have not been attracted to attend church recently" said they would 
like to participate. 
 
          The 80 percent favorable rating for service to others easily far 
outpaced the popularity of other church activities aimed at young people. 

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