UnashamedSermons.com » Statistics

Startling Statistics on Depression

Darren Ethier — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:30:09 +0000

It’s hard to believe, but Americans are the unhappiest people on earth. That is the conclusion of a new study by the World Health Organization and the Harvard Medical School, which found that 9.6 percent of Americans suffer from depression or bipolar disorder ? the highest rate of the 14 nations surveyed. Our “Prozac nation” has a greater percentage of depressed people than war-torn Lebanon (6.6 percent); job-starved Mexico (4.8 percent); carefree, hedonistic Italy (3.8 percent); and overworked, socially rigid Japan (3.1 percent). And how’s this for a paradox: Nigeria, a land of desperate poverty, rampant corruption and violent tribal conflict, had the lowest depression rate of all ? just 0.8 percent. How can this be? One possibility is that when your life is a struggle for clean water and adequate food, you don’t have time to indulge in existential despair. In New York, on the other hand, a lawyer making $200,000 a year may find himself “depressed” if he doesn’t make partner in his mid-30s. It may also be that in less modern societies, people find comfort and meaning in their families, their religion and their cultural traditions.
Vince Siciliano, Wall Street Journal’s The Week Magazine, 3/23/07

Men & Church

Darren Ethier — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:18:22 +0000

Less than 40% of church attendants at a typical worship service are men.

Men are the world’s largest unchurched people group, according to Church for Men, founded by David Murrow, author of Why Men Hate Going to Church. He argues that worship services today are typically built around feminine values, with worship songs that are sweet and sentimental and sermons that emphasize home, marriage and family. Men need more masculine imagery and more opportunities to use their unique skills. They have their own language, culture and needs. Murrow says that, rather than having a separate men’s ministry, churches need to integrate everything they do with a masculine spirit. Here are some of the suggestions Church for Men makes, based on their research:

Have special worship services with a theme targeted at men, such as “Great Outdoors Sunday,” so men feel at home and not uncomfortable on cushiony pews with fresh flowers everywhere and quilted banners hanging around the church.
Shorter is better when reaching men. Sunday worship services should always be wrapped up in one hour or less.
Worship songs should have lyrics that men can relate to. While hymnals are full of anthems for men, today’s praise songs sound more like love songs. Men prefer upbeat music and songs that do not repeat over and over.
Services need to be relevant to the world in which men live if they are to change the perception that church is boring or irrelevant.

Churches that have more men active in the church (60% or more) are more likely to be growing.

“Here’s the wonderful truth about women,” argues Church for Men. “They are comfortable with guy things.” And with 1 out of 5 married women worshiping on Sundays without their husbands, most women would gladly try something new in order to attract their husbands, sons and fathers to church.
(from Pastor’s Weekly Briefing, 6/8/07)

About Daycare…

Darren Ethier — Wed, 30 May 2007 13:11:35 +0000

Analysis of the largest, longest running, and most comprehensive study of child care in the U.S. finds the more time children spend in center-based care before kindergarten, the more likely their teachers are to report such problem behaviors as ?gets in many fights,? ?disobedient,? and ?argues a lot.? The study confirms earlier Canadian research which found daycare children were 17 times more hostile than those raised at home, and 3 times more anxious. An ?05 study from England confirmed a mother?s care is best for toddlers? development, while nursery care is linked to higher aggression levels. … Child Development 3-4/07

Helping those with Cancer

Darren Ethier — Thu, 24 May 2007 14:47:28 +0000

According to a recent survey 47 percent of terminal cancer patients say their spiritual needs are not being met by their religious community. - Source: Christianitytoday.com

The need for Community

Darren Ethier — Wed, 02 May 2007 13:16:51 +0000

At a recent small groups conference at Saddleback Church Randy Frazee spoke on the ?call to community.? He reported the average American family manages 35 separate relationships on a day-to-day basis?children, extended family, neighbors, government, school, friends, work, Starbucks employees, landlords, telemarketers, etc. And this is before that family gets invited to church, which usually adds another 6 or more connections. He refers to this phenomenon as ?crowded loneliness.? We are in desperate need of meaningful relationships, yet too busy and too pulled to maintain them. Even worse, our attempts to relieve our sense of isolation often contribute to our fragmentation. Out of Ur 2/27/07