How comfortable are you?

This past week we served community at our monthly Open House event on Wednesday, 11^th of September, THE 9 11...     and as people were signing and dating their receipts many were asking “what day is it?”   Only 12 years passed and folks have forgotten!!!  Of course there are official memorials held on site.  But world around so many more tragedies happen that the “day that changed the world” is kind of forgotten.

This week on 9 11 a poll was released in USA showing a total of 41 percent of all United States adults believe the world is now living in the "end times" described in the Bible.  Barna Research Group asked this question "Do you, personally, believe that the world is currently living in the ‘end times’ as described by prophecies in the Bible, or not?”  Groups of population differ widely:  YES was the answer of 54% of Protestants and 77% of Evangelicals.  NO said 73% among Catholics, although among Catholics who attend mass regularly 45 percent said yes.  There is also a split between ethnic groups on this question. A total of 54 % of Blacks said YES as did 48% of Hispanics, that’s half!  Whites were at 39 percent, below the national average.   The survey also shows that families which had children in the home were more likely to believe we are living in the end times.

The interest in prophecies is growing in these confusing times.  How do we respond?

A 2009 survey of members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America indicated that 23 percent had volunteered in some way to help conduct a Revelation Seminar in the last year.  That’s 1 out of 4.  What about other 75%?  Are we following the Catholic trend of complacency?

A veteran Seventh-day Adventist evangelist said “Historically, we have always seen an increase of interest in prophecies when there are economic problems or international tensions and the potential for war. But, an interest in this topic does not always translate into people getting serious about joining a church and making a contribution to the mission of the church. It does not necessarily make evangelism any easier."  I could attest to that.  Somehow, the word of Revelation ring true “rest of humankind...did not repent” (Revelation 9:20-21)

Our Adventist identity is linked with proclamation of the end-times call to repentance.  Are we doing it?  October 19, Saturday evening, we begin a proclamation event.  Prayerfully consider who you will be inviting to hear the message of faith.  Ten pastors will be speaking night after night on “Reasons to Believe.”  The month ahead is your time to pray and invite those you befriended.