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What role can Grace Chapel play in helping to reverse the trend toward social isolation revealed in this CNN article?

Americans are more socially isolated than they were 20 years ago, separated by work, commuting and the single life, researchers reported on Friday.

Nearly a quarter of people surveyed said they had "zero" close friends with whom to discuss personal matters. More than 50 percent named two or fewer confidants, most often immediate family members, the researchers said.

"This is a big social change, and it indicates something that's not good for our society," said Duke University Professor Lynn Smith-Lovin, lead author on the study to be published in the American Sociological Review.

Thanks to Pastor Don for the article.

Here is Stan Toler's simple method for ministering personally to seven individuals in your congregation each day in a way that will have a great impact on the people you serve.

First, spend an hour one-on-one with a person in your church or community.

Second, spend 15 minutes writing brief notes to three people.

Third, spend 15 minutes making brief phone calls to three people.

Read more

Fellowship: It’s not just a hall
by Rebecca Barnes, editor

Some quotes:

What is driving Christians away from church? Or, perhaps the better question is, what will draw them in?

A new study by Gallup suggests that something as simple and as universal as friendship may be the key. The research revealed a direct link between human friendships and spiritual maturity.

Further, the research showed that people who have close friendships in their church are "very satisfied" with their congregation, less likely to leave, and more likely to also have a strong friendship with God.

Probably no one requires more research than thousands of years of human history, to prove that food brings people together. But the research Group commissioned by Gallup also connects faith and food. According to the results some 77 percent of highly satisfied members have eaten a meal with people in their congregation (who are not members of their family) at some point over the last year. Only 56 percent of somewhat satisfied or dissatisfied members have shared a meal together.

"Small groups provide a setting where group members can develop relationships and enjoy fellowship that many times is not available in the larger worship setting," Rainer writes. While church-wide events are important for meeting new people, Rainer notes, "close friendships will be built over time in small groups."

Large church or small, those close friendships within the congregation are critical to spiritual growth and church health.

"The connections we’ve discovered between human friendships, spiritual maturity, church satisfaction and even feelings of intimacy with God are absolutely remarkable," said survey researcher George Gallup.

Friendly greeters may begin the process of church growth. Visitor follow up and assimilation of new members creates that crucial connectivity. But it is the friendships that form within a church that can foster spiritual growth and a vibrant church life.

Hello all,

I would like to expand my current Tape/CD Ministry list, if you know of an elderly person who has a difficult time getting to church, a shut-in, or someone who is hospitalized, and would like to have Pastor Richard's messages sent to them, please email me their name, address, and preference of tape or cd.

Thank you,
Don Hickman

Here is some information about the members who joined Grace Chapel on April 10, 2005:

- Number of new members - 30
- Number of new members from Mesa - 13
- Number of new members from Scottsdale - 11
- Number of new members from Tempe - 4
- Number of new members from Phoenix - 2
- Shortest time attending Grace before becoming a member - 4 months
- Longest time attending Grace before becoming a member (not including Elysha Ludwig's 11 years) - 7 years
- Average time attending Grace before becoming a member - 2.4 years

Samples of previous church membership:
- None
- Scottsdale Baptist
- First Baptist of Scottsdale
- First Baptist of Mesa
- Scottsdale Bible Church
- Catholic
- Assembly of God
- Rock Church
- Scottsdale Church of God
- Word of Grace
- Church on the Way

29% of our new members do not speak in tongues.