Some Questions

[Pirotess]

Hi there, I hope this is the right forum to ask this, there are a lot to choose from!

First of all, I should introduce myself, I'm from England, and i'm studying Anthropology in the University of Wales, Swansea. I'm writing my dissertation at the moment, and i've chosen the subject of religion, and what I aim to find out is what keeps people going to Church, when so many other people have left? I'm attempting to get opinions from as many areas as I can, and the Internet is a good way to get some more info if people are willling to help!

I'd appreciate if you church goes could answer the following for me:

1. Your age (approx age is fine, I just need an age category )

2. Your Denomination

3. How regularly you attend Church, and what activities you participate in

4. Please could you tell my why you go to Church, what lked you there, why you still go, and what you get out of it, how it makes you feel, and so on.

I'll make sure to mention you all in my final dissertation and share my conclusions with you. Many thanks

 

[Reformationist]

Originally posted by Pirotess
Hi there, I hope this is the right forum to ask this, there are a lot to choose from!

This is the perfect forum for your question, and quite an interesting one at that.

Let me welcome you to the MB and I hope you will contine to come here and learn even when your school based studies don't require it.

On to your questions:

1. Your age (approx age is fine, I just need an age category )

I am 29 years old.

2. Your Denomination

I am a non-denominationalist Christian.  In case you don't know, that just means that I am a Bible believing Christian who claims no affiliation with a recognized group of Christians, other than our faith in Christ that is.

3. How regularly you attend Church, and what activities you participate in

I attend church everyday because church is when you participate in the various relationships God has brought into your life, that is, your relationship with Him, your relationship with others, and your relationship with yourself.  As for specific "church services," I have a weekly Bible study, led by my pastor, every Wednesday, and a regular church service (you know, singing, sermon, etc) every Sunday.  My church also runs a live-in discipleship program and we all take turns cooking for and having dinner with (basically fellowshipping with) the guys who live in the house.  Additionally, I have just moved into a home owned by my church (it's actually right behind my church) so I am fortunate to have the opportunity to fellowship with my church family every single day.

4. Please could you tell my why you go to Church

To learn about God.

what lked you there

God.

why you still go

There is nothing like being filled by the peace that learning about, and understanding, God's Word brings.  I can only credit God with this change because, when I was younger, church seemed boring and stuffy to me.  Now it's exciting and alive and real.

and what you get out of it

I gain a greater desire for, and understand of, God's Word, the very Words that He, Himself, has written on my heart.

how it makes you feel

To be honest I experience different feelings at church.  I am always thankful for the gift God gave me.  I also am ashamed at times for the sinful, godless way that I act even though I know the Truth.  As uncomfortable as that feeling is I am comforted by the knowledge that God is working in me a desire and ability to do for His good pleasure.  My faith and trust in God's sovereignty is always refreshed and re-enforced.  Mostly, I feel a peace because I know that God has already taken care of everything and that He will bring about His Will.

God bless and good luck,

Don

 

[Pirotess]

Thank you very much Don I'm glad I foound this place, I'm learning as I go! I am a Christian, but I chose to worship in my own ways I suppose, worshipping in private rather than Cburch, but it has been an interesting experiance visiting other Churches as part of my studies and learning about the ways other denominations worship.

 

[JesusIsMySaviour]

1. Your age (approx age is fine, I just need an age category )

36

2. Your Denomination

Apostolic Pentecostal

3. How regularly you attend Church, and what activities you participate in

I attend every Sunday morning and Wednesday evenings. I attend adult Sunday School and Worship and preaching service on Sundays. Then I attend prayer and exhortation on Wednesdays. We have fellowship dinners etc. about once a month.

4. Please could you tell my why you go to Church, what led you there, why you still go, and what you get out of it, how it makes you feel, and so on.

I go to church to be strengthened by God. God led me to my church. I go because God's Spirit is present at our services and that's where I get my strength from. I get strength, encouragement, direction, rest, peace, joy and overall victory in my life. Being around others who have the same belief and goal - faith in Jesus and a desire to live for God - brings something to my life that is not available anywhere else in the world(outside of church).

Good luck on your paper.

 

[Blessed-one]

1. Your age (approx age is fine, I just need an age category

19

2. Your Denomination

evangelical

3. How regularly you attend Church, and what activities you participate in

every friday for uni fellowship (includes talks, prayer meeting and bible studies), and every sunday for sunday service.

4. Please could you tell my why you go to Church, what lked you there, why you still go, and what you get out of it, how it makes you feel, and so on.

going to church helps me to learn what it means to be a Christian (living in a community, how you show Christian love). At church, there's a chance to serve, and to support and learn from each other (eg. sharing and bible studies). Also, i learn to endure and pray in difficult situations at church, even though we're christians, that doesn't mean everything is smooth, and in these times do we also get to know God better. oh, and a chance of finding out and developing the gift that God has given me.

Worship too... i don't particularly sing by myself at home. Worshipping with the others sometimes fire up my feelings for God.

 

[MizDoulos]

Welcome to the forums, Pirotess!

Your thread has been moved here as it is better suited for this forum. You will receive more answers here.

 

[amie]

Originally posted by Pirotess
I'm writing my dissertation at the moment

I'll be starting my dissertation soon

and i've chosen the subject of religion

great subject matter 

Your age (approx age is fine, I just need an age category

31

Your Denomination

Catholic 

How regularly you attend Church, and what activities you participate in

Most Sundays 

Please could you tell my why you go to Church, what lked you there, why you still go, and what you get out of it, how it makes you feel, and so on.

I go to church because it helps me feel closer to God. I really enjoy praying with people and attending mass with my friends. I enjoy my parish, I am one of the parish nurses and I am involved in health ministry through the Archdiocese in my area (Los Angeles) For me attending mass helps me in a spiritual way...

Best of Luck to you with your dissertation

Amie~

 

[Pirotess]

Originally posted by MizDoulos
Welcome to the forums, Pirotess!

Your thread has been moved here as it is better suited for this forum. You will receive more answers here.

Ok, thanks And thanks for all your answers, this is very helpful!

 

[Phoebe]

1) I'm 35, female.
2) Lutheran
3) Weekly. I am on two committees, Christian Education and Evangelism. I am a substitute Sunday School teacher, and I am in the choir. I am a Lector. (read the lessons)
4) I go to church for the Christian fellowship. To be built up by others, and to build up.
I had stopped going between the ages of 20-29. I had moved to a different town and had not gone looking for a new congregation. I started going again because my step daughter had started studying with Jehovah's Witnesses. (her mom got her involved with them) I needed to know what I believed, and why I believed it. My step- daughter is now a baptized Lutheran, and she lives here with me and her dad.
I come away with new things learned every week. I feel strengthened for the coming week. I like almost all of the people in the congregation, and the sense of family.

 

[paulewog]

1. Your age (approx age is fine, I just need an age category )

17

2. Your Denomination

Independent, but Baptist in beliefs and doctrines

3. How regularly you attend Church, and what activities you participate in

Every Sunday and Wednesday - worship services, youth group, prayer meeting, and almost any other church activity I can go to

4. Please could you tell my why you go to Church, what lked you there, why you still go, and what you get out of it, how it makes you feel, and so on.

I go to learn of God, I go to fellowship with my other Christian friends, it makes me feel great.

 

[lucypevensie]

1. Your age (approx age is fine, I just need an age category )
33

2. Your Denomination
Christian--but attend a Baptist church (I don't go there JUST BECAUSE it's Baptist)

3. How regularly you attend Church, and what activities you participate in
Every week and on Wednesday night. Participate in childrens' Sunday School and am involved in an Adult Bible Fellowship

4. Please could you tell my why you go to Church,
To worship God, to hear the Word of God taught, to be among other believers

what lked you there,
I grew up going to church. It's always been a big part of my life. At first I just went through the motions, but now I see the value in it, and see the importance of knowing God.

why you still go,
Se above answer

and what you get out of it, how it makes you feel, and so on.
I always receive some kind of blessing when I go to church, something in the music or something someone said. Also I realise that church is not just what I get out of it but what I can give to God.

 

[jesusbball23]

Originally posted by Pirotess


I'd appreciate if you church goes could answer the following for me:

1. Your age (approx age is fine, I just need an age category )

2. Your Denomination

3. How regularly you attend Church, and what activities you participate in

4. Please could you tell my why you go to Church, what lked you there, why you still go, and what you get out of it, how it makes you feel, and so on.

1) 18, very soon 19

2) Non-denominational

3) Church is the body of Christian's, not a building but as well the services I attend Sunday, Wednesday, Friday Devotionals. I basically everyday interact/fellowship with Christian's. We have different ministries, I'm part of the Campus Ministry.

4) I love God, he takes care of my in every part of my life. Without God I have no hope. I continually pray to God as every Christian should, for help. I humbly accept I'm still a sinner like everyone else, but I have found nothing greater than being with God and his church. The brothers and sisters in my Church take care of me like a real physical family. I feel great about church and God.

Thanks, goodluck with your paper.

 

[Joanna]

1. Your age (approx age is fine, I just need an age category )

I'm 19.


2. Your Denomination

Baptist

3. How regularly you attend Church, and what activities you participate in

I try to go every Sunday morning, but don't always go every single week.  I have been involved in running Alpha courses at my previous church.  Before this summer I was at boarding school (Anglican) so I couldn't go to my church during term time but I was an active member of my Christian Union and led a girls cell group once a week, and also was in charge of the Alpha course that we ran there.  Now I have moved away from my home town and have just joined a new church and am hoping to get involved in one of the cell groups here soon.

4. Please could you tell my why you go to Church, what lked you there, why you still go, and what you get out of it, how it makes you feel, and so on.

I go to church to learn more about God and of his heart, and to build on my relationship with him.  I go to be with others who share the love that I have for God and to worship him with them.

I like to go there to be in the presence of the King of the Universe.  There's something special about being with other Christians and really feeling God's presence there too.  He can minister to us and through us, through and to other people.

At the end of the day, I don't think it's actually about what I get out of it... It's about what God gets out of it!  Although having said that, that doesn't mean I don't get anything out of it...but it is not the reason I go (hope this is making some sort of sense lol) When I go and offer my worship and love to my saviour, I receive his love and blessings too.  It's about my relationship with Him.  Relationships work two ways.  When i give, I also receive!

I don't think I can explain how it makes me feel.  It would take too long lol.  In a nutshell though, I guess I feel undescribable love and acceptance, value and worth...and totally full of awe!

 

Hope this helps a bit.  Sorry I seem to have waffled rather a lot! lol.

jo

 

 

[Crono]

1. Your age (approx age is fine, I just need an age category)

23

2. Your Denomination

Church of the Nazarene

3. How regularly you attend Church, and what activities you participate in

Usually three times a week: Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening.  I am also involved in a Sunday school class, and I assist in planning and organizing activities for the college group.

4. Please could you tell my why you go to Church, what led you there, why you still go, and what you get out of it, how it makes you feel, and so on.

I go to worship God and fellowship with other believers.  I believe it is important to grow in my Christian faith by learning more about Christ, and church give me the opportunity to do so through the ministry of the pastor and through discussion with other Christians.  Since growth is continual, I go regularly so that I can continue to grow.  Through church, I understand that Christianity is something greater than just myself, and I can better serve God through His ministry.