Pastors survey on Priorities The Hole in our Gospel ------ Richard Stearns

A few years ago World Vision did a survey of pastors, in which we asked them to rate the things they considered real priorities for their churches. Based on a list of items that we provided, these ministers were to tell us which ones they thought took precedence over the others. In the highest-priority category, 79 percent listed worship: 57 percent, evangelism; 55 percent, children's ministry; and 47 percent, discipleship programs. Just 18 percent said that "helping poor and disadvantaged people overseas" was of highest priority." Startling when you consider the words of the apostle James: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27)
The Hole in our Gospel  ------ Richard Stearns