In an article for DailyWire.com (6/28/22), Michael Brown discusses what we can learn from the most recent Gallup Poll regarding the declining faith of Americans. In case you haven’t heard, a new Gallup Poll documents a dramatic drop in Americans’ faith in God, raising serious concerns about the spiritual condition of our country. As summarized by Life Site News, “The numbers have gone from 98% professed believers 50 years ago to 81% in 2022.” In 2012, the University of Chicago released a report on “Beliefs about God across Time and Countries,” revealing that in America, the percentage of those with strong convictions about God who said, “I know God really exists and I have no doubts about it,” was 60.6 percent. The Gallup Poll also indicates that college graduates were less likely to believe in God than those without a college degree, dropping from 83 percent in 2013-2017 to 78 percent in 2022, and from 89 percent in 2013-2017 to 84 percent in 2022, respectively. The differences are not dramatic, but does this indicate that the more you learn and the smarter you are, the less you will be inclined to believe in God? No, it does not. Instead, these differences could simply point to the anti-God, anti-Christian mentality that is pervasive in many leading colleges and universities in America. (Brown documents this in his book: The Silencing of the Lambs.) Many young people who study at secular colleges and universities lose their faith because of an anti-God mentality that is taught by some professors. Our nation’s secular colleges and universities are not neutral when it comes to cultural beliefs and philosophies that are being promoted there. In many cases, they are assertively and aggressively promoting ideological agendas that oppose the Biblical worldview about family, sexuality, morality, societal flourishing, and Christian faith. This is one reason why our church supports ministries like His House Campus Ministry: They are making a difference to help keep alive the faith of Christians who attend college by providing a place for them to pursue worship, friendships, and spiritual development, while reaching out to others who are searching for the spiritual truth that Christianity provides. Scott Austin, Executive Director for HHCM, recently shared a story of the difference this ministry makes: Joe Hogoboom, Associate Campus Minister at Ferris State University, told about Noah, a welding student, who has a genuinely kind heart and listens intently while asking thoughtful questions about spiritual matters. Noah had a hunger to know more about God. He and Joe would go for walks together on campus and talk about life, relationships, even politics. In their early conversations, Noah held religion at an arm’s length away, but as time went on, he could see how God and Scripture should be the lens through which we look at all things. Eventually, Noah expressed his faith in Jesus as his Savior and Lord, and as Joe Hogoboom puts it, “One of the greatest honors from my time with Noah was getting to baptize him at the winter retreat.” They continue to talk a lot about the Kingdom of God, the depth of this decision, and the impact it will have. Noah is totally committed to God. Joe and Noah’s friendship continues to grow as Joe invests time and energy to helping Noah become an active disciple of Jesus Christ. Organizations such as His House are providing significant ministry and service in places where the typical church may not have easy access. Furthermore, they are making a difference in young people’s lives as they work with them to help them thrive spiritually and flourish in life through godly choices. Whether you are a parent whose son or daughter is heading off to college in the fall, or whether you are a member of the church who cares about what is being taught on college campuses, your participation in, and support of, campus ministry matters and is making a difference. Tyler
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