A recent newsletter from the church relations
department of Freed-Hardeman University contained an article written
by Dr. Earl Edwards about Flavil Yeakley's recent research project
of churches of Christ, entitled, "Good News and Bad News."
It revealed some very interesting information.
The report stated, "While churches of Christ
have not grown very much since 1980, churches of Christ have not
declined as many people have claimed." Brother Edwards states,
"... of the fourteen largest religious groups in the Unites
States ... 'Only the three largest denominations have more congregations
in the United States'" and "[M]ost other religious groups
in America have experienced far more fragmentation' than we (page
22), causing us to be regarded as having a 'remarkable degree
of unity' by other religious groups."
Brother Yeakley's report is now available under
the title Good News and Bad. A Realistic Assessment of Churches
of Christ in the United States 2008 from the FHU Bible Bookstore
for $3.75. Telephone 800 342-1869.
We are thankful for the good articles of this
issue and pray they will be to God's honor and glory. Our circulation
for the March mailing was 2,688 copies. A new monthly bundle order
of 25 was recently received. We are encouraged by your faithful
support in renewing your subscriptions and by your correspondence.
Thank you! -Albert.