Tough Times Mean A Return to the Black Church

Unemployment, stress and personal growth lead people to find faith

The traditional black church has been at the core of the African-American community historically for hundreds of years.  Whether Pentecostal, Baptist, AME, Christian Methodist Episcopal, etc. the black church has not only served as a place where believers can fellowship, but where they can come together for psychological help, financial guidance and sometimes even shelter. Churches in the African American community have often always offered support to anyone seeking to better themselves through a relationship with God. However, these services didn't translate to a full congregation. Until recently, black church attendance across the country has been on the decline. Many have speculated that the reasoning behind the attendance picking up again is due to not only difficult economic times, but to those seeking new church experiences as well.

“Unfortunately tough times and trends is what it sometimes takes to bring people to church again,” Pastor Alexander Butler of Perfect Order Church in Baltimore, Maryland told the Loop 21. “We as leaders find our selves thinking of different methods to get people to come to church all the time, you have too.”

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According to the Washington Post, more than 40% of electric guitars or drums are now used during religious fellowships in churches across the country to make a traditional service more exciting.  The number is up from the 29% in 2000.

“We constantly remind our members and especially our young members that church is not just a Sunday morning religion,” expressed Minister Nicholas Pearce of Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, Illinois. Church is here to give you opportunities to grow, opportunities to serve and opportunities to go. It’s important that you come to the house of God, more than just during tough times.”