tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91594447131954175352011-08-03T01:11:53.422-04:00Conversations Along the Journeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453027040468549279noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159444713195417535.post-35275849159885179352009-10-14T11:50:00.002-04:002009-10-14T12:33:15.167-04:00As we did our research on the External Influences on Baltimore Presbytery, we were impressed with the contradictions that exist around us. Maryland is the wealthiest state in the nation, and yet has a high poverty rate, with an unemployment rate over 7%. People are well educated, but less than 20% are in worship on any given Sunday. Many people get information electronically rather than from print sources, and the language changes as they do so. The social media help us to locate long lost acquaintances, but is that an adequate alternative to a face to face conversation over a cup of coffee?<br /><br /><br />If you haven’t seen the complete report, it is included in the Meeting Papers for the September Presbytery meeting. Collecting this data should help us to better understand the communities that we serve, and the way people live today. It includes data about population trends, projected development and much more.<br /><br /><br />Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world baptizing, teaching and making disciples. We don’t have to go very far to find people who need to know the Savior. We can just step outside our doors and meet them where they are.<br /><br />Ann McConaughy<br />Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Bel Air<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9159444713195417535-3527584915988517935?l=baltimorepresbyteryvision.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Conversations Along the Journeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00453027040468549279noreply@blogger.com0