SNAPSHOT OF A SEEKER

People used to attend church because that was how they were raised. They affiliated with the denominations and churches into which they were baptized. Today that isn't the case.

Today people turn to the church not just out of habit or upbringing but for answers to their spiritual questions. "Seekers," those who may not have been raised in a church-going family or who have turned away from religion, want a place where they can feel comfortable and secure since many times they aren't familiar with the traditional ritual of worship.

People aren't looking at labels but relationships, said Dee Dee Wilson, programming coordinator at La Croix United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

"People want authentic," she said. Worship isn't just done by the older, traditional methods.

Churches -- including some in Southeast Missouri -- are paying attention to the changing trends in worship styles. Churches are trying to be seeker-sensitive in programs and ministries, aware that people have spiritual questions and are turning to churches for answers. But they want

Area churches are finding ways to close the gap with seekers by emphasizing casual dress or adding weekend service times, using video and music presentations, dramas and Web sites to reach new audiences.

Churches today don't worship like people did 300 or 500 years ago, Wilson said. "And we won't worship like this 300 years from now."

Yet churches must try to keep up with societal changes or they "are going to run the risk of being irrelevant down the road," said Mike Parry, pastor of Fruitland Community Church that meets at North Elementary School.

Parry said his congregation works to make people feel comfortable. "Maybe we attract some people that are disillusioned or have given up on church or maybe have never been before."

Often people who are first-time visitors to a church are afraid they will be forced to stand and introduce themselves or that somehow they will be singled out by the church for being a visitor.

Wilson said LaCroix members "are always conscious that seekers are in the audience but we don't single them out or ask them to stand. We hope that greeters recognize the first-timers and help them locate areas or sit by them in service."

Churches have to make their services more appealing to people, particularly those who have never attended before, Parry said. "We have to be able to communicate to a new generation of people."

Often that communication takes place during worship with video clips from movies or songs popular on Christian and pop radio stations. E-mails and Web sites also provide information to a group accustomed to multimedia.

Wilson said churches must realize that while seekers are attracted to videos and dramas and music, they are just methods of "using their language to explain what we are doing."

People "want a reason for being there" when they attend church, she said. "It used to be that you went to church because that was what you were brought up to do and you didn't question it. Today people are questioning."

Ministers must catch people's attention and try to speak on subjects that address their needs, Parry said. "All churches I think try to do that, but you really have to try and get a sense of their needs." He is about to being a series on stress, giving pointers for how to handle intense situations. "People need biblical answers."

Using drama and video clips can help show people those answers, Wilson said. "But you shouldn't be doing drama just because you have a drama team," she said. "You have to pray and be discerning, that's the biggest part. You have to ask 'Is this saying what I want it to say.'"

Sometimes the church doesn't use any multimedia presentation during worship. "We can go without the extra elements" and worship, she said.

THE 'UNCHURCHED'

In a February 1999 survey, Barna Research Group released a survey of information collected about unchurched people. Some of the results:

Barna defined an unchurched adult as a person over age 18 who had not attended a Christian church service within the past six months, not including holiday services or special events held at a church.

Who are the unchurched?

The younger the adult, the more likely they are to be unchurched.

Forty percent of people age 18-29 are not attending church. Of adults in their 30s, 37 percent are unchurched, 27 percent of adults in their 40s are unchurched; 25 percent of adults age 50-64 and 24 percent of adults 65 or older.

The more educated the adult, the more likely they are to be unattached to a Christian church. Nearly 40 percent of college graduates are unchurched while 29 percent of high school dropouts are unchurched.

Where do the unchurched live?

44 percent in the Northeast

33 percent in the West

32 percent in the Midwest

26 percent in the South.

The number of unchurched adults has been on the rise for the past three years for these population segments: Baby Busters (the children of Baby Boomer generation) and men.

By a 10 percent difference, more men are reported to be unchurched than women.

Nearly three out of every 10 married adults was unchurched as compared to every two of 5 who have never married.

Two out of three (67 percent) of unchurched adults call themselves Christian. One-third claim to have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their lives today.

Source: Barna Research Group, www.barna.org