Abuse of alcohol and other drugs is a major threat to the health and well-being of teenagers. According to a 2004 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey of high school students:¹

• About 40% of teens have tried marijuana one or more times. About 22% of teens currently use marijuana. Teen use is troubling because marijuana can hinder memory, problem-solving, and learning. It can also cause mood swings, anxiety, and depression.
• About 9% of teens have tried cocaine, while 4% use it currently (one or more times in a month). Cocaine is an addictive drug. It is especially dangerous because it can cause abnormal heartbeats, occasionally resulting in a life-threatening heart attack, seizure, or stroke.

Other substances teens abuse include:

• Inhalants (glues, aerosol sprays, gasoline, paints, and paint thinners). Inhalants are one of the substances most frequently abused by junior high students because they are inexpensive and easy to get. These substances are extremely dangerous because they contain poisonous materials, such as lead and toluene, which can cause brain damage or, in rare cases, even death with the first use.
• Club drugs, including ecstasy (MDMA) and date rape drugs such as gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) or flunitrazepam (Rohypnol). These drugs are often used at all-night dances, raves, or trances. Although the number of teens abusing these drugs is small compared with cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana, these drugs can be dangerous, especially in overdose or when combined with alcohol or other drugs. Use of ecstasy can lead to depression, sleep problems, and severe anxiety that may last for weeks after taking the drug. Over time, use of ecstasy can lead to liver damage and thought and memory problems.

• Methamphetamine (commonly referred to as meth, crank, or speed). Methamphetamine is highly addictive. In addition, it can cause seizures; stroke; serious mental problems, including paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions; and long-term health problems.
• Hallucinogens, including LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), mescaline, psilocybin, PCP (phencyclidine), and ketamine. Serious and lasting psychiatric conditions such as psychosis or hallucinogenic flashbacks can develop after using LSD.

• Opiates, such as heroin, morphine, and codeine. Use of opiates can lead to strong physical and psychological addiction. Teens who use addictive drugs may steal, prostitute themselves, or resort to other dangerous or illegal behavior to buy drugs.
• Prescription drugs, such as diazepam (for example, Valium), methylphenidate (Ritalin), hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen (Vicodin), and oxycodone (OxyContin). Nonprescription medicines, such as cough syrups or cold pills, are also abused by teens.
• Anabolic steroids, which teens use to build muscle tissue and decrease body fat. Anabolic steroids can cause liver cancer; reduced sperm count; male-pattern balding; irritability and rage; and increased cholesterol and blood pressure, resulting in heart attack and stroke.

In recent years teen substance use rates (except for the use of inhalants and prescription opiates) have been dropping overall, but substance use still remains a leading cause of injury and death in young people, as well as causing long-term social and health problems. Annual studies such as the Monitoring the Future Survey track trends in teen drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and attitudes across the United States.

          

Because alcohol and drugs change the way the brain functions, specifically the areas that control decision-making and emotions, teen growth and development can be affected by their use. Teens who abuse these substances may have difficulty establishing their identity, developing relationship skills, gaining emotional stability, and preparing for an independent and productive future. Substance abuse can affect memory and learning, which can harm a teen's performance in school. Perhaps the most significant danger of teen substance use is that it can progress, sometimes rapidly, from experimenting or occasional use to abuse and addiction in teens at risk.

Unwanted Pregnancies Rates Lower with Higher Education

64% of unwanted births occur to women with a high school diploma or less

21% to women with some college

16% to women with a college degree

Overall, the research found that the typical Protestant church has 89 adults in attendance during an average weekend. In total, 60% of Protestant churches have 100 or fewer adults on a typical weekend, while slightly less than 2% have 1000 or more adults. Examining the figures in terms of where adults attend, however, the statistics show that about four out of ten church-going adults (41%) go to churches with 100 or fewer adults while about one out of eight church-going adults (12%) can be found in churches of 1000 or more adults.

Demographic Drawbacks for Small Churches

Based on a study of the church-going habits of 4501 adults randomly sampled from the U.S., the Barna survey discovered that small churches (defined as average weekend attendance of 100 or fewer adults) are more likely than either mid-sized (301-999 adults) or large churches (1000 or more adults) to draw people who are not college graduates and are more likely to appeal to people with lower household incomes. George Barna, director of the study, suggested that a “downscale” demographic profile often correlates with less aggressive growth patterns in organizations and a limited number of effective leaders.

Surprisingly, the research showed that adults under 35 years of age are more likely than are older adults to attend small churches. Barna cited two dominant reasons for this pattern. The first is the relative absence of children among younger adults. This impacts one’s choice of a church because providing children with a quality ministry experience is one of the main reasons why many Americans attend a church, and larger churches typically offer more programs and opportunities for children. The second reason why younger adults are more likely to attend a small church relates to the Baby Bust generation’s disinterest in participating in Boomer-led organizations and in large-scale enterprises. Busters are more interested in being personally known and connected, which many believe is more difficult to accomplish in larger churches.

Theolographic Limitations in Small Churches

The study also found that small churches have some theolographic limitations – that is, their spiritual beliefs and practices reflect challenges that are less prevalent in larger congregations.

The data revealed that small churches have a lower proportion of attenders who are "spiritually active," which was defined as individuals who attend a church service, read the Bible, and pray to God during a typical week. This paralleled a finding that showed small church attenders are less likely to claim that their religious faith is "very important" in their life.

In addition, the research showed that adults affiliated with small congregations are less likely to be born again, less likely to believe in salvation by grace alone (i.e., not by good deeds), and less likely to have an orthodox view of God (i.e., holy, creator, ruler of the universe, alive today). The report indicated that such views undermine a solid theological foundation for congregational growth and may suggest that other spiritual perspectives that conflict with the Bible are common in smaller churches.

Mid-Sized and Large Churches Attract Aggressors

Demographically, mid-sized and large churches attract a higher proportion of "upscale" adults - those whose education and income levels enable the church to take more risks, be more aggressive in marketing, and draw resources from deeper pockets and broader backgrounds. Barna also noted that upscale individuals are more often comfortable with leadership requirements and decision-making, and tend to be more excited about organizational growth. He pointed out that large churches, in particular, appeal to Baby Boomers - one-quarter of church-going Boomers (25%) attend churches of 500 or more adults, compared to just one-sixth of church-going Busters (17%) - and Boomers are infamous for equating success with growth and large-scale operations.

One of the most intriguing patterns emerging from the study portrayed mid-sized churches as having the highest proportion of born again believers. Barna suggested that many mid-sized churches grow numerically because their born again members actively invite non-born again people to the church. This often has the effect of swelling the church’s numbers so that it reaches the "large" category while simultaneously diluting its born again proportion.

Larger Congregations Are More Conservative Spiritually

Adults attending mid-sized and large churches are more often people who are conservative in their theology as well as their social and political views. "Conservative people more often play by the rules," commented Barna. "That helps to explain why mid-sized and large churches are often more solid on the theological foundations: those congregations are populated by people who want to know the biblical boundaries and expectations, and then are eager to work within them. Their energy and tangible resources are more focused and the result is more productive ministry." The researcher also said that sociopolitical conservatives outnumber liberals by a three-to-one margin among church-going adults.

Hope for Small Churches

In spite of the obstacles revealed in the research, small churches have tremendous potential. "These insights simply identify some of the critical challenges that the average small church has to address," the California-based researcher stated. "Small churches play an important and valuable role in the religious landscape of America. They reach millions of young adults who have no interest in a larger church setting. They have tremendous potential for building strong community, as well as spiritual foundations. And small churches often grow into larger churches once they develop significant internal leadership and creatively overcome their resource limitations."

Barna also questioned the value of growth for its own sake. "Jesus did not die on the cross to fill up church auditoriums," he cautioned. "He died so that people might know God personally and be transformed in all dimensions of their life through their ongoing relationship with Him. Such a personal reformation can happen in a church of any size. After all, the goal of every church should not be numerical growth but spiritual health and vitality."

The tracking research conducted by Barna Research indicates that small churches will certainly remain prevalent in America for the foreseeable future. “Megachurches draw media attention, but they collectively account for less than one out of every four adults in church. Given the values and goals of people in the two youngest generations - the Busters and Mosaics - we anticipate mid-sized churches becoming a more significant force in the future, with many of those churches spawning new congregations rather than expanding to become megachurches. However, large congregations are here to stay and meet the needs of a specific segment of the population. If church leaders can maintain a focus on transformation rather than numbers, then we could enter an era of healthy churches at all sizes and shapes and shed the unhealthy spirit of numerical competition that currently distracts many churches."

Research Source and Methodology

The data described above are from telephone interviews with several nationwide random samples of adults conducted from January 2002 through May 2003. In total 4501 adults were interviewed in studies that explored church attendance, spiritual beliefs and practices, and demographic correlates. Nine demographic factors and sixteen theolographic factors were compared across seven levels of adult attendance at Christian churches. The size levels examined were less than 50 adults; 50 to 100; 101-200; 201-300; 301-499; 500-999; and 1000 or more adults.

The maximum margin of sampling error associated with the aggregate sample is ±1.8 percentage points at the 95% confidence level; the maximum sampling error for the subgroups of church size ranged from a high of ±6.7 percentage points among those attending congregations with 201-300 people to a low of low of ±3.2 percentage points among those attending churches of 50 to 100 adults. All of the interviews were conducted from the Barna Research Group telephone interviewing facility in Ventura, CA. Adults in the 48 continental states were eligible to be interviewed and the distribution of respondents coincided with the geographic dispersion of the U.S. adult population. Multiple callbacks were used to increase the probability of including a reliable distribution of adults.

The data regarding average church size was drawn from telephone surveys conducted by Barna Research among a national random sample of 1202 Senior Pastors of Protestant churches. That sample has a maximum margin of sampling error of ±2.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

“Born again Christians" were defined in these surveys as people who said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life today and who also indicated they believe that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as "born again."

“Theolographics" (®) refers to the spiritual practices, beliefs and self-identification of individuals.

The Barna Group, Ltd. (which includes its research division, The Barna Research Group) is a private, non-partisan, for-profit organization that conducts primary research on a wide range of issues and products, produces resources pertaining to cultural change, leadership and spiritual development, and facilitates the healthy spiritual growth of leaders, children, families and Christian ministries. Located in Ventura, California, Barna has been conducting and analyzing primary research to understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors since 1984. If you would like to receive free e-mail notification of the release of each new, bi-monthly update on the latest research findings from The Barna Group, you may subscribe to this free service at the Barna website (www.barna.org). Additional research-based resources, both free and at discounted prices, are also available through that website.

© The Barna Group, Ltd, 2009. 

"The post modern generation is not impressed with our buildings and programs! Why should they be? They need to see us in our own mission field helping those who need it most! The Church as a whole has been to busy doing other stuff"! 
                                                                    Terry Marcum

America is now the 3^rd largest mission field in the world
Leighton Ford says North America represents the 3rd largest mission field of unchurched and spiritually uncommitted individuals in the world, behind China and India. An April 2001 Gallup report indicates that approximately 132 million adult Americans are unchurched, representing a six percent increase over the past 25 years. In fact, only eight countries in the world have a larger total national population than the unchurched numbers in America.

The Solution

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail". Ralph Waldo Emerson

Check out these video links 

http://www.youtube.com/user/TerryCMarcum 

http://nysum.org/uncategorized/nysum-donor-video/

"People are always good company when they are doing what they really enjoy." - Samuel Butler

Over the next few weeks and months we will be working with a powerful team, representing a cohort from the Ohio Christian University. Developing an ICMO "Inner City Mobile Outreach"  This is a community outreach and prevention effort designed to target the immediate needs of four communities, by working with a local pastor for 1 year in each of the Columbus, Ohio areas north, south, east and west.

During the initial phase we will be meeting with these pastors of congregations of 200 members or less, listening to them explain the struggles they face in trying to impact their neighborhoods and to get a feel for what the main needs are. Then we will  conduct another meeting to allow some neighborhood leaders to come in and share their feelings and thoughts. Then our dedicated team will design a plan of action and present it to the pastor and neighborhood leaders. The plan will consist of:

1.  Setting up a free Eyejot Video Email package and church Blog.
2.  HELPING PEOPLE FIND OUT THEIR TRUE IDENTITY 
3.  Repairing Your Family Visions
4.  Continual Progress Tracking for Your Church, Neighborhood and Community 
5.  Child Tutoring & Adult Work Shops
6.  Celebration Day


Congratulations to Pastors Chuck & Renee Harvey of
Christ's Empowerment Center Ministries

ICMO EAST  Prevention Project! 

1394 E. Main St
Columbus, Ohio 43205
614-565-2435 or 614-402-9605
Ipreachgodsword@aol.com
www.christsempowermentcenterministrie.blogspot.com

They will get support for 1 year in the following ways...

1. Setting up a free Eyejot Video Email package and church Blog.

 A. Eyejot video email will allow the pastor to communicate daily with video messages, updates, reminders, new member greetings and much more.

B.Church blog will allow the members and the community to find out what is going on at their church on a daily basis, share stories, post comments and interact with others.

C.Live recording of services & special events uploaded to blog.

D. Meet the ICMO Team!

2.HELPING PEOPLE FIND OUT THEIR TRUE IDENTITY 


Breakfast is Served- From 1 day per month up to 7 days a week from 6 am to 9am! 

True Identity - Your spiritual DNA, what you were created for, your mental make up, your physical capabilities.

A. Each participant can take the Spiritual Gifts Analysis at www.TeamMinistry.com to turn their hand print into a finger print and their spot light into a lazar beam! This can be done on an individual basis and/or a group effort.

B. Personal and group guidance by taking the "Spiritual Authority" class, creating a detailed plan that gives each participant the opportunity to begin exercising their spiritual muscles based on the results of their analysis.

C. Help the group integrate each of their giftings so they all work together in unity. This is a very delicate process and can take some time to develop.

3.Repair Your Family Visions 
A group effort to build a stable and secure family atmosphere.

A. Write down the issues- Example: We all have our own individual visions, goals for the future, and/or daily routines that are irregular and inconsistent most of the time, leaves us feeling isolated and alone in our work, when were at home and doing things for fun. This can cause us to develop stronger relationships with people outside the family. Though it is good to be balanced in our friendships if families continue on this path, in a few years they will all be going separate ways in life. How sad would that be?
 
 
B. Pray & get direction- Example: I am praying for God to help me find a way that I can be a part of what my family is doing daily, weekly and monthly, and how they can be a part of what I am doing.
 
 
C. Take responsibility- Example: For me this means taking the lead by example to do something positive for our family, church, school efforts, our places of employment, and finding time to get away together as a family.
 
 
D. Send me to deal with it- Example: As it pertains to our family it is time to get to work on this project. Along with keeping up with my honey do list everyday I will help more around the house with sweeping the floors and furniture. Starting Saturday nights and/or Sunday mornings we will start going to church more. We will continue working hard on our lessons for school and I will help each of you more with your school work and lesson plans. Until we can afford a vacation we should try to drive out of town once or twice a month.
 
 
E. Do it afraid- Example: As I write this out for myself I am already afraid and it's my fault for allowing several things to get off track. I move forward in fear with the feelings and thoughts I have written here, afraid that we won't be able to overcome and stay the course. It is that fear that keeps me motivated to keep trying and I believe we will eventually succeed and achieve all of our goals.
 
 
F. I need to build a team- Example: I think if we all do our part, our family will become stronger than it is right now and it will spread into the other areas of our lives. How we relate with each other at home will duplicate in our relationships outside the home. By building a strong family team, we will also become part of healthy teams at church, school, work and socially.

4. Continual Progress Tracking for Your Church, Neighborhood and Community

5. Child Tutoring & Adult Work Shops
We will be working towards educating and bringing awareness to the churches and families in these neighborhoods. Providing weekly tutoring for families and their children, and continual follow-up to keep track of short term and long term development of each churches efforts. Helping them develop a continual plan to:

A.Be a role model- As a parent, your attitude toward alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs is one of the greatest influences on whether your child will use cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol. Being a good role model is an excellent way to show your child and teen how to act responsibly. If you have a substance abuse problem, get appropriate help. If you quit, your teen is more likely to get help early if he or she starts abusing a substance.

B.Share your beliefs- Children need to know what their parents believe about issues that are important. Even though they may not act like it, most children are greatly influenced by what their parents tell them. Use TV programs, news broadcasts, and other media as springboards for discussions about substance use. Talk with your teen about the effects of substances on physical growth, emotional development, school performance, and health. If you have a family history of substance use problems, talk with your teen about his or her increased risk for alcohol and drug use problems.

C.Stay connected- Staying involved may be difficult during the teen years, because teens usually want privacy and independence. Provide adequate supervision, know your teen's friends, and know where your teen is at all times. Set times when the family is expected to be together, such as at mealtimes. Plan family outings or other family fun activities. Let your teen know that he or she is valued and contributes to the family.

D.Be fair and consistent- Extremes of discipline are a risk factor for teen substance abuse. Set reasonable consequences for unacceptable behavior and consistently carry them out. Praise your teen for his or her accomplishments, and expect your teen to follow the household rules.

E.Encourage activities- Keep your teen busy and engaged emotionally with meaningful activities, such as sports, church programs, or other group involvement. Teens who feel good about themselves are less likely to use alcohol and drugs.

F.Get informed- Don't rely only on your own experiences or what you have heard. Educate yourself about the substances commonly abused by teens. There is a lot to learn, because so many substances are being used by teens today and none are totally harmless. Talk with a doctor about information on commonly abused substances and groups of drugs. Find out how the drugs work, what their street names are, what the signs of being under the influence are, what indicates overdose and what to do, and how the drugs affect a teen's growth and development.

http://www.health.com/health/library/topic/0,,tp17749_uq2426,00.html

6.Celebration Day

This will be an ongoing effort to make a long term impact in these struggling communities. Along with that one of our goals is to have a final celebration at the end of our first session, by taking a team of professionals into that community for a day of prevention support. This final celebration would offer health screenings by nurses and doctors, dental screenings by qualified dentists, counseling by qualified professional counselors, food vendors to provide groceries and daily supplies for short term support. Pastors will also be present to give spiritual help to hurting families. Teachers and professors will be available to give guidance and encouragement for continued education. Local employers can come to offer suggestions on how to prepare for successful employment.
 

We will be working with the local Neighborhood Pride Centers from the City of Columbus.

Franklinton Pride Center Center Manager - David Hooie 1186 West Broad Street Northwest corner of Yale and Broad Columbus, Ohio 43222 Phone: (614) 645-0176 Fax: (614) 645-2495	South Side Pride Center Center Manager - Jo Anne St.Clair 310 E. Innis Avenue South Side Settlement House between South High Street and Parsons Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43207 Phone: (614) 645-8097 Fax: (614) 645-5221
Neighborhood Pride Community Center Far East Center Manager- Lynn LaCour 2500 Park Crescent Drive Corner of Alshire Road Columbus, OH 43232 Phone: (614) 724-0100 Fax: (614) 724-0111	Near East Pride Center Center Manager - Michelle Williams 1393 E. Broad Street On Broad Street between Latta Avenue and Linwood Avenue Columbus, OH 43205 Phone: (614) 724-0115 Fax: (614) 724-0124

 

 Entertainment from Christian musicians and entertainers will be provided by Gospel Fest...


We will update you as this team develops, and on the progress throughout our journey to help hurting families here in Central Ohio this year and in 2010. Please keep us in your prayers as we embark on this awesome opportunity.

           
Sincerely,
 
The Marcum Family

Serving the invisible God, through the power of his Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ! Family Helping Family. If you could make a difference would you try? To Learn more or to
find out how you can help the ICMO Team contact us at terrymarcum@live.com or 614-374-3896

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