A People Profile

People Profile                                                 Great Bridge, Chesapeake, VA

·       1/3 College Graduate

·       ¼ Postgraduate

·       Affluent and Middle Class Families

·       Average age 36

·       Lots of Children and Youth

·       21 % African American

·       Newer Suburban Neighborhoods

·       Commuter Culture

·       1/3 not involved with faith, 1/3 somewhat involved

·       Jobs: 2/3 Professional, 1/3 Blue Collar

·       Large Baptist Influence

·       Pro-military (Navy town)

·       Mid-Atlantic culture with a touch of southern living 

 

 

·       Voted for Huckabee and Obama in the primaries

·       Most are busy raising families, therefore kids are important and often           idolized.  Personal health, good schools, in short the American dream and the comforts it brings (materialism, financial security, vacations, suburban home with yard, recreation/leisure, family and children) are the idols of the community.

·       Felt Needs are fulfillment in career, marital counseling, activities for kids, financial security, recreation and relationships, dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression.

 

Gospel Ministries

·       Vibrant youth and children’s ministries

·         Community Groups

·       Instruction on Marriage, Finances, and Parenting

·       Social Events: The church has an opportunity to position itself as a community gathering point to develop relationships.  The suburbs isolate neighbors from one another, the church can meet this gap by being the place of connection. 

·       Grace emphasis from pulpit, will transform those from a legalistic Christian background, plus draw seekers into the faith. 

·       Joyful worship where God is experienced.

  

Idols

·       Materialism

·       Comfort

·       Security

·       Good families, children

·       Career

·       Retirement as the golden years

·       Personal Health

·       Education

·       Porn

 

Beliefs

·       God and Country

·       Good Morals are important  (Work hard, don’t break the law, care for family) Yet many are struggling with the silent effects of sin…shame, anxiety, worry, melancholy, depression/anger

·       Christianity is legalistic  i.e. “Try Harder”

·       Belief that one needs to get saved, but lacking the Gospel’s transformative power

·       Little understanding of the Kingdom of God.

·       Church and Religion are generally good and positive, sometimes necessary for business relationships.

·       Tired of hypocrisy of the church

·       The church is too political, judgmental, and antihomosexual

 

 

~ by chesapeakepc on October 7, 2008.