July 2010

Those who love football will have been having a feast, with quarter-finals, semis and the final of the World Cup still to come. Others will already be longing for everything to return to normal!

So here is a multiple choice question:

(a) Do ten times more people attend Premier, Championship and League football matches each week of the year than attend church services?
(b) Is the number the same?
(c) Do ten times more people attend church services each week of the year than attend Premier, Championship and League football matches?

You might be forgiven, with all the television and media coverage, for thinking that the answer is (a), but actually it's (c). Yes, on average ten times more people attend church every week than attend a football match from one of the four English Leagues.

Why do so many people think it's the other way round? Partly, of course, it's to do with media coverage which hypes up football and often seems to belittle the practice of faith. Is there a hundred times more coverage of football than Christianity? A thousand times? There is definitely not ten times more coverage of church attendance than football!

Plenty of media attention makes us believe something really is important and has a massive following.

So why aren't we Christians better at telling our story, and letting people know that so many go to church and even more believe, even if they don't go to church every week? We need to encourage one another to do just that, to tell our stories, speak of all the ways in which faith is vital to us and others.

Our experiences may be private and personal in many ways, but parts of them can be told. Do you let the local media know what's happening? Does someone in your congregation have an eye out for a good news story? Do you tell your neighbours, family, friends, work colleagues? Do you invite them?

If you do these things, make sure our Diocesan Communications Officer, Anni Holden, knows as well. If you don't do these things, be in touch with your parish priest and
Anni to find out how to, or how to do them better.

Communication isn't everything, but as the World Cup reminds us, it makes a difference!