tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838055782779464438.post1169981101725550115..comments2009-04-06T22:11:33.002-07:00Doug Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07760966161795317544noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838055782779464438.post-21394584439749486662009-04-06T22:11:00.000-07:002009-04-06T22:11:00.000-07:00Lilly Endowment has made some unique observations concerning how a community's health is improved via the presence of churches. They determined this by studying communities across the United States. Those areas of a city whose neighborhood includes active churches are healthier for it. It would take more than one church in a downtown as large as Tucson's, but the presence, and influence of God's people is apparently what is missing in downtown Tucson. Conversely, I live in a town of just over 10k. At one point Lynden, Washington appeared in Ripley's Believe it or Not for having the most churches per capita in the US. There are a stunning number of churches here. Late last year Lynden lifted a hundred year old ordiance allowing the sale of liquor, beer, and wine on Sunday. To this day most businesses are closed on Sunday, their owners and employees spending time at church, and with family. Having now lived in this unique town for over 10 years the truth of what Lilly Endowment cites is demonstrated to me in numerous ways everyday. <BR/>RogerRogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13414559034868202588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3838055782779464438.post-32371472779163362762009-04-06T22:10:00.000-07:002009-04-06T22:10:00.000-07:00Lilly Endowment has made some unique observations concerning how a community's health is improved via the presence of churches. They determined this by studying communities across the United States. Those areas of a city whose neighborhood includes active churches are healthier for it. It would take more than one church in a downtown as large as Tucson's, but the presence, and influence of God's people is apparently what is missing in downtown Tucson. Conversely, I live in a town of just over 10k. At one point Lynden, Washington appeared in Ripley's Believe it or Not for having the most churches per capita in the US. There are a stunning number of churches here. Late last year Lynden lifted a hundred year old ordiance allowing the sale of liquor, beer, and wine on Sunday. To this day most businesses are closed on Sunday, their owners and employees spending time at church, and with family. Having now lived in this unique town for over 10 years the truth of what Lilly Endowment cites is demonstrated to me in numerous ways everyday. <BR/>RogerRogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13414559034868202588noreply@blogger.com