Thom Rainer did a study a number of years ago asking formerly unchurched people the open-ended question, “What factors led you to choose this church?” A lot of surveys had been done asking the unchurched what they would like in a church. But this study asked the formerly unchurched why they actually were now in a church. The results were surprising: 11 percent said worship style led them to their church, 25 percent said children’s/youth ministry, and 37 percent said they sensed God’s presence at their church. For 41 percent, someone from the church had witnessed to them, and 49 percent mentioned friendliness as the reason for choosing their church. Can you guess the top two responses? Doctrine and preaching – 88 percent said the doctrine led them to their church, and 90 percent said the preaching led them there, in particular, a pastor who preached with certitude and conviction… When it comes to reaching outsiders, bold, deep, biblical preaching is not the problem. It’s part of the solution.

Kevin DeYoung

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Eggs, Dairy		Cookies, Christmas	2	Servings

INGREDIENTS

10	oz	Jar maraschino cherries; (about 48)
1 1/2	c	Flour
1/2	c	Unsweetened cocoa
1/4	ts	Baking soda
1/4	ts	Baking powder
1/4	ts	Salt
1/2	c	Butter or margarine
1	c	Sugar
1		Egg
1 1/2	ts	Vanilla
1	c	Semisweet chocolate chips
1/2	c	Sweetened condensed milk

INSTRUCTIONS

Drain cherries and reserve juice. Stir together flour, cocoa, soda, powder,
and salt. In a large bowl, beat butter till softened. Add sugar and beat
till fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat well. Add flour mixture and beat
till well mixed. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart
on ungreased cookie sheet. Press down center of each with your thumb. Place
a cherry in center. For frosting, in a small saucepan, combine chocolate
and sweetened condensed milk. Cook and stir over low heat till chocolate is
melted. Stir in 4 teaspoons reserved cherry juice. Spoon 1 teaspoon
frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover (frosting may be thinned with
additional cherry juice if necessary.) Bake in a 350 degree oven for about
10 minutes or till done. Remove and cool. Makes about 48
Recipe by: Cookies for Christmas
Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #907 by Diana Stephens
<mdstephe@ix.netcom.com> on Nov 13, 1997

A Message from our Provider:

“Even when life may be difficult, we should thank God for all He does for us—which we do not deserve. #Billy Graham”