Hey larc and all, RR, I wish I could remember where I saw that the SDA's membership had a precipitous decline from the 8 million you mentioned to somewhere around a few hundred thousand in just the past few years. The factors that path o thorns mentioned in conjunction with the internet is going to cause exactly the same thing. One more thing will as well. When I was service overseer, I was alarmed at the phantom ministry going on. Service was a social outing and for keeping up appearances in the congo. One elder I knew had it down to a science. He would go out in the great laundromat ministry early in the mornings furtively leaving magazines on the counters and never actually witnessing to anyone. Then he and his wife would meet with the group at 9am and then go home afterwards. It is my estimate that at least two-thirds of the brothers in the U.S. engage in a perpetual return visit ministry where the actual door-to-door work is non-extant. The only time even elders actually engage in field ministry is when CO's visit!I am glad to see it because it heralds their demise. Dino
