Hope Fletcher Portfolio
Churches Of Christ
For my STEAM capstone project, I chose to center it on my biggest value: Christ.
Why?
I wish more people knew God's love and felt comfortable in churches. My life has been changed by Christ in so many ways. I can't imagine life without His love, but I have friends who have bad experiences with Christianity; judgment, exclusiveness, and high expectations. It's awful how someone could feel that way in a place meant to bring them closer to God. At the core, I am creating this for people who don't know God, whether that be because of a traumatic experience or that they never found a church they felt comfortable in.
The Problem
People run to the Father because they can't go through this life alone. Evidence shows that people who base their lives on faith and spirituality have a higher quality of life. Churches are spaces to worship God with a community and hear messages that teach how the Bible guides us to live our lives. The problem is that so many people don't feel comfortable in churches, or even around Christians. Some churches are not welcoming to all and don't make space for us who are different. Some Christians in those spaces aren't loving; they judge and shun. This is not Jesus' way and a terrible reflection on Christianity that causes people to run away from God instead of turning to Him for help.
Evidence of the Problem
A common reason non-believers have no religious affiliation is that they feel organized religions are strict and depict God as an angry, judging entity—that heaven must be earned through rigorous rituals. The true meaning of Christianity is about building a relationship with God and has historically appealed to lower-class people because it promises equality and liberation. Christianity promises heaven to everyone who believes.
Religious communities have flourished compared to ones that lack a foundation.
Religious involvement is correlated with well-being, life satisfaction, hope, optimism, purpose, better self-esteem, and greater social support.
28% of adults in America have no faith.
Of people who attend Christian services, 1/4 haven’t found a place of worship they like, 1/5 dislike sermon messages, and 14% don’t feel welcomed.
66% of released inmates have committed crimes again, 40% of those with Christian training have.
Why This Matters
Following Christ and knowing His love has changed my soul. My hope is alive. How could I keep this inside? I realize religion and spirituality are not a part of everyone's journey, I just want everyone to know that God cares about them, and if they want to, they can find a community in church.