CCC 27-4_LR 1

NEWS & NOTES

BELIEF IN JESUS RISES… FUELED BY YOUNGER ADULTS A recent Barna study, part of the State of the Church 2025 ini tiative, found that over the past four years, there has been an outpouring of dedication to Jesus. According to the data, 66% of adults in America report making a personal commitment to Jesus that is still imperative to them today. This number indicates a 12% growth since 2021, when Barna tracking showed that commitment levels were at their lowest in over three decades. This Jesus revival is mainly due to younger generations, especially Gen Z and mil lennials, mostly Gen Z men. 3 CHILDREN RAISED WITHOUT A FATHER FACE A BLEAK FUTURE According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 40% of births were to unmarried women in 2022. Compared to married couples, single-mother homes are over four times as likely to live in poverty. Many problems result from pov erty, including lower academic success. Additionally, fatherless children have a higher chance of going to prison, are less likely to attend college, and are more probable to misbehave and suffer from substance abuse issues. Sadly, this cycle tends to repeat itself as fatherless teen girls are seven times more likely to get pregnant. 4 TRANSGENDER SURGERY INCREASES DEPRESSION, SUICIDE IDEATION RATES According to an Oxford Journal of Sexual Medicine study, under going an alleged “sex change” surgery significantly increased depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance use disor ders. The depression rate for males who had transgender surgery was 25.4% vs. 11.5% in those who did not. Females who had the surgery experienced a depression rate of 22.9% vs. 14.6% in those who did not. Males undergoing “feminizing” surgeries exhib ited an exceptionally high risk for depression and substance use disorders, according to the study. In recent years, multiple stud ies, including the Oxford Journal of Sexual Medicine study, have invalidated the media-driven suggestion that “gender transition” measures are helpful or even “necessary” for the well-being of those who are gender-confused. 5 THE SUCCESS SEQUENCE Based on Brookings Institute research and numerous others, 97% of young individuals who follow three simple steps do not live in poverty as adults if they: 1) Complete at least a high school edu cation; 2) Obtain full-time work; and 3) Marry before having children. Additionally, 90% of young adults who accomplish the first two steps avoid being poor in their 30s. However, 52% of adults in their 30s who did not achieve all three steps live in poverty. 6 AN ESTIMATED ONE IN 31 U.S. CHILDREN HAS AUTISM The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) esti mates that one in 31 children in the U.S. has autism, indicating an additional increase in a lengthy series of upsurges. In 2020, the estimate was one in 36. The diagnosis is more common in boys than girls, and the rates are highest in children who are Asian/ Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native, and African American. 7

LONELINESS LINKED TO COGNITIVE DECLINE Loneliness among the rising population of older adults in America is associated with poor men tal health and cognitive decline. Meela, a virtual companion specially devised to engage with older adults via scheduled phone calls, was used at a senior living community in New York showing pos itive results. An in-person visit or call would be preferred over a conversation with an automated machine, but these chats help bridge the gap when it is difficult to connect personally. Staff members at the New York community say that after chatting with the Meela bot, residents are more involved in social interactions. A simple text or phone call to older family members can make such a big dif ference in their lives, as research indicates we seriously underestimate these easy gestures. 8

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