By Tayleigh Davis - bio | email
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - We are, after all, in the Bible Belt. Not surprisingly, Georgia is the ninth most religious state in the nation, and our state ranks eighth in prayer and belief in God.
68% of Georgians polled say religion is very important in their lives. People at a church service New Years Eve agree, but they also say faith is something that can't be shared enough with non-believers
Thousands of people at New Birth Fellowship celebrate the Power of One, which is the Power of God. It's one reason Georgia is ranked in the top ten in the nation for religion.
Pastor L.B. Gardner says the difficult economy has people seeking God. Worship is one avenue.
"Church has always been a place for answers and a place to care for people in need," Gardner said. "It's an extension of the hand of God."
It's an extension minister Evelyn Jenkins says must reach outside the church pews.
"They've lost hope and it's not about getting them into the building but bringing the building to people," Jenkins said.
The PEW Research Center polled people in all 50 states on four areas that bring people to church. They include: the importance of religion in people's lives, frequency of attendance at worship services, frequency of prayer, and absolute certainty of belief in God.
"We have to strengthen believers and minister to the lost,"Gardner noted.
There were several balloons in the service each had a meaning. A red one stands for family. At the end of the night they released them to get rid of "weights of unforgiveness"
81% of Georgians polled expressed an absolute belief in God.
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