Active Users

[leastofthese]

I periodically check the “active users” numbers at the bottom of the home page and have recently noticed that these numbers have decreased significantly. Any idea why?

[ZNPaaneah]

When you look at the introductions and testimonies you see questions like "how to leave", "what to look for in a church", "What happened to Max R", etc. Some came here with a specific question and it got answered. Others are trying to reconcile their experiences, once that has been resolved they may not have a purpose to continue. Others have recently been contacted by the LRC or have friends or family who have and are trying to do research. Fewer active members may just be a sign that questions and concerns are being resolved.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by leastofthese

I periodically check the “active users” numbers at the bottom of the home page and have recently noticed that these numbers have decreased significantly. Any idea why?

LofT,

It’s human nature. How many times will a person watch reruns of Green Acres?

Drake

[UntoHim]

The "Active Users" number is simply a snapshot of how many people are viewing the forum at any given point in time. The vast majority of visits to any Internet forum are search engine robots, automatically searching the web for key words and phrase. This number has very little to do with the number (or lack thereof) of interested parties lurking or viewing the forum.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Drake

LofT,

It’s human nature. How many times will a person watch reruns of Green Acres?

Drake

That reminds me of all the Anaheim trainings I went to back in the 90's.

Were it not for taking notes, I would have slept thru most of those exceedingly doctrinal messages.

[leastofthese]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

The "Active Users" number is simply a snapshot of how many people are viewing the forum at any given point in time. The vast majority of visits to any Internet forum are search engine robots, automatically searching the web for key words and phrase. This number has very little to do with the number (or lack thereof) of interested parties lurking or viewing the forum.

Thanks Untohim - I figured it was something on the backend. I’ve kept an eye on that # for the past year or so... do you ever track the number of unregistered users (lurkers)?

My guess is the LSM churches are all but extinct in my lifetime. I’d guess I have another 60 years left in me, but only the Lord knows!

[aron]

Originally Posted by leastofthese

My guess is the LSM churches are all but extinct in my lifetime.

An interesting point of reference, when considering the above remark, is the church affiliated with David Yonggi Cho in Seoul South Korea. His local ekklesia, or gathering, is said to be the largest in the world with 800,000 adherents.

Like Lee, Cho was in the right place at the right time. He preached a "prosperity gospel" as the Korean economy took off circa 1980s-90s. Those who attended attributed the accompanied "blessing" to church adherence even though their non-attending neighbours also prospered. Likewise, Lee caught the "Jesus Movement" fervor in S Cal in the mid-60s to mid-70s; here the "blessing" of explosive growth was attributed to ministry & doctrines, even while nearby Costa Mesa's Calvary Chapel (among others) also grew on similar lines (young people, spontaneous gospel, fervor, unstructured worship &c). But who cares about that said Lee because we're on the "local ground". . .here are all God's riches, here we've given up our search (contra Matt 7:7).

And like with Lee, David Cho and family couldn't resist plundering the church. His son went to jail for embezzlement of church funds, and Cho is in semi-seclusion, saying he was ignorant of the wrong-doing.

And like with Living Stream Ministry, the elders of the Yoido Full Gospel Church who raised the issue got sacked while the "ministry" loyalists preached "Sail on! Sail on!" Abject fealty and opacity won over transparency and accountability.

And like LSM, there was drop off in attendance, but most carried on because, hey, it's the church. I mean, where else are you going to go? We've given up our search, right? Let's all sing stanza one again!