Churches seek greater attendance for anniversary services

SAVANNAH - The Rev. Larry Williams is trying to guide his flock back to church for the anniversary of September 11 after many wandered astray in the last few months. <br> <br> After a surge in attendance at church services following the terrorist attacks on America last year, the newfound parishioners quickly returned to their old habits of skipping Saturday or Sunday services, according to polls. <br> <br> ``You encourage folks to foster and maintain that relationship with the Lord that&#39;s not based upon crisis or a response in the face of crisis,&#39;&#39; said Williams, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Savannah. ``It should be an ongoing relationship, so when a crisis comes, we know where to turn and where our strength comes from.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Churches plan to urge people who return for 9-11 anniversary services to stay around this time instead of returning to old habits. <br> <br> The Rev. David T. Haygood Sr., senior pastor of Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, will encourage everyone who attends church the weekend of Sept. 8 to return to strengthen their relationship with God. <br> <br> Although Haygood wishes the strangers in his church had stayed around to develop their faith through prayer and meditation following the attacks, he&#39;ll welcome them again if they return for anniversary services. <br> <br> ``We hope it sensitizes people to the need to be involved,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> In the weeks after September 11, 47 percent of people surveyed by the Gallup Organization said they attended church or synagogue in the last week, up from the typical 40-45 percent. But the numbers soon fell back to normal. <br> <br> ``Ask pollsters about the lasting impact of 9-11 and it&#39;s &#39;zero, zilch,&#39;&#39;&#39; said Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of the Gallup Poll in Princeton, N.J. ``It didn&#39;t have a lasting profound change that we can see.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Thor Goff, 31, is exactly the kind of person local pastors hope they could keep. <br> <br> He went to a Mormon church for the first time in nine years after the attacks but stopped after Easter because his restaurant job scheduled him to work Sundays. Goff said he continues meditating, and he believes people should be able to work out problems without having to seek organized religion. <br> <br> ``Last year I&#39;ve had some major turmoil. What I decided, in hard times, sometimes you have to find solutions and peace yourself,&#39;&#39; he said.

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