When I was a kid growing up in rural Ohio our little town of about 300 people had its own church. I went to summer bible school there, took part in the youth group, attended services, etc.

The church was also a community center -- sometimes migrants would set up cots in the basement and live there while picking veggies and fruits in the fields. There would sometimes be potlucks or bake-offs or Fourth of July celebrations there.

We'd skateboard in the parking lot, play two-hand-tap football in the big side yard, shoot hoops there, or it would just be an informal meeting spot (Let's meet at the crabapple tree at the church at 4pm").

I found out that over the past 15 or so years this church has been dying. The parishioners are all like 75. And there is perhaps 20 of them.

Apparently a big Wal-Mart church in a nearby bigger town siphoned off all the members.

And this is not only happening in my hometown, but in other little towns with country churches too throughout the entire area.

It is sad. Anyone else see this happening?