The Negro's church,.

Program of the Rural Churches

257

Young People's Work
Young people's work in the rural churches is restricted to
74 church groups. Of this number, eight were inactive at
the time visited. The young people's work in the rural community suffers from a number of ills. The most important
impediment to progress is lack of purpose and adequate direction. The young people's groups have practically no program.
If they attempt to teach the Bible, the Sunday church school
is found to be doing a better job. If they put on debates,
entertainments or discussions, the interest soon lags.
Physical Equipment for the Program
The indoor activities of 94 per cent. of the 185 rural
churches are limited to one room, because this is all the
church has. In 5 per cent. of the church buildings there are
two rooms, and in 1 per cent. of them there are three.
In addition to the building, a church usually has at its
disposal about an acre, or one and a half acres, of ground. In
a large number of localities the churches share their ground
space, and some even share their buildings, with the county
school and the fraternal orders. Except for church entertainments and an occasional picnic, the rural church does not
make use of this ground.
The auditoriums of the churches all contain about the same
equipment, such as a pulpit, benches, and means for heating
and lighting; and in a few, either a piano or a pump organ.
Besides being the place of meeting for all the public services,
it is often used for the community activities. Interior decorations are usually poor and not-very cheerful.
The general condition of the church property is discouraging. Of the 185 churches, 59 per cent. are in need of
general and major repairs to roofs, windows, doors, walls and
floors. Except for the exceptionally well-maintained rural
Negro church building, the atmosphere of deterioration seems
to be general throughout the countryside.