Every Friday night Pastor Mark DiFrancesca turns his church into a dance club.

In the basement of his First Christian Assembly, DiFrancesca pushes out a bookshelf and replaces it with a soda bar. He places two speakers in the corner. Eventually, he hopes to hang a disco ball from the ceiling or place a strobe light in the corner.

‘It’s a fun atmosphere for a fun night,’ DiFrancesca said. ‘And that’s the whole idea. We want to make this appealing to young adults, college kids. We want to bring new people in here and combine wholesome entertainment with religious teaching.’

He also wants to boost his church’s numbers. Lately, many Syracuse religious institutions are turning to similar, innovative ideas in attempt to do the same.

The Glenmay Research Center in Nashville, Tenn., recently published a study revealing that about 52 percent of Americans actively practice religion. That’s a 5 percent decrease from the same study, released in 1990.

The National Jewish Population Survey, released just two weeks ago, shows about a 5 percent drop in the American Jewish population. It also showed a four-year hike in the median age — from 37 to 41 — in the Jewish population.

‘Everybody talks about the numbers dropping,’ said Rabbi Charles Sherman from Temple Beth El. ‘It’s something you think about, but we’re still thriving in terms of devotion. The polls just give all religions something to think about and react to.’

And in Syracuse, many are responding with DiFrancesca’s flare. According to Krista Parrett, co-director of Campus Crusade for Christ at Syracuse University, several churches or temples have expressed interest in creating new, youth-catered programs within the past few months.

Parrett, whose own program is numerically largest of its kind on the SU campus, has even received calls from some churches in the area that are seeking help in setting up some sort of weekend youth night.

Her qualifications? Campus Crusade for Christ is the largest youth religious organization in the Syracuse area. Nearly every weekend, it throws non-alcoholic parties that cater to Syracuse students.

‘The feedback we’ve gotten from students on our program has been great,’ Parrett said. ‘It gives people an alternative from going to the bars and getting wasted.’

It also helps Parrett attract students to religion. Parrett encourages students already involved with Campus Crusade for Christ to invite roommates and friends to the weekly party. It’s a gentle recruitment method.

‘Our bottom line is we want everyone to know Christ,’ Parrett said. ‘Numbers are dropping, and we want all young people to know Him.

‘We try to attract a large number of people to God. The more people we can get a little bit interested, the more people will become very devoted.’

Other religious leaders seem to agree with the same strategy.

‘At this time, that’s a good way to do it,’ said Dr. T.E. Koshy, Evangelical Christian chaplain at Hendricks Chapel. ‘It’s an effort to build the religion. Anything positive and constructive like that is a good idea.’

Despite the effort, there still lingers a question about the effectiveness. Despite DiFrancesca’s extensive preparation, only 10 people turned out last week. When he started the program about six weeks ago, he had half as many. He hopes to have 20 people one month from now.

‘Numbers will grow,’ DiFrancesca said. ‘The word on our (Friday night gathering) is already spreading. Soon, we won’t be able to fit all of us in the basement.

‘A lot of places are doing this type of thing now. Everyone wants to spread the word to a younger generation,” he said. “This is a good way to do it. A lot of places think that, so it’s got to be working for somebody.’

Published on November 7, 2002 at 12:00 pm