Loneliness is the New Smoking
By Pastor Ellis White
Senior Pastor
Did you know that lacking social connection is as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day? According to a study published in 2017 in American Psychology, the odds of premature mortality are just as affected by a lack of friendship, as they are by smoking a pack of cigarettes every day.
What’s more worrying is that in the period from 2003 to 2020, the average person in the United States spent 24 more hours alone every month, according to a study published in 2023 in SSM – Population Health. “Americans today have fewer close connections than decades ago,” said a Wall Street Journal article from May 2024.
In 2022, I had the opportunity to take a Sabbatical, which was a true gift to me and my family. During that time, my wife, Rachel, and I attended a weeklong counseling intensive, where we explored in more detail our sense of call to ministry, and our fears of what it might cost for me to serve as a Senior Pastor somewhere. Through that week, what became clear was that I did not have enough close friendships to carry me through.
I’m so grateful for the example of Pastor Mark, who has always been a part of a men’s LifeGroup. I was blessed to be invited into that group in my first year at Chapel Hill, and the closeness of those friendships among the men was inspiring. I know that those men carried him through his ministry, empowering him to be faithful to his call, and to his family.
Now, I have my own LifeGroup of men who are doing the same for me. After our annual summer break, we had our first meeting of the fall this week. It was such a joyful occasion to be reunited with friends who have become like brothers to me. We shared and celebrated, as we do every week, studied the Bible together, seeking to discern God’s will for our lives, and then we prayed.
If you aren’t a part of a LifeGroup at Chapel Hill, there is no better time to join one than in September. Many of our LifeGroups take a break over the summer, and it feels very natural for new people to join in the fall. We have groups for all ages and stages, with men’s, women’s and mixed-gender groups. If you want to find out more and join a group, head to the LifeGroups page on our website, where you can use the LifeGroup finder to do just that.
This Sunday we continue our journey through the book of Acts. Last week we saw how everyone has a part to play in sharing the gospel (one of the three pieces of our vision: care for our neighbors, share the gospel, and prepare the next generation). This week, we’re going to see a very practical example of how we can do that. If you feel unprepared to share your faith, you’ll want to see what we can learn from the example of Philip.
See you tomorrow at 9:00 or 10:30 am.
Pastor Ellis