Volume 33

In the U.S., the number of coin operated telephones has plunged from 2.8 million in 1998 to under a million today and some experts predict they’ll be a thing of the past by 2012. Companies like At&T are yanking the cord entirely, saying pay phones don’t pay. They blame the cost of maintenance, vandalism and coin collection and — more than anything else — the explosion of cell phone popularity. As British Telecom explains, the decline of coin operated telephones is “driven by a complete culture change in communications.”

Though AT&T will be out of the pay phone business by next year, other providers like Verizon are going slower. A typical unit costs about $50 a month to operate, needing 150 calls to break even. If a pay phone consistently gets less, Verizon shuts it down.

But last year, the company partnered with the Canadian firm Freefone Inc. to set up a network of free public telephones. Callers use the phones in front of a 15-inch monitor showing advertising, which pays the bills. There are 600 such phones in North America, mostly in busy areas such as malls and universities, with many more on the way.

But — at least in Canada — pay phones won’t disappear any time soon. Though their revenues are falling about 17 per cent a year and the number of public telephones is dwindling, providers say they’re committed to keeping enough to ensure public safety. Analysts point out that only 52 per cent of Canadians have cells, mobile service isn’tavailable in some areas, and pay phones are a necessary backup when portable phones lose their charge. They say public telephones are especially important in rural areas and places like schools and hospitals, especially for the elderly and low-income families.

But public phones will continue to evolve. The Freefone units come with free wireless access, and the latest phone booths don’t even have a phone. The Cell Zone is a soundproof enclosure that offers mobile phone users a quiet place in bars, restaurants and libraries while sparing other patrons from having to listen to annoying conversations. There’s a parallel to what’s happening in Christianity. Across North America, the number of people who regularly attend worship services has declined steadily, prompting some to question the future existence of the church. Already, countless congregations have closed up and some denominations have suffered a dramatic decline driven by a complete culture change in communications with God. Specifically, a growing number of people say they take their faith everywhere — they don’t have to go to a specific spot on Sunday to worship.

The truth is, most people who use that justification seldom do worship God, anywhere. But even those who do are missing an essential Biblical principle. In his wisdom, God calls us into community because He knows we all need encouragement and accountability, and the capacity to love and support others. That’s what family is all about. Yes, we need to have our own faith and take it with us everywhere, but that includes church. “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds,” we’re commanded. “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of [Jesus’] coming back is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24,25)

Each of us will lose our spiritual charge, or face an emergency, or find ourselves in a place where we can’t seem to connect with God on our own. That’s why a living, loving and uplifting church is so vital — and there are many out there, despite the cultural stereotypes. Most churches still offer the essentials but are evolving to help people encounter Christ in fresh, relevant ways. In those places, the love of God and his people is absolutely free and waiting for you. It’s your call.

By Rick Gamble. Published in Cross Current, the weekly newsletter of the followers of Christ congregation in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Reprint at will in not-for-profit publications. To subscribe to this free weekly article, send a note to Rick at rgamble@bfree.on.ca