KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- While the Barna Research Group reported only 12 percent of Americans say Sept. 11 impacted their religious faith, pastors of some Christian churches say the faith of their members who worshiped regularly before the attacks is strengthening as war with Iraq looms.

According to a report in the Kansas City Metro Voice, Dr. Pam Harris, minister for health for the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Overland Park, Kan., believes church members -- even those whose relatives are deployed in the Middle East -- are less uneasy than the unchurched.

"Overall anxiety in the church does not seem to be that great right now," Harris said. "People seem to have comfort and assurance about a potential war."

"Our members have been much more willing to step out and witness," he said. "People need to know the Lord, because they can slip into eternity at any time."

Scott Sundin, senior pastor at Blue Ridge Bible Church in Kansas City, Kan., sees a congregation that is energized and focused.

"We can't attribute our increased attendance to the impending war, but we can attribute our increased emphasis on prayer to the war," he said. "We are praying for our missionaries in the Middle East, for their safety and their fruit. Our spiritual intensity has been ratcheted up a notch."

Many churches are developing practical programs to address concerns in the congregation. Some are having special services for those with loved ones in the military; the College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kan., also is setting up a support group for members who have a friend or relative serving the country.

South Kansas City Baptist is encouraging members to reach out in love to Muslims they may encounter.

"The only discussion we have had is that we need to show the love of Christ to the Muslims in our community," Logsdon said. "Our concern is with stereotyping Muslims as terrorists rather than showing the love of Christ."

More than anything else, local pastors are encouraging members to pray through these difficult times.

"We certainly know the world is now on our doorstep and that what takes place in other parts of the world now affects us," said Daniel Vanderpool, executive pastor of College Church of the Nazarene. "We need to pray not only for our own leaders but all world leaders, even those who do not know Christ as Savior. God can work and rule in their own lives for good."

Vanderpool takes courage in church history, knowing that God can use even war and terrorism for his divine purposes.

"Any time people are going through persecution, they move closer to the Lord or further away," he said. "Some of the greatest revivals in the history of nations have taken place when persecution is going on. Pray that this will create an opportunity for more doors to open."