Deja View : An updated look at some of the people, places and programs featured in Valley View during the year : RELIGION : Churches Report Attendance Gains Since Gulf War

During the Gulf War, church attendance shot up in the San Fernando Valley. Months later, religious congregations of many denominations say they have been able to keep those new members.

“It wasn’t just foxhole religion after all,” said Pastor Jess Moody of Shepherd of the Hills Baptist Church in Chatsworth. “Those who came to our church during the Gulf War found it an affirming place.”

Those Gulf War attendance increases ranged from 7% to 40%, and the retention is credited to people looking for spiritual guidance and desiring to belong in a community.

Some churches, such as the 3,000-member St. John Baptist de La Salle Catholic Church in Granada Hills, say they have retained their new members by catering to today’s spiritual needs.

“We’ve added new classes, such as updating Catholic teachings in relation to the modern world,” Father John Messina said. “This has made the new members even more active in our parish.”

At the charismatic, nondenominational Church on the Way in Van Nuys, the 8,000-member congregation has been able to sustain its 10% increase by having a special worship night.

“We made Wednesday night a special time where we could have 45 minutes of worshiping that focused on international and national concerns,” Associate Pastor Dan Hicks said. “It’s given them a sense of community.”

At Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in West Hills, the 500-member congregation has been able to hold on to its 20% wartime increase in membership simply by focusing on worship.

“We have tried to enhance the worship experience for our members, and it has been very popular,” Pastor Brian Woken said.

At Agoura Hills’ largest Jewish congregation, Temple Beth Haverim (House of Friends), the 30% increase experienced during the war turned out to be a congregation boom.

“That original class that met during the Gulf War continued to grow and now meets in chavurot , or small groups,” Rabbi Gary Johnson said. “This first class, as well as other factors, has helped us grow by more than 40% in 1991.”