Here are some statistics that John Piper cited from David Earley in a recent sermon:
1. There are 195 million non-churched people in America, making America one of the top four largest “unchurched” nations in the world.
2. In spite of the rise of mega-churches, no county in America has a greater church population than it did ten years ago.
3. During the last ten years, combined communicant membership of all Protestant denominations declined by 9.5 percent (4,498,242), while the national population increased by 11.4 percent (24,153,000).
4. Each year 3,500 to 4,000 churches close their doors forever; yet only as many as 1,500 new churches are started.
5. There are now nearly 60 percent fewer churches per 10,000 persons than in 1920.
- In 1920 27 churches existed for every 10,000 Americans.
- In 1950 17 churches existed for every 10,000 Americans.
- In 1996 11 churches existed for every 10,000 Americans.
6. “Today, of the approximately 350,000 churches in America, four out of five are either plateaued or declining.”
7. American denomination recently found that 80% of its converts came to Christ in churches less than two years old.
8. Hence the claim of many leaders: “The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches” (Peter Wagner).
He also lists some poverty statistics taken from Wikipedia, which everybody should be familiar with by now. Find them here.
Just for fun, I found a quick map that gives a generalized picture of religious adherents in the US from 2000: Religious Adherents. The map is from a page on Valparaiso University’s web site called American Ethnic Geography.
So, how does the statistic that America is in the top four unchurched nations in the world settle with you? And do you agree with that last claim that “the single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches”?
Loading ...
November 16, 2007 at 13:20
Interesting points. I do agree that planting more churches is an effective way of evangelizing the world. Paul established many churches wherever he went. The more churches we plant, the more the message goes out (not just in word, but in deeds and in helping the community). Plus, newer churches become more intimate and more “one-one” and people are more likely to sit down and discuss matters of faith.
November 16, 2007 at 14:42
As I look at the map, I have to wonder if the results are misleading. For instance, I don’t live in North Dakota, anymore, but I can still tell the counties by their shape and location. The counties that have the highest populations are the ones with the lowest number of people attending church regularly. It’s possible that there is more diversity in those areas, or those who don’t go to church in the smaller towns eventually move to a bigger ones, but something just doesn’t seem right with either of those explanations.
November 16, 2007 at 17:53
I must admit that even though I have been in contact with missionaries who are trying to plant churches in Islamic countries I’ve never really thought too hard about it. The only stuff I’ve read has been about Mars Hill in Velvet Elvis. But then I think back about my own denomination, which is the major backer of the Belfast City Mission which establishes missions around Belfast in Northern Ireland and while they are not the same as ‘proper’ churches in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland they are effectively churches and the BCM has been planting them, it’s just a different terminology. I go to a country church about an hour from Belfast so I don’t have direct experience of how the BCM works with the local established churches, but I believe the elders of the churches help run the missions along with the missionary himself.
Anyway, apart from the big housing projects Northern Ireland seems to have enough protestant churches. However my demonination is supposed to cover the whole of Ireland and I think sometimes we forget about our brothers and sisters across the border where some churches need strengthening, but many communities just need churches.
November 18, 2007 at 05:20
In the UK, I’ve recently finished serving at a ‘church’ that’s big on presentation, small on serving. I’m more convinced than ever that being there to serve those around us is FAR more important than establishing a building, Pastor and choir! Evangelism through the (un-churched/ un-faithed) community is living out the gospel directive ”...... that THEY might see YOUR good works, and glorify (OUR) Father in Heaven”. Let the ‘church’ grow from this service. Witnessing can be done along the way one-on-one; being a friend; pushing that wheelchair; painting that fence; cooking that meal. I’m very poor at this myself, but am determined to improve; I have my sister as an example. Leave Holy Spirit to do His part.
By the way, there’s a saying: “There are lies, damned lies, and statistics!!”
November 18, 2007 at 19:08
I tend to agree that there is a need for more churches. That is in line with Paul’s mission. However, living in a community where there are many “store-front churches”, I feel that there not only is there a need for churches but, a need for unity among the saints. So much more could be done for the community of those “un-churched”, if we all just got together and had CHURCH. If I feed the homeless, provide for the widows,pray for the sick and proclaim the message of the cross to all. People will be “churched” through me.
November 20, 2007 at 06:10
Wow!
Why then do we in other countries latch onto & promote the stuff that comes out of the USA as though it is God Himself giving us instructions?
Why is it that so many americans think that they alone are God’s voice to the world?
I agree with TimC – we need to get back to the basics! Serving instead of ruling (or Pastoring as the term is used today!)
It is also a matter of mathematics – the guy who leads a church of 2500 people is no bigger or in fact smaller than the guy who leads a church of 20 people – once you take the population size into account. So again, why do we listen to the so called mega church preachers when in fact they are leading fewer people once you work out the ratios? Is it all down to “Christian Publishers” marketing strategy?
November 23, 2007 at 11:04
I totally agree with this blog. The United States being the third most populous nation on this earth needs more churches than ever before. Its plain simple. More new churches more new believers.
November 26, 2007 at 15:33
We don’t need more churches in America…we need more Christians to live out their faith. I know dozens of nonChristians who are disappointed in and burned by the church and need more than anything to see a living example OUTSIDE of the building—a friend to come alongside them and not a 90 minute service to try and sell them one more idea when they are already exhausted from hearing ideas and pitches of how “this will change your life” from everyone else who can get their attention.
No matter how sincere the church, there are thousands who will not enter the building because of how poorly we have lived out our faith.
November 28, 2007 at 05:25
Go and read what Pops has to say and then check it out Tone…..in HIS service
November 30, 2007 at 14:36
ive been planting churches in mexico city in the last 2 years
ive been minister over 20 years many rolls in church
im just moved to corpus christi tx
im married with american woman citizen
im interested plant church in corpus christi
do you know some organization which want to plant church in corpus christi
let me know it
god leads everything you are doing