Why We Need to Plant New Churches… Nationwide

Mission Spokane ^ | Harvesting Churches Newsletter

[xzins]

Why We Need to Plant New Churches… Nationwide

According to the January, 1996 Gallup Princeton Religion Report, there are an estimated 195 million unchurched in the United States. During the last ten years the total combined membership of all Protestant denominations declined by 9.55%, nearly 4.5 million people, while the population of the U.S. increased by 11.4%, or more than 24 million.(4)

In 1991, 49% of those polled said they attended church regularly. In 1996, only 37% said they did.(5)

Evangelical churches have failed to gain an additional two percent of the American population in the past fifty years.(6) In other words, we are not even reaching our children!

No county in America has a greater percentage of churched persons today than a decade ago and half of all churches did not add one new member through "conversion growth" last year.(7)

Add to this the estimate that churches lose 2,765,000 people to nominalism and secularism each year, and between 3,500 to 4,000 churches close their doors each year for the last time (10.27 per day, 72.11 per week); while only 1,100-1,500 churches are started each year (3.42 per day, 24.03 per week).(8)

The church in post-Christian America is seemingly losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the American people. North America is the only continent where Christianity is not growing.(9)

Tom Clegg, National Director of Church Planting for the Open Bible Standard Churches says, "What once was the number one sending nation of foreign missionaries is now the thirteenth largest receptor nation." (10)

References:

(1) Dan Grether, A Brief Look at the Harvest, 1999. (2) Dan Grether, A Look at the Harvest, 1999. Available from dgrether@soar.com (3) David Garrison, Church Planting Movements (4) Charles Arn, ASCG Journal of Church Growth, Autumn, 1996. (5) George Barna, Church In The World Today. (6) George Barna, American Profile. (7) Arn, op. cit. (8) Ibid. (9) George Gallup, Church In The World Today. (10) Thomas T. Cleg, paper entitled The Need for Church Planting in America, 1996. (Note: Each of the above references (#1-6) were cited in this paper.) (11) Charles Ridley, adapted from How To Select Church Planters,1988, Fuller Evangelistic Association

[xzins]

That we are not reaching our own children is troubling.

That there are 195 million unreached in the USA says that the non-Christian group is twice as large as the Christian group.

[devane617]

We need to plant Conservative Media Outlets...It ain’t religion that runs the country, it’s the MSM.

[xzins]

Among other things, a church is an information dissemination outlet. A group of church expands that exponentially.

That is one reason that the state seeks ways to control churches.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Yes it is troubling about the young people especially.

I have read that, as a group, the children and teenagers with the fewest problems as they grow up are those who go to church,and get involved in church youth programs. That’s amazing to think about. With all of the social pathologies that our young people fall prey to, one of the best remedies is church youth programs and church involvement.

The securlarists are afraid of advocating for young people to go to church because they are afraid they might be exposed to something that might cause them to want to learn more about religious faith or Jesus. They tend to criticize faith based initiatives such as advocated by Bush because they don’t want to admit that there is anything beneficial about religion.

[enat]

If we were to follow the model Jesus left for the church we would be doing just that; constantly planting new churches; if we don’t, He has a way to use persecution to scatter us so we will plant churches where we are driven.

[Wallace T.]

The assessment is probably on target. However, I would be cautious as to arrive at any conclusion from data that is generally a decade old. There are other factors at play. As for churches closing, much of that relates to ethnic and racial changes as much as increasing secularism. There are few minority group members who are Lutherans or Presbyterians, for example. Gentrification can take a toll as well. An urban neighborhood that was made up of white Catholic blue collar workers 30 years ago may now be filled with young professional singles and couples who have purchased the homes of the former residents, who have passed on or moved to the suburbs. Additionally, much of the country's population growth stems from immigration, legal or not. A huge number of these immigrants are non-Christians (most Asians who are not Korean or Filipino) or nominal ones (the majority of Latin immigrants).

The core point, that evangelicals and other Christians have not retained most of the children raised in their churches, is probably correct. However, better support for the argument is needed.

[RJR_fan]

It won’t do any good to plant new Christian churches, if we keep on handing our kids over to the secular humanist churches for 30 hours a week! If we don’t believe in our own faith passionately enough to raise our children in it, evangelistic crusades are exercises in hypocrisy. If secular humanism is good enough for our kids, why recommend Christianity to our neighbors?

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[Clemenza]

Per pew, 1/3 of those raised in the Catholic faith leave the Church. The only reason the Catholic Church has gained adherents is via immigration, and many of these folks are nominally Catholic, at best.

[LS]

Yes, the "youts" aren't as Christian as the previous generation, and that's a concern.

Do not equate "churched" with believers, though. George Barna's research found significant numbers of believers (he says about 30%) who no longer attend church because they want a DEEPER spiritual relationship with God. They engage in "home groups," Bible studies, and a wide variety of other activities that don't fall under the traditional definition of "church." So yes, some of these numbers are troubling, but they don't tell the whole story.

[steve86]

1/3 of those raised in the Catholic faith leave the Church.

Many of those return later in life when they get wiser.

The only reason the Catholic Church has gained adherents is via immigration

A fatuous, specious statement.

[Salvation]

With Catholics in the picture, what do you think the numbers are?

[Salvation]

You would be surprised at how many of these Catholics are coming back. Your broad-brush picture is not true.

[Clemenza]

I am going by the Pew survey. I know that a few people return to the faith, but attrition from the Church by the native born is something that is borne out by surveys.

[Clemenza]

http://religions.pewforum.org/

[DakotaGator]

Hmmmm...could it have something to do with the perception that American churches have nothing to do with faith? Might it be that American churches are all about control, milking their congregations for money, and using that same money to fund their pet socialist, anti-American agendas? And maybe, just maybe, a good portion of Americans are sick and tired of this?

Enquiring minds want to know!

[Salvation]

Disbelieve no longer!

Catholic Parishes Flourish in Southern U.S.
Bible-belt Catholics
Number of Catholics Rises by 15 Million (Diocesan Priests Increase; Religious Decrease)
Spanish Catholicism still very robust (3 shrines and The Sagrada Familia)
Catholics outsource praying to India

Catholic Priests in India 'Outsourced' to Meet Clergy Shortage in West
Christian Coalition head (in Ala.) becomes Catholic
Church growth continues for Catholic and Pentecostals; six mainline denominations decline
Young people turn against their parents' 'church lite'
Pope calls US Church to repentance and renewal

A father for the 11th time - Widower becomes Catholic priest
Number of Adults Who Don't Attend Church Service Doubles
Huge Christian growth shocks China's leaders
Church Attendance Increased : Protestants have now clearly overtaken Catholics in church attendance
Catholics Trail Protestants in Church Attendance [Gallup]

Church Attendance Linked to Longer Life
Church Growth and Eveangelism
Dozens of Episcopalians Follow Leader into Catholic Church
Thousands prepare to join U.S. Catholic Church this Easter
Where Have All the People in the Pews Gone?

More Than 150,000 People to Join Catholic Church Holy Saturday
Spirituality on the rise on college campuses
Analysis: Rome up, Protestantism down?
Benedict's Logic: A Church Contracting & Expanding Simultaneously
CHRISTIANITY EXPLODING WORLDWIDE; 3RD WORLD SENDING MISSIONARIES [V ENCOURAGING DOC]
Christianity taking over the planet?

Local pews straining to hold increasing Catholic population
Catholic Church is losing sway in Europe (Opinion from Ireland)
Has the Catholic Church given up the Ghost?
Statistics Reveal Africa Is (Catholic) Church's New Hope
Chicago Ordains Largest Class of Priests in a Decade

Reviving a dream: Big hopes of little congregation growing for Orthodox church
Ancient rhythm: Converts to Orthodoxy growing in America
Catholic Church Prepares for Cold War With Evangelists
IS THE CHURCH LIKELY TO SHRINK--AND SHOULD IT?
Church Attendance in Germany Experiences Huge Growth after Pope Benedict Elected

Foreign priests want to fill a need- if Americans let them
A Church That Packs Them In, 16,000 at a Time
(Catholic) Church Growing Everywhere Except Eurpoe
Scranton former Anglicans to be received as a body into the Catholic Church
A Letter from a Former Episcopalian

Catholic Sanctuaries Expand as Available Priests Decrease (Catholic MegaChurches Alert!)
In Brazil, Signs of Reconversions - Bishop Says Evangelicals Are Returning to Church
Where Have All the Protestants Gone?
Thousands take final steps toward joining church
Spirituality May Be Hot in America, But 76 Million Adults Never Attend Church

Mongolia's Catholics: 300 and Growing (Christianity introduced in 1992)
Protestant Churches Disappearing; More Catholics Than Total of All 19 Prot. Denominations Listed
Megachurch Attendance in America
Hong Kong diocese to baptize 2,400 catechumens
Catholic, Mormon, and Pentecostal Churches Fastest Growing

This Year's Intake (the newest members of the Tiber Swim Team)
Thousands to Join Catholic Church Holy Saturday
This Catholic church is born again (Evangelical approach helps attendance soar)
400 local (Palm Beach) Catholic converts enter new faith
Baptism of adults increasing steadily in France

The number of young parishioners growing in the Russian Church
There Is a Catholic Oasis in Dubai. And Another Has Sprung Up in Venice
Six million African Muslims leave Islam per year
The numbers game: Stats give picture of Pope John Paul's pontificate
Study Sees Church Rebounding From Scandal

Another One Takes the Plunge [swims the Tiber]
A faith in flux (the Catholic Church)
Mapping religion in America
Good news from Iraq: retired Iraqi general says record number of Muslims turning to Christ
Presb. Church USA launches ambitious plan to lose only 5% of members

U.S. Catholic population up (nears 70 million), most other church data down
Once-great churches are falling apart
Churchmen on brink of exodus over women bishops
Inside Iran: A Rising Chorus [Young Iranians leave Islam for Christianity]
From pulpit to monastery (Presbyterian (female) pastor becomes Catholic)

The worst of times: Evangelicalism in critical condition
Six theologians cross the Tiber
The Conversion Story of Patty Patrick Bonds [Protestant TULIPers Converts to Catholicism]
Catholic Diocese of Orlando lays out major growth plan (proposes 15 more parishes, 5 new schools)
YOUNG, RESTLESS, REFORMED: Calvinism is making a comeback - and shaking up the church

Ex-Lutheran bishop found Catholic rock: Joseph Jacobson to be ordained Catholic priest by Christmas
Poll: Pentecostals widening influence
Romeward Bound: Evaluating Why Protestants Convert to Catholicism
Two conclusions about Catholicism in the south
Study Says Hispanics Alter U.S. Catholicism

The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism
Rising Protestant tide sweeps Catholic Brazil
Catholic decline stabilizing in Brazil
In U.S., Hispanics bring Catholicism to its feet
Church grows by attraction, not proselytism, Pope says

Research Shows the Largest Religion in the United States is Catholic; Second is Inactive Catholics
Roman Catholics total 64 million in U.S. ["counting Catholics is really more art than science"]
Top 25 Multiplying Churches in America
Global South as Growing Force in Catholic Church
The "Fastest-Growing" Fallacy

Flock increasing; priests dwindling (Richmond VA)
Study: Recent grads [SBC seminary] 3 times more likely to be Calvinists
Britain has become a 'Catholic country'
Vatican: Islam Has "Overtaken" Catholicism (With Population Increases, Muslims Now Larger)
Muslims outnumber Catholics

It's official: 57,572 left PCUSA in 2007 [open]

[Lee N. Field]

North America is the only continent where Christianity is not growing.(9)

(Ignoring Antarctica) It's growing in Europe?

That there are 195 million unreached in the USA says that the non-Christian group is twice as large as the Christian group.

The nominally Christian group.

Any chance you've read David Wells' The Courage to be Protestant?

[P-Marlowe]

If we were to follow the model Jesus left for the church we would be doing just that; constantly planting new churches...

There are plenty of churches in the USA. The problem is that nobody goes to them. Putting up a new church in a town where everyone is "unchurched" is not going to accomplish a thing unless the new church is dedicated to making disciples of Christ and taking the gospel message to the world. It will not only do no good to try to bring the "unchurched" into a dead church, it is worse than leaving these people "unchurched". Feeding the "unchurched" a watered down gospel or substituting a social gospel for a saving gospel is worse than no gospel at all. If you feed them a watered down or social gospel they will eventually become innoculated against the real thing.

Don't plant new churches until you have enough solid Christians to fill them. When your church is bursting at the seams with too many solid Christian believers, and the parking lot is overcrowded and you are getting complaints from neighbors, then (and only then) should you consider planting a new church.

[Tax-chick]

Do you think that planting new churches, as opposed to revitalizing existing churches, is efficient? My area is full of historic Methodist and Baptist churches, almost on every rural corner with no stoplight :-). Some are growing, attracting families, and making a presence in the community, but others have tiny congregations and seem to have things going on rarely.

This is a booming suburban/exurban area — the population is here, if they would go for some reason to those churches.

[ovrtaxt]

House churches. This is the next wave.

[xzins]

These folks, if I read them correctly, are part of the house church movement. I think they believe in divide and conquer.

[PAR35]

Do you think that planting new churches, as opposed to revitalizing existing churches, is efficient?

It can be easier to plant a new church than to re-vitalize an old one. The old church is going to have entrenched leadership and a membership that is resistant to change.

And I'm not just talking about change in worship style (as some studies indicate that young folks prefer a more traditional worship than do the aging boomers). Folks with different skin colors, crying babies in the back of the sanctuary, rebuilding a nursery and children's Sunday school program - the old leaders don't want the disruption.

Layer on a couple of generations of bad theology, and it's easier to plant a new congregation.

[P-Marlowe]

Here is their current mission statement:

The most recent church planting events to take place in Spokane was the Organic Church Planting Greenhouse this past January 2002, led by Neil Cole and Paul Kaak, who were with us for a GlobaLocal Convergence seminar and Conversations about Organic (House) Church Planting in mid-October of 2001.

And here is their current calendar of events:

The Church Planting Ministry is led by Pastor Joe Wittwer of Life Center, the team has a vision of the congregations of Spokane and the Inland Northwest offering 7-10 new congregations by fall 2001 to those yet unchurched.

If you are interested in resources that are being offered to assist your church planters, please see Joe's letter to Spokane area pastors.

For further information…

	Update Church Planting Letter from Pastor Joe August 2001
	Update Church Planting Letter from Paster Joe September 12, 2000
	Pastor Joe Wittwer's letter to area congregations July 19, 2000
	Church Planting- Introduction
	Why We Need to Plant New Churches
	Planting Urban Churches and Crowns of Beauty Conferences
	Let's Stop Planting Sterile Churches!
	Church Planting Movements

Sounds like their Church Planting efforts are really growing.

[xzins]

If it’s true that 195,000,000 Americans are unchurched, then thank God someone is doing something.

2 out of 3 people we run into every day are without a church.

....daily, and from house to house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus...

[P-Marlowe]

These people haven’t updated their website since 2006. I don’t think they are being all that effective. Planted Churches need seeds. The seeds of a good church will produce a good planted church.

[xzins]

The seeds of a good church will produce a good planted church.

I agree.

However, I just don't think God intended 2 out of 3 people to go without churches when it is "I will build My Church."

There is nothing biblical to verify that 2 out of 3 are not supposed to be part of a church, but in my gut it just feels wrong.

[Tax-chick]

Interesting points, thanks. It does seem that a lot of factors have to be in place to turn around a church that has lost focus and lost membership.

[ViLaLuz]

“That we are not reaching our own children is troubling.”

I believe public schools have a lot to do with this.

[Buggman]

Agreed. Home fellowships are obviously not being counted by these polls, but I seriously doubt that a significant percentage of the unchurched are actually just meeting in homes.

Another problem with home fellowships is that they tend to be very insular, with little outreach or accountability--of course, this problem also extends to many independent churches. Another problem is that those leading such fellowships usually have little to no training in theology (and its related subjects of languages, history, etc.), making it easy to get off-course Biblically.

The solution is not necessarily to become part of a denominational hierarchy or to go to cemetery--I'm sorry, seminary. Rather, home and independent fellowships need to network with each other, and their leaderships come together to discuss important and difficult theological issues. Everyone, including--especially--the leaders need to be willing to be discipled in areas where they are weak or unknowledgeable.

I seem to remember reading about just such a networked body. I think it was in a book called Acts.

[xzins]

I think it was in a book called Acts.

Some even considered them ignorant and uneducated...but they did note "that they had been with Jesus."

Too many "professional religious" folks give too much evidence that "they have NOT been with Jesus."

[Rightly Biased]

http://www.bluebonnetbaptist.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=21991&PID=48912

Actually the Southern Baptist association that My local Body of Believers is a part of does a pretty good job of planting churches in our area check out the link.

[Buggman]

Very true, very true. Also note that they had been with Jesus as disciples--students--for over two years, and perhaps as many as three-and-a-half, of intensive study and field-work before being "on their own" (insofar as any man with the Spirit is on his own).

The problem with many pastors is that they learned in seminary or bible college, but didn't learn "with Jesus"--too many schools leave the Lord outside knocking on the door. The problem with many home and independent fellowship leaders is that they never sat at the feet of a mentor who walks with Yeshua before striking out on their own.

Both ways risk running off the straight and narrow.

[enat]

“Another problem with home fellowships is that they tend to be very insular, with little outreach or accountability—”

Our church just started the “home church” project using the “Greenhouse” approach. Our home bible studies arising from our 40 Days of Purpose (oops, I said a dirty phrase) 5 years ago was successful in drawing in the unchurched, so instead of spending a lot of money expanding we are going with the home church and quarterly joint worship where all the groups come together for worship and a fellowship meal. The home church leaders meet together monthly for instruction and are all on the same curriculum. The accountability is upward and outward. The emphasis is on equipping saints to reproduce so new home churches are borne.

We still have 2 services on Sunday morning but encourage the home bible studies for the close accountability for passing the faith along. The finances go into ministry/programs rather than buildings.

[xzins]

Good ideas. Can you post links to the programs, materials, and/or church?

[enat]

This is the program we are using. It starts with a two day seminar for leaders and then self perpetuates.

http://cmaresources.org/greenhouse

[xzins]

Thanks enat.