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“Establishing churches with the intention that numerical growth will come from
evangelizing and discipling local people, particularly the
unchurched.”
1. 40% of Americans say they attend church regularly.
Breakdown
2. 20% in church on any given Sunday.
3. 5% attend church 5 out of 8 Sundays
4. 15% attend church sporadically
60% rarely if ever attend church.
Church Attendance in America
1. This past year 3500 churches closed their doors and 4000 new churches started.
2. 75-80% of church growth in America is people transferring from one church to another.
3. The percentage of people who call themselves “born again” stays at 32% year after year.
Church Growth In America
Cons. Anabaptist Church Plants
1.There are a some Anabaptist churches in which the majority are natives.
Cons. Anabaptist Church Plants Outside of North America
1.There are a some Anabaptist churches in which the majority are natives.2.Most are dependent on North Americans to keep the church operating. Members are not equipped to lead the church and take responsibility for it.
Cons. Anabaptist Church Plants in North America
1.The majority of attempts in America are colonization. Few join the church.2.Church plants end up being salt and light, rather than the catalyst for indigenous church plants.3.A few churches have a majority of local members, but most were previously Christians.4.Not aware of any churches in which the majority of the members were previously unchurched.5.Church plants often end up populating other churches or becoming acculturated.
Seekers
Plain People looking for a church that is more
authentic, alive, or active.
More Relevancy
More Opportunity
A Fresh Start
Transplant Growth
Independence / Leniency
Seekers
Protestants who are wanting something
more thanmainstream Christianity
Plain People looking for a church that is more
authentic, alive, or active.
Contemporary
Non-Conformists
More Relevancy
More Opportunity
Independence / Leniency
A Fresh Start A Clean Slate
Transplant Growth Transfer Growth
Seekers
Protestants who are wanting something
more thanmainstream Christianity
Plain People who are looking for a church that is more authentic, alive, or
active.
Transplant Growth Transfer Growth
What should our response be…
…if growth in our churches is posterity growth, transplant
growth, or transfer growth and not convert growth?
James 1:27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and
Father is this: to look after fatherless and widows in their distress
Who should we be seeking?
3.7 million do not live with either parent
24 million do not live with their biological father
25 million live in single parent home
Fatherless
James 1:27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and
Father is this: to look after fatherless and widows in their distress
Who should we be seeking?
13.6 million widows
Widows
Widows spend 14 years as a single (average)
Many widows experience financial hardship
Luke 712 As [Jesus] approached the town gate, a man who had
died was being carried out, the only son of his mother... 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came
up and touched the bier
Who should we be seeking?
2.5 million people die each year
Grieving
900,000 Americans die prematurely each year
32,000 Americans die in auto accidents
Psalm 68:6“God sets the lonely in families”
Lonely
Who should we be seeking?
168 million – Only one person close to them
5 million people - no one they talk with
What kind of families?a.Church Familiesb.Family of God
Exodus 23:9"You shall not oppress a stranger, since you
yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Who should we be seeking?
USA has 40 million foreign born immigrants
Immigrants
22 million are not citizens
1 million strangers enter the US each year.
70,000 of these are refugees
Psalm 14:1“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”
Who should we be seeking?
Unbelievers
Atheists – 10 Million (3%)
Nones – 50 Million (12.8%)
Agnostics – 13 Million (4%)
Jude 22“And have mercy on those who doubt;
Who should we be seeking?
Doubters
Adults 18-34 (Millennials) who doubt God’s existence 26 Million (31% of this age group)
64 Million Americans (20%) doubt the authority and relevance of the Bible. (Doubled in the last 5 years)
“Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Who should we be seeking?
The Educated
21 million college studentsOver half not Christian – 5.8 million are secularists
3.5 million scientists and engineers
1.5 Million College and University Faculty
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.”
Who should we be seeking?
The Uneducated131 Million (41 %) never went to college
188 million (59%) never graduated from college
38 million (12%) never graduated from high school
32 million adults (14%) can’t read
67 million adults (21%) read below 5th grade level
“Walk in Wisdom toward those who are without.”
Who should we be seeking?
Other Categories
Prisoners
Enemies
Gainsayers
Government workers
Criminals
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.”
Who should we be seeking?
Other Religious
2.2 million Buddhists
6 million Jews
2.8 million Muslims
2.2 million Hindus
6.4 million Mormons
Seeking Non-Seekers
Same vocation
Same ministry
Same neighborhood
Same stage of life
Host meetings based on common interests
Same hobbies
1. Child – 3.5% probability that family will follow.
2. Mother - 17% probability that family will follow.
3. Father - 93% probability that family will follow.
First Person in a Household to Convert to Christianity and
attend Church
Reaching Unchurched People
Is Your Church Ready?1. Your main meeting engages teenagers.2. People who attend your church actually know
unchurched people. 3. Your attenders (including children) are prepared to be
non-judgmental4. You’re good with questions. 5. You’re honest about your struggles.6. You have easy, obvious, strategic and helpful steps
for new people.7. You’ve dumped all assumptions. 8. You are flexible and adaptable.
15 Characteristics of Unchurched People
1. They don’t all have big problems.2. They feel less guilty than you think. 3. Occasional is regular. 4. Most are spiritual5. They are not sure what “Christian” means.6. You can’t call them back to something they never
knew.7. Many have tried church, even a little, but left.8. Something is generous9. They want you to be a Christian
15 Characteristics of Unchurched People
10. They are intelligent, so speak to that.11. They hate hypocrisy12. They love transparency13. They invite their friends if they like what they are discovering.14. Their spiritual growth trajectory varies dramatically.15. Some want to be anonymous and some don’t.