A Frank Discussion about the Church and the Lost

A Frank Discussion about the Church and the Lost - 2 Corinthians 5:13-15

 

“then all died” What does a lost world  - the “all” - look like?

 

Evangelical U.S. Church =

7%-9% of population

91% lost

 

Current population growth

18%

 

Current rate of church growth

-3%

 

Understanding church decline:

4,000 close – 1,000 new

2005-2010: teen attendance drops from 20% to 10%

Baptism rate lower than 1950

 

Giving trends:

Each year now, Christians set record lows

Age 75+ give FOUR TIMES higher percentage than ages 25-44

 

Age                  25-44  35-44  45-54

 % given          .80%   .89%   1.06%

 

Age                 % given by generation

65+                              46%

55-64                           22%

45-54                           17%

35-44                           11%

Under 35                       4%

 

Question: How do we reach the “all”?

 

Answer: FBC is investing in the church planting movement

 

Through:

ABSC partnership

Direct church planting

Venue @ Chapel Hill

 

Church Plant Partnerships

True North Church, Anchorage – 19

Living Water Church, Poughkeepsie – 13

Aviator Church, Wellington – 65

True Life Church, Wichita – 40

Ignite Church, Naples – (decisions) 257

 Grace Without Borders Prison Ministry – 294

Strong Tower BC, Los Pastores – 10

 

Truth 1: We must learn to live “compelled”… and “should no longer live for ourselves, but Him who died.”

 

Truth 2: Living for ourselves …will starve the evangelism movement that answers the question.

 

Question:

What is your largest personal hurdle to investing in the “all”?

What does FBC need to do to help you make a deeper commitment to investing in the “all”?

gregaddison@fbccabot.org