Trending 2016: Accelerated decline of 100,000 American congregations and rise of the mini-denomination church
- The rise of the mini-denomination church.
- Increased pastoral tenure.
- Rise of alternative ministry placement organizations.
- Increase in the number of Millennials who are Christians.
- Accelerated decline of 100,000 American congregations.
- Churches no longer viewed favorably by many governmental units.
- More bivocational pastors and staff.
- Dramatic changes in senior adult ministries.
This is the study showing WHY our AG is declining since 2016 Terry Wiles Michael Ellis Carter Jr.
Interesting
Are we really on the decline? I just read this and it has a different point of view. https://www.charismamag.com/blogs/fire-in-my-bones/41981-don-t-believe-the-lie-that-christianity-is-declining?utm_source=Fire%20in%20my%20Bones&utm_medium=email&utm_content=subscriber_id:748656&utm_campaign=FIMB%20-%202019-07-10
more fake propaganda by Strang? It is declining in the US – stats show more and more cultural Christians
Written by J. Lee Grady, who has written there for over 20 years. He quotes statistics too.
Gary Micheal Epping He has been writing about Christian issues for a long time I think he has a good grasp on what’s going on.
Troy Day yes, but there is no US in heaven; maybe we will be speaking Chinese there? 🙂
Sometimes Christians get to talking about the church like Jimmy Carter talked about America being in a “malaise.” Reagan came along he still had a vision for American greatness. Now we have Trump determined to keep America great. He strikes the right tone for an American revival. We need to strike the right tone for the church to continue to move forward. Trump once told a group of pastors, “You don’t know the power you have.” Trump was able to tap into that power. However, as long as we think we are declining or dying, who will want to get aboard on the Church Train like they are getting on the Trump Train?
seriously, i personally believe many Christians were born again and received eternal life, when they read John’s Gospel, having never been to a Christian church. But then they look for a church that teaches believe only; but can’t find one because they have added on repentance or persevering as a condition of believing. So they evangelise and start unofficial home groups.
Jed Smock How to empty a church amongst USA former friends and allies overseas.
RichardAnna Boyce I am sorry but I don’t understand your point.
Jed Smock you mentioned Trump culture for making USA churches great again; but amongst USA former friends and allies overseas it would empty churches. Maybe a Bush junior culture would fill them.
Pardon me, but statement about “Trump Culture” are you referencing. How would W’s “culture” fill churches overseas. Overseas is a large area. Do you mean Europe? I am sorry I still don’t get your point.
Gary Micheal Epping dont trust char-mag on any of their stats
I have read J. Lee Grady’s columns since the nineties and find his reporting to be accurate and informative.
Gary Micheal Epping his – yes maybe most of the time but the rest? STRANG has a strange agenda indeed
J. Lee Grady does not work for Strang. He is freelance, but publishes a column in Charisma. What is your beef with Grady?
Daniel J Hesse contrary to some resent voices in the group saying MEGA churches are doing great and are the answer to church decline I used to believe that as well during the so called revivals and mega church hype but its gone now
What changed?
Daniel J Hesse idolatry. Pure idolatry! MEGA replaces Christ as the object of devotion.
Phil
Some of the practices and procedures I observe these days cause great angst and concern regarding the future.
Daniel J Hesse CULTURE changed and the CHURCH was influenced by the culture change When Christians start loosing the culture war they FIRST start crying how culture is bad and THEN let culture IN the church As a result cultural Christians take over the Church, no real message is preached SOULS join but are not truly saved and sanctified It is a slow process MEGA is the syndrome of Catholicism – big large mega taking over the world influencing political elections bringing Heaven on earth on our own and ruling earth without Christ present
From mega to mass?
There never should have been a “professional pastor”. Local churches should be led by aTEAM of ELDERS who SHARE the teaching, shepherding (the real definition of “pastor”), planting (apostolic) exhorting (prophetic) and expanding (evanglistic) fuctnions and recruitment from an ACTIVE local Body. Eph. 4: 12; 1 Cor. 12-14; etc.
Good luck
There never should have been a “professional pastor”. ??? Philip Williams may disagree on this one quite a bit
that’s allowed 🙂
Troy Day actually, I agree with Steve Losee, though that only works if everyone is devoted to the Lord, which should actually be the case. The church order should be that of a family rather than ‘hired Christians’ as the case with professionals. Ministry should be something that all Christians do.
Charles Page heard a guy who served in just about every official in a denomination group saying ministry is not a career its a calling – will he return all moneys and benefits earned while in office?
Troy Day it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom. It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a “sewing needle” than for a COG bishop to surrender his “unbiblical Income” from official misrepresentations!
I don’t believe in BiVocational ministers as a general rule.
I know that comment will draw opposition.
Charles Page you mean like Paul, the tentmaker?
Charles Page you dont believe them at all? Or you dont believe they should hold 2 jobs or what?
Philip Williams no Paul was not bi-voc however in financial straights he resorted to his trade to supplement his ministry. When his finances were replenished he returned to ministry.
Troy Day you have a way of not asking a question!!!
Charles Page I didnt understand what you asked When you dont believe in BiVocational ministers as a general rule, you dont believe they exist or you dont believe their preaching or what? Wernt you a military ministry bi-vocational feller back in your day?
Troy Day no, never!
Charles Page who paid you to minister in Turkey – I call this bi vocational Arent you one now too? Philip Williams the only true bi-voc minister I ever knew was retired 🙂
back in my day bi-voc ministry was discouraged.
Troy Day I had to pay the national office and the general office and we were a local church – not a missionary outreach. We relied on local giving.
I certainly am not bi-voc now!
The problem comes from narrowing the church to what goes on at certain times in certain specialized buildings. But the church is the people in all aspects of their lives. Without such a view of the church as once existed in the church’s earliest days, these other questions cannot be resolved.
Charles Page I have discovered that’s ministers who have no experience in the real world have very little wisdom, end up immature and spoiled as babies. Seen this over and again.
Charles Page sounds like Paul was no bo from your description. Your approach would shut down much of the ministry of the body of Christ. There are lots of ministries.
Link Hudson yes it would…but it would clean out the ones in ministry for money!!
By excluding those from might istry those who do not get paid for it???!!!
No pastors, teachers, prophets, deacons, healers, muracle workers, discerners, or those with words if knowledge ir words if wisdom functioning in their gifts if.they have a job outside the church?
Today Paul would be a multi marketing distributor or he would be setting novice ministers up in a MM scheme to supplement their incomes.
Charles Page I doubt that he would be involved in these shysterisms.
Philip Williams many modern day apostles are involved in pyramid schemes. multi-level marketing
Charles Page there are no modern day Apostles. The foundation for the church has already been laid by those who Jesus appointed.
Philip Williams I am not prepared to believe that however I am alluding to false modern day apostles, which are numerous!
Charles Page the Apostles had Jesus’s own authority. I know some today who suppose that, but do you know of any that really do?
I would like to meet them. That would be like meeting Jesus.
I can only speak for myself and I have Jesus’ authority. I don’t know of another.