Why a Bad Economy May be Good for Church Planting

There is no doubt that we are in the midst of bad economic times both locally and globally.  In these times, some may make the case it is not presently wise to try to plant a church because this environment will make it difficult to gather people and raise money.  I disagree with this assessment and would contend that the bad economy is better for church planting.

Pastor John Piper recently wrote a blog post titled Bad Times are Good For Missions.  There is no doubt that his observations apply to national and international church planting.  Pastor John explains that during the worst times for Israel God gave the best promises, such as Lamentations 3:22-23:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (3:22-23)

From this biblical reflection, he makes the following points that can be easily applied to this church plant:

1. During an economic downturn we are more dependent on God. That is the most fertile soil for creating missionaries.
2. During an economic downturn unreached people around the world do not expect you to come, but to look out for yourself. So they may more likely see your risk as love rather than exploitation.
3. During an economic downturn those who need Christ around the world may be less secure in earthly things and more ready to hear about eternal life.
4. During an economic downturn people at home may be wakened to the brevity of life and the fragility of material things, and so may become more generous not less. And when they give under these circumstances, it will make Christ look all the more like the all-satisfying Treasure that he is.

I believe that those most overwhelmed by the gospel of God’s grace will still give and may give more during this economic downturn.  I also believe that more people will see the joy in Jesus Christ through the gospel during this time than times of economic blessing — particularly those who never believed in Jesus before.

May these bad times bring great joy to St. Paul through the church plant!

The State of the American Church

Photo by kansasexplorer

Many of you have heard of the State of the Union address.  It is perhaps more important for Christians to understand the state of the American church.

It may be surprising to some, but the church in American is not healthy.  Consider the following stats (Scott Thomas, “Why Start a Church,” Acts 29 Bootcamp, 2006):

• Roughly 3,500 churches die and close each year in America.
  There are only enough church plants to keep up with 1/8 of the U.S. population growth.
• There are only 100 churches planted for every 1 million people and with an average attendance of 80 to 90 people that means they will house only 8,000 to 9,000 people.
• Nationally, the population grew 13.2% between 1990 and 2000 but new churches were only planted at a 5% rate.
• The United States remains the fourth largest mission field in the world.  A continuous influx of people from all over the world created this phenomenon.
• Approximately 2000 new immigrants and visitors come to the U.S. daily.  Thousands of them come to live here permanently and others stay a few years for business or for further education.  The mission field is right at out doorsteps!

Much more will continue to be said about the state of the american church on this blog, but I thought the above points are a good overview.

The Next Christendom is not America

Many find the thought of planting churches in North America silly.  Some American Christians believe that reaching the lost exclusively applies to anywhere but the U.S.  The thinking is that the lost are out there in South America, Africa and the 10/40 window.  There is no doubt that this passion to reach the world is admirable and needed.  We need so many churches all over the world, especially the 10/40 window.  However, in today’s religious climate, spreading the gospel to the other side of your backyard is needed just as much if not more than many places on the other side of the ocean.

Philip Jenkins, who is Distinguished Professor of History and Religious Studies at Pennsylvania State University and author of The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity, gives us the following facts:

“the largest Christian communities on the planet are to be found in Africa and Latin America … Christianity should enjoy a worldwide boom in the new century, but the vast majority of believers will be neither white nor European, nor Euro-American.  According to the respected World Christian Encyclopedia, some 2 billion Christians are alive today, about one-third of the planetary total.  The largest single bloc, some 560 million, is still to be found in Europe.  Latin America, though, is already close behind with 480 million.  Africa has 360 million, and 313 million Asians profess Christianity.  North America claims about 260 million believers.  If we extrapolate these figures to the year 2025, and assume no great gains or losses through conversion, then there would be around 2.6 billion Christians, of whom 633 million would live in Africa, 640 million in Latin America, and 460 million in Asia.  Europe, with 555 million, would have slipped into third place.  Africa and Latin America would be in competition for the title of most Christian continent.  About this date, too, another significant milestone should occur, namely that these two continents will together account for half the Christians on the planet.  By 2050, only about one-fifth of the world’s 3 billion Christians will be non-Hispanic Whites. Soon, the phrase ‘a White Christian’ may sound like a curious oxymoron, as mildly surprising as ‘a Sweedish Buddhist’” (2-3).

Soon, calling America a “Christian nation” will be unthinkable.  Also, considering the facts above, I think we can all agree that saying church planting in North America is unneeded is just silly.  Church planting is needed both locally and globally.