SIGNS of EVANGELICAL LIFE A Pessimist’s Optimism about the Movement’s Future 3 A CHURCH PLANTING GENERATION 6 National Association of Evangelicals Spring 2013
How are evangelical The State of Evangelicalism denominations growing? By Ed Stetzer President of LifeWay Research
DOUG FAGERSTROM ecent concern has been raised about the decline of evangelicalism in the face of Senior Vice President of Converge Worldwide the rise of the Nones — those who report “none” or “none of the above” when Converge churches are boldly sharing the gospel asked their religion. The headlines have proclaimed that Christianity is dying, and inviting people to say “Yes” to Jesus. Scores of and some evangelical Christians are joining in the “sky is falling” chants. Yet, churches are experiencing evangelistic growth and baptisms at record numbers. This movement when it comes to evangelicalism, no serious researcher believes it is collapsing. has been fueled by both our new church starts and FactsR are our friends and we need a few here. existing church models that demonstrate serious But, there is decline — in self-identified gospel proclamation. Protestants, primarily in mainline churches. Many who once identified themselves as BILL HOSSLER nominal mainline Protestants now identify President of the Missionary Church as nothing. The nominals have become the Overseas ministry has always been important to the Missionary Church, but in the last 10 years nones. God has brought us in contact with strong national As such, we see that Christianity isn’t leaders in several countries who have a heart for dying — cultural Christianity is. Actually, making disciples. Through our discipleship networks worldwide, we have seen an incredible increase in I see vibrant churches across the country the individual conversions and church plants. (and so many more around the world). Look in the center of many communities JEFF JEREMIAH and we see churches buying back former cathedrals and filling them with young Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church committed congregations. Four thousand churches are being planted each year — more Since 2007 the Evangelical Presbyterian Church has than are closing. Non-Anglo churches are spreading wherever new people find themselves. experienced dramatic growth through the reception of churches from other denominations. Since 2010 Many churches are seeking to move from being passive spectators to active disciples church planting in the United States and globally has joining God on his mission. Young adults that are committed are living out their faith with also produced exciting growth. EPC World Outreach more passion than ever before, and authentic churches are successfully reaching them. is successfully promoting church planting where people have no contact with Christ and the gospel. The sky isn’t falling. The Spirit is always at work in the hearts of people, and the mission remains. ROY TAYLOR Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church in America The Presbyterian Church in America’s growth has primarily come from church planting and large Best Practices for Growing Churches churches becoming larger. Our campus ministry has reached many students who become members of By Alan McMahan Associate Professor at Biola University & Editor of Great Commission PCA churches. Ethnic diversity has expanded. Nearly Research Journal 20 percent of our churches are Korean. We’ve also seen an increase in multi-ethnic congregations. Most of us have an understanding such as prayer and of how churches grow based on our fasting? GEORGE WOOD experience and what we discern from In getting answers General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God churches around us. But looking closer to these questions, In the past five years, 1,597 new Assemblies of God at the real causes of growth is a complex researchers have churches have opened in the USA. In the past two years, more than one new church has opened every undertaking. How much is related to the studied hundreds of day. Ethnic minorities make up 41 percent of the specific community in which the church churches to discern Assemblies of God in the USA, and forms a growing is located? Or related to the personality or effective practices of growing churches. edge of our movement. gifting of the pastor or the design of the Here are some observations: ministries? Or related to spiritual factors 1. Growing churches see adding new (continued page 2) FROM THE PRESIDENT Leith Anderson Signs of Evangelical Life: Why Evangelicals Grow A Pessimist’s Optimism about the Movement’s Future I grew up in New England, or as it is more life in a similarly “ he Assemblies of God is the fastest-growing religious body in Minnesota at a time when properly known in some circles, “Red Sox perilous time seven other Protestant groups are shrinking,” according to the Star Tribune (Minnesota’s largest C ou nt r y.” decades ago, led by “No trend perfectly newspaper).The stories of growing evangelical churches and denominations are repeated across T This was the 1980s and 90s, long before the Harold Ockenga, America. “We kind of have a church-planting fever,” according the Reverend Clarence St. John, district foretells the future, but World Championships of recent years. You Carl F. H. Henry superintendent of the Assemblies of God in Minnesota. Why is this? Why are evangelicals growing? grew up a Red Sox fan in those decades, and and Billy Graham. it appears from expert The reasons are multiple. you had to get accustomed to pessimism. The This data is basically sources that there 1. Evangelicals are evangelistic. While some of our growth is from the demographic birth rate we believe in the Sox had talent over the years, but somehow it unknown, but the “Second Birth Rate.” We believe that sinners need Jesus Christ as Savior and should be born again. Evangelism is at the heart never gelled, and so one became accustomed to a nonpartisan General is hope for American of who we are. Analysts say that churches grow when parishioners invite outsiders to church. If those in the church don’t narrative of decline. Social Survey, which evangelicals.” invite, then churches shrink and eventually die. Evangelicals are inviters. The same is true of another American measures major 2. Evangelicals are church planters. As you travel across America check out the new churches meeting in schools, institution I love: evangelicalism. Born in gospel trends in America, theaters, shopping malls and other rentable public spaces. They are almost always evangelical churches. Often these hope several centuries ago, the evangelical recently released venues have waiting lists, because more new churches are lined up and waiting. Many of America’s congregations are old, movement in America exploded in the 19th data showing that during the last decade, those and some are dying. Evangelicals have a hefty stock of new churches with young new converts. The future belongs to the century, becoming the dominant cultural claiming affiliation with “evangelical” rose from denominations that are starting new churches. paradigm. This held into the first third of the 23 percent to about 26 percent. 3. Evangelicals welcome immigrants. Many of our evangelical churches were founded by immigrants during past 20th century, when the upper echelons of society But it gets more encouraging. As reported generations. Most of our churches have generous and passionate missionary commitments around the world. With so many shifted toward a more secularist orientation. by Ed Stetzer and Christianity Today, among new immigrants coming from countries experiencing spiritual revivals and explosive growth of evangelicals, it is no wonder Despite a postwar evangelical boom, many adults under 30, nearly 24 percent claim to be that immigrants are attracted to evangelical churches and that we welcome them with such delight. Christians today — aware of their country’s evangelical, a number that has increased several continuing shift away from its Protestant percentage points since 2007. This is remarkable, 4. Evangelicals keep the faith and change the methods. Some churches and denominations have changed the faith and kept the traditions. It has not gone well for most of them. Evangelicals hold on to the historic orthodox biblical foundation — are inclined to predict a gloomy especially given that we’re constantly seeing Christian faith but embrace new methods that relate to our 21st century culture. future for the movement. new stories on how “Secular Student Societies” There are surely ill events afoot in the broader are proliferating on college campuses. No trend culture today. For example, you may have heard perfectly foretells the future, but it appears from that the Nones, those who have no religious expert sources that there is hope for American Best Practices for Growing Churches affiliation, have grown in numbers in recent evangelicals. (continued from Page 1) years; they’re up almost 15 percentage points Again, this may strike you as surprising; If so, over the last 20 years. But there are also some you’re likely the victim of bias-driven media, as believers to the body as one of the reach everyone, no church does. Simply perpetuate ineffective ministry models primary purposes of the church, and picking a language for the worship or assess their effectiveness based on surprising signs of life in this country, not least so many of us are. Let me encourage you, given a they dedicate resources toward that service selects some people and how well they serve the needs of those in American evangelicalism, which roared to background in pessimism: Evangelical friends, if end. Most churches believe evangelism eliminates others. Think of your church who already attend rather than the we will continue preaching the gospel and living is important, but an examination of as a radio station broadcasting on one unreached. Self-identified Evangelicals out the Word, God will be faithful to us, as he has how they tangibly invest to make that or more frequencies. Each frequency 4. Finally, churches grow when they been to his church for centuries, and as he will happen reveals a gap between the ideal connects to an audience that is tuned match their leadership and ministry and the actual. Growing churches invest to that station. Some churches have style to the size of their congregation. until the end of the age. 10 percent or more of their members’ intuitively found a good match between The way one leads a small church of 40 time and annual church budget on their message and their audience. people will prove to be ineffective when By Owen Strachan Assistant Professor reaching out to their local community. 3. Churches grow as they evaluate their the church grows above 100. Some of Christian Theology and Church 2. Growing churches present a message ministry outcomes against the priority leaders can shift their style to fit the new History at Boyce College that is targeted to the community they of discipling believers and then make challenges. Many cannot. Leading in are trying to reach. Though many hard choices about what they should a way that is appropriate to your next 2002 2010
churches claim that they intend to discontinue or add. Many churches growth level is important. General Social Survey
2 NAE Insight | Spring 2013 Spring 2013 | NAE Insight 3 on the INTERNET David Russell Online Campus Pastor of Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Ala. in HISPANIC POPULATIONS Luis Cortés, Jr. President & CEO of Esperanza USA Evangelicalism is in a sprint of significant growth online. This innovation that is blossoming around mobile devices and the increase is happening primarily through churches seeing the apps that drive them. Evangelicalism is also thriving in this While Hispanics have always number of Hispanics identify advocacy. As evangelicals, our benefits of building online communities. There is an immediate space. One example is LifeChurch.tv in Edmond, Okla. This had a significant presence in themselves as evangelicals. engagement with the public and positive reaction for churches that leverage technologies church has produced a free mobile app, called YouVersion, our country (our first Navy Ninety-nine percent of Latinos sphere will follow the same like the web and apps for mobile devices. Churches on the that makes it easy to access the Bible in multiple versions and Admiral was of Spanish descent), who profess religious faith growth pattern evident in the leading edge are enabling people to experience their message several languages. To date, the Bible app has been downloaded Hispanics have been the subject identify as Christian, and 39 rest of the population, as we in unique ways. Video streaming allows churches to broadcast over 75 million times and is consistently rated among the most of increased attention in recent percent of those use the terms begin to understand the power their services through a website or mobile app, and some popular apps on online stores, like iTunes and Google Play. years, especially after the 2011 “born again” or “evangelical” to of the modern church as a place churches encourage live interaction through the use of chat Evangelicalism is alive and well online — and as more Census data named them the describe themselves. to exercise technology to connect online participants. churches and faith organizations discover the opportunity to largest and fastest-growing The Hispanic evangelical our Explosion is perhaps the best way to describe the growth and leverage these tools, the future is even brighter. minority group. The Hispanic church has traditionally influence population is expected to triple focused its influence inwardly, on the to almost 133 million by 2050, on personal discipline and issues most and will jump from 16 percent to spiritual growth. But, as our important 30 percent of the U.S. population. position in American culture to us. With presence comes influence. gains prominence, the Hispanic Hispanic growth – and the evangelical church is learning increase in cultural influence – to exert its influence externally, is manifesting itself within the with a focus on outreach, impact BUILDING evangelical church. A growing and engaging in legislative in URBAN AREAS THE CHURCH Mark Batterson Lead Pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. “We’re back.” That is the message the church is we meet in movie theaters at metro stops. That’s why in MULTI-ETHNIC EXPRESSIONS sending the city! Everywhere I turn, I hear about new we built a coffeehouse instead of a church building. church plants that are creatively incarnating the gospel Not only has it become a place where church and Mark DeYmaz Pastor of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas in city centers through servant evangelism, business communities cross paths, every penny of profit is Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy churches are racially segregated, are increasingly pursuing unity and as mission, and the good old-fashioned preaching of given to missions. kingdom come, Thy will be done failing to have 20 percent diversity in diversity for the sake of the gospel. gospel while leveraging technology and social media. One of the growing demographics in cities is the on earth as it is in heaven.” So their attending membership. More Indeed the multi-ethnic church One of our core convictions at National young urban professional who trades the comforts if the kingdom of heaven is not recently, Emerson’s research finds movement returns to the principles Community Church is this: There are ways of doing of suburban living for the convenience of urban life. segregated, why on earth is the local local churches are 10 times more and practices of New Testament church that no one has thought of yet. While we are NCC is composed of more than 50 percent single church? According to “Divided by segregated than the neighborhoods churches such as existed at Antioch absolutely orthodox in theology, we’re somewhat twenty-somethings. And diversity is becoming the Faith” by Michael O. Emerson and in which they sit and 20 times and Ephesus – churches in which unorthodox norm for urban churches, both in terms of race Christian Smith, 92.5 percent of more segregated than nearby public diverse men and women walked, in and religious background. But the mission has not schools. The problem? Local church worked and worshipped God methodology. changed: to be the hands and feet of Jesus. That’s why segregation is unintentionally together as one so that the world The urban we’re building a $3.8 million Dream Center in the undermining gospel witness. An would know God’s love, and believe. context poorest part of our city. It’s a place where we’ll preach increasingly diverse and cynical And the movement is making a demands it! the gospel with words and deeds 24/7. It’s our way of society is no longer finding credible difference. Emerson’s research also That’s why saying, “We’re back. And we’re here to stay!” a message of God’s love for all people shows that evangelical churches as preached from segregated pulpits of 1,000 or more attenders are five and pews. times more likely to have 20 percent Thankfully hope and change is on minority diversity than they were 10 the horizon as evangelical churches years ago.
4 NAE Insight | Spring 2013 Spring 2013 | NAE Insight 5 Bob Merritt attendance and people saying “yes” WORTH NOTING to Christ. If either of those plateaus Bob Merritt is the Senior Pastor of Eagle Brook Church, a multi-site church in the we get very nervous, because Produced by the Emmy Award winning husband and wife team, Mark Minneapolis area that has seen explosive growth under Merritt’s healthy things are supposed to The Bible MEMBER leadership and that was recently named to Church Relevance’s TopIN THEgrow. NEWS But beyond that, we measure Burnett and Roma Downey, retells stories from Scripture in a 12 Churches to Learn From on Church Growth. three areas that tell us if people are 5-week TV miniseries for The History Channel. http://www.bibleseries.tv/ becoming spiritually mature. We SPOTLIGHT Q Was church growth something specific that you call it the Big 3: Do they attend on the weekends, do Knox Theological Seminary is giving away a comprehensive Leith Anderson Scholarship, valued at $18,000. http://bit.ly/YwLUnl focused on, or did it just happen organically? they serve, and are they in a small group? Standing Together seeks to MEMBERA Q Church growth, or “becoming a large church” has What is key to successful outreach in the church’s The Dept. of Health & Human Services issued a new rule on Feb. 1 be a catalyst for uniting the never been our focus. Our focus has been to reach community? Christian community in Utah concerning the contraception mandate. The proposed rule offered tentative SPOTLIGHTas many people as we can and lead them into a through relational efforts of A It begins with me. I have to be active in reaching others accommodations for religious nonprofits, but did nothing for religious relationship with Christ, one person at aCHAPLAINS time. COMMISSION prayer, worship and strategic myself. Then our staff. It’s not OK to be on our staff businesses. http://bit.ly/XEdZI8 evangelism. Sixty-four local Q What are the top factors that contributed to and not be praying for and inviting unreached friends churches joined with Standing numerical growth in your church? to your church. Then we talk about it regularly in our Economic stability and immigration reform are the top hopes NAE board Together to host its “Love A Our weekend worship service is a strategic tool to church. We feature stories of people who’ve come to members have for President Obama’s second term. http://bit.ly/XYRFYQ Without Limits Utah!” outreach attract and reach others for Christ. We make it easy for faith. We design strategic message series and tell our event March 7-9. The event congregation, “This is that series to invite your friend Congratulations to John Schumacher, who was named NAE’s Centurion of featured Nick Vujicic, who people to invite their unchurched friends. EverythingFROM THE PRESIDENT starts with the teaching, which has to be biblical, to church.” You have to make outreach the main thing the Year! Col. Schumacher served as a military pastor for 30 years, including was invited by Utah Gov. Gary engaging and applicable to real life. Next is the music, that you do as a church. It’s not OK to have a men’s, two combat tours in Vietnam. http://bit.ly/128SBCf Herbert to address teen suicide followed by children’s ministry. Those three areasFROM are THE PRESIDENTwomen’s, youth or children’s ministry that doesn’t and bullying to every junior high IN and high school in Utah. a “can’t miss” for us. It’s possible to be biblical and reach others for Christ. The first thing we ask of any Most evangelical leaders believe the government should increase gun http://bit.ly/V6d3j7 THE NEWS relevant; excellent and genuine; inviting and deep; for program is “Is it reaching others for Christ?” If it’s not, regulations. believers and unbelievers. we fix it or stop doing it. Q Q How do you know whether all those attending your What is the most influential book in your pastoral Defining Our Future: Agenda for the Next Administration was church are becoming spiritually mature? ministry? the theme of the NAE’s 57th annual Christian Student Leadership A The two metrics we constantly watch are church A Integrity by Henry Cloud Conference, which brought 63 college students from nine evangelical schools to Washington, D.C., for a week of briefings and advocacy in January. Students heard from Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Sen. WA SHINGT O N Roy Blunt, Reps. Michelle Bachmann, Jim Jordan, Trent Franks and A Church Planting GenerationON THE ROAD Randy Hultgren, Senate Chaplain Barry Black and Grover Norquist UPDATE (pictured left), among others. Church planting has ballooned in of the early 2000s who led the way for “It’s not the extreme sport of the last decade. While data on the a new generation of “people who will movement’s growth is scarce, the t r y.” ministry that it used to be.” increase of church planting books, Young pastors are a part of Michael Binder, Mill City Church networks and conferences over the last the Millennial generation with Religious Workers & Immigrant Services 10 years is telling. And it seems that the characteristics disposed to church ways of “doing and being the church.” majority of these church planters are planting – independent, engaged, At 28, Connelly started The City World Relief recently helped relocate a pastor whose life was in well under 40. high-achieving and confident. They find Church after seeing the redevelopment danger in his home country. He was working for a large denomination There are many reasons why young themselves developing relationships of downtown Fort Worth bring overseas. A local gang kidnapped his son. The child escaped and the family pastors opt to start new churches. For with non-Christians in communities, thousands of new residents – many was able to go into hiding. The denomination decided to relocate the pastor one, the environment has changed. and they want to create an organic place of whom were not being reached by and his family to the United States where he will plant churches and pastor a “It’s not the extreme sport of ministry for their friends to discover God. existing churches. Connelly’s current that it used to be,” said Michael Binder, Ben Connelly, Lead Pastor of The church was too far away, so the logical local congregation. World Relief represented the church and the pastor in their who planted Mill City Church in City Church, said that young pastors option was to start a new one. application for a religious worker visa. Minneapolis when he was 31. Church are particularly suited to plant. It’s more Many church plants like The City World Relief immigration attorneys are available to represent churches in planting assessment and training centers financially viable to sustain families with Church and Mill City Church partner their applications for religious worker visas and other employment based have popped up, and there are better fewer mouths to feed. Less-established with older churches. The benefits are financial models for church planting pastors have an easier time uprooting, great. “New churches gain wisdom and immigration applications. For more information email [email protected], today. He also credited church planters and they can be more flexible to different old churches gain new life,” Binder said. and find out more atwww.worldrelief.org/immigrant-legal-services .
6 NAE Insight | Spring 2013 Spring 2013 | NAE Insight 7 PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID National Association of Evangelicals MERRIFIELD, VA P.O. Box 23269 PERMIT NO. 1502 Washington,IN DC 20026THE NEWS
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WASHINGT O N ON THE ROAD A Quarterly Newsletter for Friends of UPDATE The National Association of Evangelicals Jan. 14 NAE Chaplains Commission Annual Board Meeting & 2013 Volume 6, Number 1 Centurion Banquet in Alexandria, Va. President...... Leith Anderson Vice President, Government Relations ...... Galen Carey Jan. 14-17 NAE Christian Student Leadership Conference in Vice President & COO...... Heather Gonzales Chaplains Commission Director ...... David Cyr Washington, D.C. Special Projects Director ...... Jennifer Haglof Communications Director ...... Sarah Kropp Jan. 21-22 Presidential Inauguration & National Prayer Service in Member Services Director...... Chris Paulene Washington, D.C. Legal Counsel...... Carl Esbeck
Jan. 24-26 Mennonite Brethren Study Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. Our Mission – honor God by connecting and representing evangelical Christians Jan. 24-25 World Relief Board Meetings in Baltimore, Md. Our Members – individuals, non-denominational churches, universities, organizations Feb. 12 Vision360 Meeting in Orlando, Fla. and 45,000 churches from 40 denominations Our Work – encompasses four main areas: Feb. 13-14 The Navigators Board Meeting in Colorado Springs, Church & Faith – making denominations and strong and effective, Colo. and supporting churches and ministries Feb. 27 Denominational Leaders Immigration Conference in Government Relations – representing evangelical concerns to the Chicago, Ill. government, and mobilizing evangelicals to engage in the public square Chaplains Commission – providing support and endorsement for March 8 North American Baptist Fellowship in Falls Church, Va. evangelicals to minister as chaplains in the military and Department of Veterans Affairs To view upcoming evangelical events, visit www.evangelicalevents.com. World Relief – bringing humanitarian assistance to the U.S. and the world.
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