Our
“Think Piece” for this week comes from Pastor Don Brandt, of the NALC,
who leads the denomination in thinking about how to grow churches. He’s a
good man!
Current Ministry Challenges
1.
North Americans are less likely than ever to belong to any off-line
social organizations. The digital age has only increased the odds that
the typical American is not a part of any voluntary group or community
that actually meets physically (as opposed to online). I just read in
the New York Times that there are now one billion people on Facebook.
Facebook has only been available for seven years!
2.
Children and teens, especially in middle and upper middle income
households, are over-programmed. Between sports teams and
extracurricular school activities there is very little discretionary
time left for church activities and groups.
3.
Our current weak economy has impacted congregations in multiple ways;
including less discretionary income (reduced charitable giving), many
adults having to work multiple part-time jobs (less available time for
volunteering), and fewer new people moving into the community. The
overall financial impact of the last four years on congregations has
been significant. The 2010 study states, “Congregational economics are
much more precarious today than in 2005.”
4.
The changing landscape for the American family has added to the
challenge congregations face when trying to reach out to residents in
their surrounding communities. The new demographic realities include a)
44% of American newborns are now born to single Mothers, b) fewer
adults are choosing to marry, and c) of those who marry, fewer are
choosing to have children.
5.
The aging of the American population in general and mainline
Protestants in particular has made it even more difficult to reach
younger adults, youth and children. Generational barriers are real. A
congregation with a median age of 60 or 65 will have a difficult time
reaching single adults or couples in their 30’s and 40’s.
In Christ,
Pastor Mitchell
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