I’m back to my book-writing marathon on The Other 80% (our working title). See Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3. Here was my biggest “Aha!” during yesterday’s session:
4. Most people know that if you rank countries, America is the world’s largest English-speaking mission field. Where is the biggest block of that mission field? Many will be surprised that it is not those who are totally unchurched nonbelievers. We’re totally in favor of reaching out to that group, but statistically speaking, it’s a small group. Instead if 80% of the country claims Christianity as their religion and 65% say they belong to a church, but only 20% show up each week, then the greatest American mission field may well be within our own flock. Our largest harvest field is populated by those who once believed, and who may still believe, but who would also say they’re not growing in their faith.
What are your thoughts? How many people do you know who say they believe in God, but live as if they don’t? Do you have The Other 80% in your church, and what portion of those do you consider to be a mission field?
Warren Bird, Ph.D., is Research Director at Leadership Network, and co-author of 21 books on various aspects of church health and innovation. His recent “Leadership Network” books blogs include He Irritates Christians to Get Busy and Change the World, Becoming a Healthy Fruitful Multi-Ethnic Church, What Is Necessary for Church Planting to Go Viral?Mark Batterson’s Primal, Updated Publishing Updates, Beyond Christendom Says Migration Keeps Transforming the Church, Terrific Biography of Rick Warren, The Soviet Plot to Kill God, The Worst Moment in Most Church Services, Excellent Resources for Church-Based Grants, Multi-Site Church Roadtrip Released Today, Do White Churches Hold Others in Cultural Captivity?and Church Merger Phenomenon Continues to Expand.
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