Church Transformation and Revitalization Statistics

      Church Growth Statistics in General

•  During the last ten years combined communicant membership of all Protestant denominations declined by 9.5% (4,498,242), while the national population increased by 11.4% (24,153,000).

•  No county in America has a greater percentage of churched persons today than a decade ago (63% unchurched).

•  In 1900 there were 27 churches for every 10,000 Americans. 1n 1950 there were 17 churches for every 10,000 Americans. Today there are fewer than 11 churches for every 10,000 Americans.

•  Churches lose 2,765,00 people to nominalism and secularism each year, and between 3,500 and 4,000 churches close their doors each year for the last time while only 1,100 - 1,500 churches are started.

•  Percentage of people attending church in the United States: 
1991- 49%, 1992 - 47%, 1993 - 45%, 1994 - 45%, 1995 - 45%, 1996 - 37%.

www.outreachnorthamerica.org/churchrenewal/revitstats. 
 

Here are the facts:

• 85% of all congregations in the U.S. are not growing
• Only 17% of the U.S. population is in worship on a given Sunday
• The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod has been in decline for 35 years
• Millions are dying each year without a saving relationship with Jesus Christ

What are we doing about it in the Mid-South District?

Church Transformation/Revitalization (“being turned inside out!”)

The current “maintenance” mindset of many congregations will need to be transformed to a “mission” mindset one congregation at a time. The goal of the transformation will be to:

• Turn unbelievers into believers
• Turn believers into disciples
• Turn congregations into armies for Christ

This will be what a transformed congregation looks like:

• 5%+ growth each year in average annual worship attendance
• 1:12 ration of adult confirmations to worship attendance
• Increased number of small groups
• A growing number of new leaders
• Engagement in the community through a variety of new ministries
• Plans to initiate or partner in a new church plant within 5 years

The Mid-South District will do this by:

• Retraining pastors to think like missionaries through monthly learning communities and monthly visits from the transformation consultant (District staff) while encouraging behavioral change on the part of the pastor through prayer, conversation and accountability
• Leading a congregation through an intensive week-end “line-in-the-sand” consultation event that will help them determine whether or not the congregation is going to make the tough decisions that will lead to health and growth
• Walking alongside the congregation for 12-18 months following the consultation to make sure the changes prescribed are being implemented
• Retraining congregations through effective lay training events

The District goal is to lead 50 congregations through the transformation process by the year 2012. 

http://www.mid-southlcms.com/SupportMinistries/ChurchTransRevit.htm