Blow Your Mind Info

In church yesterday, a video was played listing the following information. I found it eye opening and mind boggling. Had to share with my faithful followers!  As this is my blog and not my book report, if you want the sources for each statement, ask me. I have them.

While you are reading these statistics, keep in mind: The United States of America was founded and populated by Christian men and women who left their homeland in search of religious freedom. 

There are 120 million people in the United States who are not followers of Jesus

The U.S. is the largest mission field in the 

Western hemisphere

The U.S. is the 5th largest mission field in the world

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The number of unchurched in America has almost doubled from 1991 to 2004. 

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Approximately 98 million people are under the age of 25 in the United States, and those between the ages of 18 and 25 are the least likely to attend a church

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Only 1 State in the nation saw an increase in the percentage of people attending church 

from 2000 - 2004.    HAWAII 

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In 1900, the Census Bureau counted 212,000 churches.  In 2000, the number of churches that existed in the United States was 349,500.  

The number of churches increased just over 50 percent while the population of the USA has almost quadrupled.

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In 1900, there were 28 churches 

for every 10,000 Americans

In 1950 there were 17 churches 

for every 10,000 Americans

In 2000 there were 12 churches 

for every 10,000 Americans

In 2004 there were 11 churches 

for every 10,000 Americans

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3500 - 4000 churches close each year.

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In his book, Comeback Churches, Ed Stetzer estimates that 70% to 80% of all evangelical churches in the US have either stopped growing or are in decline!

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Churches under 3 years old are reaching 10 new people for every 100 church members

Churches 3-15 years old are reaching an average of 5 people for every 100 church members. 

Churches over 15 years old are reaching an average of 3 for every 100 church members. 

New church plants do the best job of reaching and including those who were previously unchurched. 

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New Churches have a much higher percentage of people who serve than do existing churches

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The average new church gains the majority of it's members (60 – 80%) from people who had not previously attended a church. 

The average established church gains 80-90 % of it's members from transfer growth from other churches. 

The average new church will bring 6-8 times more new people into the life of the Body of Christ than an older congregation of the same size.

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99% of church plants survive the 1^st year

92% of church plants survive the 2^nd year

81% of church plants survive the 3^rd year

68% of church plants survive the 4^th year

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Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven.