Would you believe that nearly 60% of the US population will never be reached by the current models of the church?
Even with a combined annual budget of nearly $107 billion (mint.com), the existing 300,000 churches in the US have failed to connect with over 180 million Americans. Americans who will probably never attend what we know of as church.
That’s why twelve innovative mega-church pastors from across the US have committed to a two-year journey of prayer and discovery to reach this 60%. The Cornerstone Knowledge Network (CKN) has been asked to be a part of this effort, known as “Future Travelers.”
The next three days we’re meeting here in San Francisco to forge new paradigms and craft new models of missional and incarnational ministry that will equip the church of the future.
I’ll be sharing thoughts and insights as we go.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
I don’t know where the stat for your article came from, but it has a ring of truth to me. Am I doing math right with your other numbers? Rounding things off, the average church has an annual budget of $357,700? If you figure they spend 50% on salaries, 25% on expenses (mortgage, etc.), 5% on ministry, and 10% on outreach, that means that $107 million might be spent on outreach and we can’t or won’t impact 180 million of our neighbors.
WHO ARE WE DOING OUTREACH TO?
Sorry to shout, but something boils inside me at the thought that most Christians are either functional universalists (“ah, it doesn’t matter if we don’t share the gospel, God is loving, and He will welcome into heaven good people like my neighbors, won’t He?”) OR we are telling half our country, “Go to hell!”
I am not usually this fired up, but I plead with the Lord and all of you to help me understand what will it take to get Christians to stop being so afraid of the world? What will it take for us to love God enough to share His Gospel in word and deed with the world He so loved (John 3:16) and still does?!
Jerry,
Unfortunately, churches aren’t spending 10% on outreach. Here’s where the money typically goes:
staff 40%
Facilities 40%
Ministry expenses 10%
Missions/outreach 5%
Misc 5%
Of course that is still over $50M a year for outreach and missions but that gets spread quite thin with 180M unchurched people.
But the bigger issue isn’t the lack of money. It’s the approach and lack of passion and sacrifice to reach them.