Michael and I were at the same dinner this evening. We sat at the same table, so maybe it was a particular geographical location that caused us to hear things a bit differently. Michael showed some great biblical discernment in his post earlier this evening on Common Church Vision.
My thoughts were covered over with some of the numbers that were thrown at us tonight. After the dinner, I said to Michael, so, want to hear what I’m thinking? He jokingly said “Do I want to hear what your opinion of stats is?” “Naw, what do you think I’m thinking?” He said, “..that God chooses who he will and man’s numbers mean nothing?” He HAS been with me long enough to know. But lets take a look at the numbers which, for the sake of argument, I am taking at face value.
Counterproductive Ministry?
- In the early ’70s, over 130,000 evangelical youth were baptized each year.
- In the early 2000′s, only 80,000 evangelical youth were baptized each year.
- Since the early 70s, the number of professional Christians, ministers, has increased dramatically, effectively outsourcing youth training from parents to professionals.
Ineffective Ministry?
- 54-80% of youth leave the church after graduation
- 85% of graduating youth who grew up in a “Christian home” do not have a Christian World View (I prefer Biblical World View)
- 43% of American believers make their decision before age 15
The Quick Thoughts
- Free will at work. 80% of our youth following a fallen nature right out the door.
- With all those new folks in ministry, one would think they would be convincing more and more people to make decisions.
- If 80% leave the church and 85% do not have a CWV and Christians are to love the Church as Christ loved the Church and Christians are to have a CWV, then exactly what weight does 43% of the decisions actually carry? Or rather, what exactly was decided?
The Good News
- 20% of the youth are staying in church
- 15% of the youth have a biblical world view