FUTURE CHURCH

Christian researcher, George Barna, has found that contemporary Christians are more interested in being the church than attending church. There is a segment of Americans who are leaving churches precisely because they want more of God. Instead of going to church, they have chosen to be the Church, as it's detailed in the Book of Acts. Today the local church is the primary form of faith experience and expression for about 66% of U.S. adults. Barna projects by 2025 the local church will lose roughly half of its current market share and alternative forms of faith experience and expression will take up the slack. If Barna is right, all of us who are leaders in the church should be concerned!

The Church is God's idea and of His design; He has a mission for it (Ephesians 3:8-10). Church leaders always must be assess the direction of the Church, making sure that it is staying true to the will of God and accomplishing His mission. When that is done the Church has a bright future. When the church begins to push a political agenda its days are numbered.

Grace&Peace;
Tom

*My daughter's family just drove in from California for a week's stay with us. The Steele family is having an early celebration of mom's 90th birthday this weekend. Mom is 86. All of the rowdy Steele's will be together so we will have a great time!