Friday, November 16, 2007

Study Reveals State of U.S. Church Planting

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071115/30104_Study_Reveals_State_of_U.S._Church_Planting.htm

[The Christian Post] 16 Nov 2007--New research suggests that the evangelical church in America is not dying. While denominational growth has been on the decline, church planting has become the cutting edge for reaching more people for Christ.

"It's a good day to plant a church," says Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, the research arm of LifeWay Christian Resources.

When Stetzer decided to plant his first church 20 years ago, he recalled finding only one book on church planting. Now, pastors or people right out of seminary have access to an increasing number of church planting networks and resources to help them jumpstart their mission to reach communities and the unchurched.

Moreover, church planting has become "a preferred ministry option" and a primary ministry focus when it comes to reaching the lost, according to Stetzer.

Stetzer's conclusions are drawn from one of the largest and most comprehensive studies on church planting, in which he was the primary researcher.

The "State of Church Planting USA" study found that interest in church planting is growing rapidly. The pace of church planting has accelerated dramatically in recent years, according to the study.

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