Statistically, most churches in the USA are about our size, around 100 or less. It is a comfortable size where you can know many people and not feel lost, as it were. But it is even more alarming to read a study that revealed that out of America’s 400,000 or so churches, around 80% of them are in decline or have plateaued. We are part of this statistic. Without a dramatic turn-around, we and the other 80% of America’s churches, will not be reaching the lost in our communities.
There are over 200,000 people just in the cities in our area, and sometimes we speak of the ¼ million in the general metro area. If we took into account Elkhart, St. Joe, Cass, and Berrien counties, we are looking at 677,000 people, with a drive.
The Percept study of several years ago, found that 35%-37% of the people in our area have no faith involvement – they are unchurched. That represents thousands of people who need to be reached by someone for Jesus. Demographically, in our target locations, these are young families, and 29%-53% were between the ages of 0-17. In other words, there are many people needing the kind of ministries we can offer in the area we are considering for purchase.
To even consider buying land, however, means that we want to grow; that we are willing and wanting to have new people around; and that we are willing to give them opportunities for significant involvement, leadership spots, and freedom to be part of our new future.
Today I don’t see how we can afford everything that would need doing. But I have a vision and a conviction that if we have heard from God on this, that He will supply as needed. I know it will require sacrificial giving and serious change on our part, and we have to decide if we are up to the challenge. But I am also excited to write our own, my own, story of faith – about how God provided and accomplished what He had shown us by faith.
-Pastor Randy
