Posts Tagged ‘ministry’
Least Churched Cities in America
Question: “how would I find a listing of the least churched cities in America?”
Answer: In casual conversations, I’ve heard the following cities mentioned as being among the least churched cities, aka most unchurched cities, in the United States: Seattle, Miami, San Francisco, New York City, Salt Lake City, Portland[2], Philadelphia, even Reno. Curiously, a comprehensive list wasn’t easy to find using a search phrase like “least churched cities”; a few more results did show using a search on “most unchurched cities”. Here’s what relevant data I could find about the least churched cities and the unchurched:
- The American Church Research Project has a book, DVD, and a bunch of presentations for purchase, including ones for each of the largest 90 metropolitan areas. 10 presentations available for free.
- This list of Church Planting Hotspots (via PCA – Presbyterian Churches in America) and The North American Mission Board (Southern Baptists) have a list of strategic focus cities. AVC (Vineyard) had this 1997 list of hot spots [Word .DOC format].
- Charting the unchurched in America (USA Today, 2002) cites the ARIS – American Religious Identification Survey, which lists the most non-religious states as Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming, surpassing Oregon and Washington. This list is by percentage rather than population count.
- America’s Most Sinful Cities (Forbes Magazine, 2008)
- The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey from Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has some great visuals, maps, and charts.
- Free resources for Contextualization / Demographics from newchurches.com
- “Only 1 percent of the population in the Northeast is Baptist… population centers include New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Washington. ‘Those cities and the countryside that surrounds them make up “the most unchurched 25 percent of the American population…’ (The most unchurched 25 percent, 2001)
- This student church planters research project in 2006 looked promising, as they set out to produce lists of the most unchurched places.
- Annotated North American Church Planting Bibliography (Updated April 2009, by Ed Stetzer)
The 1000s of church leaders gathering at the Exponential Conference – National New Church Conference (Orlando, April 2010) probably have the answer, the lists, and more data than you can imagine. Until then, we’ll keep on the search.
Can you help? Add a comment and make the the definitive list of the top unchurched cities more available to the masses!
Finding resources for Church Planting
Let’s take a look at my inbox and see what we find…
Question: I am student, studying ministry. Am at the end of the third year and I would like to start my ministry after I graduate. How would you be of help to me — to find material about church planting ?
My Answer: There has been a growing number of resources about church planting in recent years. A quick Google search has many links that’ll get you started. 3 of my favorites are www.churchplantingnetwork.com + www.church-planting.net + www.rcpc.com .
As you can see, there’s lots of information online. The best place you’ll want to be is the Exponenential Conference, April 19-22, 2010, in Orlando. This is the biggest gathering of church planters and church multiplication organizations that can give you the support, coaching, and launching pad for church planting — more resources than you can count!
Todd Rhoades has been counting up the many reasons to be at Exponential — here’s a sample :
READ MORE …
Seeking a Pastor for Northern Virginia
Passing along a special opportunity for a special minister of the Gospel to pastor in the Pentagon City area (Arlington, Virginia) of metro Washington DC.
Senior Pastor Ministry Position
Great Commission Community Church (GCCC) is seeking a Senior Pastor by Fall 2009 to lead the church into its next phase of God’s plan. This is currently the only permanent pastoral staff position within the church. Duties include: Teaching/Preaching, Leadership Training, Facilitate Advisory Board, Primary Visionary, Administrate, Small Groups
For church profile, desired characteristics, and contact, see the full document about this ministry opportunity.
Paucity of Chinese American ministry leaders
This set of question was posted in a recent email discussion, as Southern Cal ministry leaders are anticipating the upcoming lunch fellowship this Wednesday 6/3:
As an observer and advocate of ABC ministries since the 1970s and a former youth worker in a Chinese church, can anyone educate me as to WHY there are few(er) ABC’s committing themselves for full time Christian service these days? (a) Postmodern culture? (b) Options of going into Asian American/mainstream churches and ministries? (c) Others…? We have always had a shortage. Is the shortage growing?
