It is crucial that we pray to the Lord of the harvest and ask Him to provide an opportunity for our association to plant a new church. I believe need for planting churches in America is greater now than at any other time, for the following reasons:
1. America has been identified as the largest mission field in the Western Hemisphere with the number of unchurched Americans now doubling between 1991 to 2001. If every church in America were to double its attendance this Sunday, there would still be 190 million people not in church to hear the good news of the gospel.
2. We are losing the battle in keeping up with our population. In 1900 there were 27 churches for every 10,000 Americans. In 1950 the ratio had dropped to 17 churches for every 10,000 people. Today there are 30% fewer churches than in 1950 but our population continues to grow. There are now 3 times as many churches closing each year than are planted.
3. Many of our churches are in survival mode. It is estimated that 80-85 percent of all churches in North America are on the downside of their life cycle. That is, 8 out of 10 churches are either standing still, declining, or dying. These churches have little or no evangelistic impact in their town or community. Nearly one half of all American churches did not baptize one soul in the past year.
4. Today’s churches are not reaching today’s young people. The vast majority of Christians are saved before reaching age twenty. Yet, today researchers estimate only 4% of all young people below the age of 22 are saved. We are losing a whole generation of young people. New churches with young pastors and leaders are our best hope for reaching millions of unsaved young people.
As a local association we have been concerned that we have not been successful in planting a new church in Missouri in the new millennium. That concern should continue to burn within our hearts so we will continue to pray for laborers, search for open doors, and give our resources to the work of missions. During our next quarterly meeting on December 1 at Landmark, Desoto, I want to share with our churches some steps that we can take to raise up new church planters. Bro. Ray Freeman from Mississippi will be our special speaker and it should prove to be a good meeting. Please make every effort to attend.