“I read recently that 5% of the 159 million adults in the United States who identify themselves as Christians, attend a house church as their primary faith community. 5% might not sound like a lot, but if you break it down, those attending house churches make 7,950,000 of all adult Christians in the United States. To give some perspective, the third largest denomination in the United States in 2011 is The United Methodist Church at 7,774,931 members (The Roman Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention are the two largest at 68,503,456 and 16,160,088 respectively). Our own denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America s 7th on the list with 4,542,868 members*.” Brian Spahr pastor Graceway Church.
This is a very interesting number and statistic. I am one like Brian and do not get hung up on the numbers. You can see patterns over time and how the ebb and flow of membership goes in some places, yet as Christians we have to remember it is more about discipleship than it is about membership. It is about being connected to community, yet if it is more about the building and people you meet in and with, then maybe it is time to reevaluate what is your “god”…
This house church phenomenon is not something new, but is more coming to light as a way to worship. Could this be the reason most denominations are seeing a decline of membership? Church shoppers/hoppers do nothing for getting people connected to Christ, yet they play into the numbers. According to Brian’s findings above the 3rd largest denomination in North America is house churches. There could be one in your neighborhood, how do we connect with this part of the body? How can we all be connected in the ministry that is God’s. As Brian said in his blog, “we are part of a movement much bigger than what goes on in and through our simple UP, IN, and OUT gatherings with our missional community. God is doing a mighty work in this time, and I simply wanted to highlight one picture of the enormity of what God is up to. These numbers only tell part of the story. The real story is in the lives that are being changed (including my own) by what God is doing in and through communities like graceway.” We are a part of something bigger. Lives are changed, and disciples are growing. Let us all be united in our Lord and go forth in His mission and ministry!
aSacredRebel 