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A recent survey of 750 Muslim background believers revealed five common reasons why they chose to follow Christ.
The lifestyle of Christians. Former Muslims cited the love that Christians exhibited in their relationships with non-Christians and their treatment of women as equals.The power of God in answered prayers and healing. According to the survey, experiences of [...]

Turned up this interesting finding from the Australian National Church Life Survey (NCLS).

Church plants are more likely to attract three groups: young people, males and overseas immigrants.

All three groups are under represented in established churches.

“Young” of course is anyone under 50. After that you’re “mature”.

Church PlantingNCLSTrends

Do you want to become a multiplying church? Don’t copy what the top 25 multiplying churches DO.

Copy what they VALUE.
Reaching unchurched people. They are driven by a belief that God has sent them as a missionary to their community, state and world.

Staff and membership involvement. Both staff and members invest in new planters. They help [...]

Following up on the list of top 25 multiplying churches in the US, here a few observations. . .

It helps if you’re not too old

Older churches (pre-1970) did poorly when it came to multiplying. Only one multiplying church in the top 25 was started in the 1920s. Two each from the 50s and 60s. Conclusion? [...]

Don’t tell anyone but I don’t read many other blogs. I like books. Especially case studies on church planting movements.

So that’s my excuse for being 11 months late in telling you about a study on the 25 top multiplying churches in the US. Hopefully they are working on a 2008 list.

Ed Stetzer has published his [...]

Here’s the link if you want to purchase the full report: Christian Research: Religious Trends No 7 (2007/2008)

ChristianityChurch declineTrends

If current trends continue in Britain, by 2050 there will be three times the number of active Muslims to Christians attending church. The ratio of church attendance to the active Hindu population will be about 1 to 1.

British church on its knees.

Church declineTrends

The Times reports on new research that shows church attendance in Britain is declining so fast that the number of regular churchgoers will be fewer than those attending mosques within a generation.

The fall – from the four million people who attend church at least once a month today – means that the Church of England, [...]

Here’s a list of the 21 differences between church plants that grow fast and those that struggle.

Assessment: Using the Ridley Assessment is a must! The higher the score the better.Finances: Adequate financial support is a necessity. There is a delicate balance between too much and too little support.Full-time Planters: A majority of fast-growing church plants [...]

If you’re into church planting and you want them to grow, or at least survive here’s a promising book based on research of plants that grew fast and those that didn’t: “Planting Fast-Growing Churches” (Stephen Gray)

Living in the southern hemisphere means that I don’t have a copy yet but will rely on Dave DeVries for [...]