The Positive Power of One:

Rocky Mountain District Installation Service for Rev. Bill and Janet Carr

If we continue doing…what we have always done…

We won’t always have…What we’ve always had!

Growth in # of Churches in USA, Canada and Great Britain

1908 1920 1932 1944 1956 1968 1980 1992 2004 20120

1000

2000

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# of Churches

In the last 35 years, we have added no new churches

Over 60% of our churches were started more than 50 years ago

Since older churches are less effective at winning people to Jesus we have seen a 21% drop in professions of faith in the last 3 years

What’s Happening in our Denomination?Church Analysis“Where Is The Church?”

1Birth

2Growth

3Maturity4Plateau

5Decline

6Drop Out

7Death

Lifecycle of a ChurchLifecycle of a ChurchLifecycle of a Church

In 2012, 85% of our churches are plateaued or declining.

Since 2005, every year Worship Attendance has…

DECLINED!

What happened on RMD?

193119341937194019431947195019531956195919620

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Growth +300% (1931-1961)

The number of churches from 1931-1961 increased three-fold: from 14 to 42

What’s happening on RMD?

200220032004200520062007200820092010201120120

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Growth -16% (2002-2012)

The number of churches from 2002-2012 decreased by one: from 38 to 37

What’s happening on OrPac?

200220032004200520062007200820092010201120120

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12000

Growth without Plants -17%

Actual Growth -5%

Church Plants

Current New Church Plant Attendance is 1,457

This loss of churches has changed the landscape of America…

In 1900, for every 10,000 people, there were

17 churches

28 churches

In 2000, for every 10,000 people, there were12 churches

11 churches

In 1950, for every 10,000 people, there were

In 2004, for every 10,000 people there were

It appears that the future of the Lord’s Work rises or falls on our

commitment to starting…

NEW WORKS!

Just one small drop…

WILL SEND RIPPLES ACROSS THE

ENTIRE POND!

What is…The Positive Power of One?

If just one church made the commitment of starting one

reproducing New Work every five years. In fifty years, it would

start more than…

1,000 CHURCHES!

That’s not a ripple – that’s a rogue wave!

The Positive Power of One is…

EXPONENTIAL!