Source: David Olson, American Church Research Project
Percentage of the Population Attending a Christian Church
On Any Given Weekend in 2007
2.9% UT
9.4% NV
9.8% ME
10.0% ID
10.5% NH
11.7% VT
12.2% MA
12.5% OR
12.6% WY
12.8% AZ
13.1% WA
13.1% AK
13.2% NY
13.6% FL
13.8% NJ
14.0% HI
14.1% CA
14.1% CO
14.6% CT
15.2% NM
15.5% DE
16.1% WV
16.5% MD
16.6% RI
16.6% MT
17.3% VA
17.4% TX
18.4% IL
18.5% PA
18.5% OH
19.2% MI
19.8% MO
20.3% IN
20.4% WI
20.9% MN
21.0% NC
21.3% KS
21.3% OK
21.4% KY
21.8% NE
21.9% GA
22.2% SC
22.5% TN
22.5% IA
24.6% SD
25.1% AR
25.6% MS
26.5% AL
26.7% ND
27.0% LA
0.0% to 13.1% 13.1% to 15.5% 15.5% to 19.2% 19.2% to 21.9% 21.9% to 28.0%
Percentage of the Population that Attended a Christian Church in Georgia on any Given Weekend in 2005
Evangelical17%
Mainline3%
Absent78%
Catholic2%
EvangelicalMainlineCatholicAbsent
-3.1%
-10.3%
-8.8%
-4.8%
-12.0%
-10.0%
-8.0%
-6.0%
-4.0%
-2.0%
0.0%
Evangelical Mainline Catholic Total
2000 - 2005 Growth or Decline in the Percentage of the Population Attending a Christian Church in Georgia
291,365
24,109
4,626
28,734
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
Population +- Evangelical +- Mainline & Catholic +- Total +-
Georgia Population & Church Attendance Growth 2005 - 2006
Population +-Evangelical +-Mainline & Catholic +-Total +-
Tennessee 2005 Weekly Worship Attendance
Evangelical, 18%
Mainline, 4%
Catholic, 1%
Absent, 77%
EvangelicalMainlineCatholicAbsent
-0.9%
-5.6%
-5.0%
-1.9%
-6.0%
-5.0%
-4.0%
-3.0%
-2.0%
-1.0%
0.0%
Evangelical Mainline Catholic Total
Tennessee - Change in Worship Attendance as a Percentage of Population - 2000 - 2005
75,844
1,725
-1,882 -157
-10,000
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
Population +- Evangelical +- Mainline & Catholic +- Total +-
Tennessee Population & Church Attendance Growth 2005 - 2006
Population +-Evangelical +-Mainline & Catholic +-Total +-
Packaging of Adventist Evangelism
• Advertizing themes: Prophecy, Bible, Family – Not Apologetics, Alpha class, Spiritual formation
• Bible translation: KJV, NKJV & maybe NIV – Not RSV, NEB, TEV or Catholic translations
• Music: Protestant hymns, Praise music – Not liturgical, CCM, Catholic, Folk, Jazz, Opera
• Central focus is preaching, not liturgy, drama • These are typical of Evangelical religion
Source: 2002 National Jewish Survey
Jews who Practice the Religion
28% 27%21%
Light Shabbat candles* Attend synagogueonce/month or more*
Keep kosher at home*
Source: 2002 National Jewish Survey
Reconstructionist3%
Reform39%
Conservative33%
Orthodox21%
Other4%
Forty percent of American Jewish households* belong to synagogues.* Among these households, the denominational distribution is shown below:
*These households contain 46% of American Jewish adults.
Source: 2002 National Jewish Survey
Jewish children today receive more full-time Jewish schooling than did Jewish adults.*
12%
29%
39%
24%
32%
25% 27%21%
Jewish day school/yeshiva Part-time Jewish schoolthat met more than once a
week
One day per week Jewishprogram
No Jewish education
AdultsChildren
Source: Landscape of American Religion
Belief in God 81%
11%4% 2%
84%
10%2% 2%
Absolutelycertain
Fairly certain Not certain Do not believe
Georgia Tennessee
Source: 2008 American Religious Identification Survey
Involvement with Religion
• 71% Baptized, Christened, etc. • 69% Had a religious wedding
– Percent of those married • 66% Expect to have a religious funeral
Source: Landscape of American Religion
Importance of Religion in My Life
0%10%20%30%40%
50%60%70%80%
Very important Somewhat important Not important
Georgia Tennessee
Source: Landscape of American Religion
Church Attendance
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Weekly Monthly Seldom or never
Georgia Tennessee
Source: Landscape of American Religion
Frequency of Personal Prayer
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%
Daily Weekly Monthly Seldom ornever
Georgia Tennessee
Source: Landscape of American Religion
Frequency of Answers to Prayer
0%5%
10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%
Monthly Several times a year Seldom or never
Georgia Tennessee
Source: Landscape of American Religion
How do You Interpret the Bible?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Literally, wordfor word
Word of God,but not word
for word
Not the word ofGod; written by
men
Don't know
Georgia Tennessee
Source: Landscape of American Religion
Interpretation of My Religious Beliefs
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
There is only way to interpretmy religion
There is more than oneinterpretation
Georgia Tennessee
Source: Landscape of American Religion
One Way to Eternal Life
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%
My religion is theone true faith that
leads to eternal life
More than onereligion can lead to
eternal life
Neither/both/don'tknow
Georgia Tennessee
Source: Ellison Research
Denominational Loyalty
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Would consideronly my
denomination
Prefer onedenomination, but
would considerothers
Would consider asmall number ofdenominations
Certaindenominations I
would not consider
Do not pay anyattention to
denomination
All Christians Evangelical Protestant Mainline Protestant Catholic Nondenominational
Source: American Religious Identification Survey
Religious Self-identification
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
No Religion ("Nones")
New Religions
Muslims
Eastern Religions
Jewish
Other Protestants
Pentecostal, Charismatic
Generic Christian
Mainline Protestant
Catholic
1990 2008
Source: American Religious Identification Survey
Denominational Self-identification
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
LDS
JWs
Adventist
Church of Christ
Church of God
Assembly of God
Evangelical
Nondenominational
U.C.C.
Anglican
Presbyterian
Lutheran
Methodist
Baptist
Catholic
1990 2008
Source: American Religious Identification Survey
Religious Self-Identification by State
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Catholics Other Christians Other Religions Nones
Georgia Tennessee
Seventh-day Adventists in the U.S.
668,000 701,781 724,000
880,921938,000
1,000,472
1990 2001 2008
ARIS GC Statistics
Source: Percept Group. Inc.
Households Where Faith Involvement in the Last 10 Years
Decreased24%
Did not change
54%
Increased22%
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Human Needs in the U.S.
• 24% - Jobs, education, career, wealth • 21% - Health, health care, poverty • 18% - Spiritual, religious • 17% - Family life, relationships • 16% - Community development
– Research by Percept Group, Inc. – Based on 31 specific needs/questions in the
survey
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Spiritual/religious Needs
• 30% - Dealing with stress, anxiety, worry • 17% - Finding friends • 15% - Finding a good church • 14% - Finding a life direction/purpose • 13% - Finding spiritual teaching
• 22% - Achieving a fulfilling marriage • 15% - Developing parenting skills
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Top Needs
• 51% - Long-term financial security • 44% - Maintaining personal health • 32% - Day-to-day financial situations • 30% - Dealing with stress • 29% - Finding health insurance • 27% - Neighborhood safety (crime)
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Who should be the primary provider of human welfare services?
50%
63%
Government agencies Churches & faith-basedagencies
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Church Program Preferences
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
Marriage enrichment
Care for terminally ill
Music, drama, art
Counseling services
Doctrinal classes
Senior activities
Youth activities
Family activities
Bible study groups
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Church Program Preferences
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14%
Divorce recovery
12-step program
Church schools
Day care
Camping, sports
Parenting classes
Basic social work
Spiritual retreats
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Worship Style Preferences
26%
11%
39%
20%
26% 26%
Emotionallyuplifting
Intellectuallychallenging
Both Traditional,formal,liturgical
Contemporary,informal
Both
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Worship Style Preferences
26%
11%
39%
20%
26% 26%
Emotionallyuplifting
Intellectuallychallenging
Both Traditional,formal,liturgical
Contemporary,informal
Both
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Church Music Preferences
24%20%
31%
19%23%
32%
Traditional
Contemporary Bo
th
Performed
Participatory
Both
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Missional Emphasis Preferences
22%
14%
37%
6%
33%30%
Community-centered
Individual-focused
Both World Local Both
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Church Architecture Preferences
27%
16%
32%
9%
35%
28%
Traditio
nal
Contemporar
yBoth
Somber, s
erious
Light a
nd airy
Both
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Media Sources for Information
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Magazines
National newspaper
Local newspaper
Radio
Television
Secondary source Primary source
Source: Percept Group, Inc.
Media for Contact by a Church
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Telephone visits
Telemarketing
Door to door
Visit by appointment
Cable TV
Newspaper ad
Radio spots
Direct mail
Bad Good
Greatest Impact on Decision to Go To a New Church
42%
58%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
My need/desireto leave my
previous church
My desire tojoin my current
church
21%
7%
17%
21%
27%
31%
33%
44%
51%
Other
Changes in beliefs/ attitudes toward church and religion
Had problems with other church members/staff/clergy
Changes in life situation
Could not agree with teachings or positions on issues
Felt out of place at the church
Something changed about the church
Church not fulfilling needs/ reasons for attending church
Became disenchanted with pastor/church
Reasons for Leaving Previous Church
16% - Pastor was not a good preacher 14% - Pastor was judgmental of others 13% - Pastor seemed hypocritical 12% - Pastor seemed insincere 10% - Pastor settled for mediocrity 9% - Pastor had no clear purpose or vision 8% - Pastor was unfriendly and/or unwelcoming 7% - Pastor had a moral or ethical failure 4% - Pastor lacked conviction about his beliefs 3% - Pastor discouraged others from getting involved
Reasons Why Switchers Became Disenchanted with Previous Pastor
• 18% - Church members were judgmental of others • 15% - Church members seemed hypocritical • 14% - Church was run by a clique that discouraged involvement • 14% - Church didn’t seem to be a place in which God was at work • 12% - Church settled for mediocrity • 11% - Church had no clear purpose or vision • 10% - Church members seemed insincere • 10% - Church was unfriendly and/or unwelcoming • 7% - Church members lacked conviction about their beliefs • 5% - Church had too many expectations of my time and money • 3% - Child had a bad experience
Reasons Why Switchers Became Disenchanted with Previous Church
• 28% - Church was not helping me to develop spiritually
• 20% - Did not feel engaged/involved in meaningful work in church
• 13% - Did not become friends or close with anyone at the church
• 10% - No one seemed to care about my situation/problems
• 9% - Church did not help me find answers to questions in my life
• 7% - Church did not help me find happiness
Reasons Why Switchers Felt Previous Church Was Not Fulfilling Their Needs
Reasons Why Switchers Changed Beliefs
• 5% - No longer believed in that church’s teachings or approach
• 4% - Could no longer identify with that particular denomination
• 2% - Simply lost interest in going to church
• 2% - Didn’t think that church was relevant to my life any longer
• 2% - Stopped believing in organized religion
• 1% - Went through a crisis of faith
• 1% - Became angry at God for personal reasons
• 1% - Could no longer identify myself as a Christian
• 1% - Felt that God had abandoned me when I needed him
16%
22%
27%
33%
31%
35%
25%
37%
35%
38%
28%
40%
39%
29%
43%
40%
34%
33%
27%
6%
9%
12%
14%
16%
14%
25%
16%
21%
32%
41%
31%
34%
45%
33%
40%
52%
54%
62%
Little use of religious jargonSize of church
Low pressure to commitWorship Times
Acquaintances among church membersLocation
DenominationChurch members similar to me
Opportunities to serveMusic
Opportunities to learn biblical truthUnity among members
Church members with whom I could build relationships Evidence of God’s work/changed lives
Care for communityWorship Style
Authenticity of church members/pastorPreaching
Beliefs/Doctrine of the church
4 -Important 5- Extremely Important
Important Factors in Choosing New Church
89%
22%
Summary
• The largest segment of the population (even in the South) is “unchurched” or inactive.
• Church attendance is relatively low and there is a decline in attenders.
• The fastest growing religious segment in is the “Nones” (no religion).
• The only denominational categories that are growing: nondenominational and Evangelical
Summary
• People in Georgia and Tennessee tend to be more religious than most Americans.
• A large number are inactive in the religion they identify with, “nominals.”
• “Consumer religion” is widespread among even the active church members. – It has made significant in-roads in Adventism.
Summary
• There are conflicting data regarding the church-related needs of people – Data from Percept Group reflects a broader
perspective and suggests a more wholistic approach to outreach
– Data from the Southern Baptist Convention study of “church switchers” in Baptist churches suggest more emphasis on doctrine, preaching and the role of the pastor
– Both are realities … for different segments
Strategic Questions
• Will your church/district focus only on a strategy centered in preaching, worship and Bible study or also make room for more wholistic strategies of outreach?
• Are there segments of the population that the Adventist Church is not reaching?
• What is being done to encourage fresh expressions of outreach, evangelism and church planting?
What Next? • Are there topics that you need additional
information about? • Do you want a local assessment of your
community and congregation? • We can talk over supper …
[email protected] (800) 272-4664
• © 2010, Center for Creative Ministry and Georgia-Cumberland Conference