To be clear, you likely attend church for good, solid, biblical reasons. You are committed to Scripture and your congregation. Most importantly, you are committed to Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You want your congregation to flourish—reaching more people who will follow the Savior you love. And it’s quite likely you want your children and grandchildren to be active, worshipping followers of Jesus.
Ryan Burge is a professor of practice at the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University. He has conducted a massive study on the health and future of 20 denominations in the United States. The research results are provided in a document called “When Are Half Your Members Going to be Dead?” As a Christian, that title should get your attention! This study focuses on the aging of various religious groups in America.
While the summary results are different for each American Christian group, the overall trend is staggering. The research focuses on those who are baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964. For most Christian denominations (including those that are nondenominational or defined as interdenominational), the number of aging baby boomers reflects about 40 percent of their adults, those age 18 and older. That does not include these four groups of present baby boomers who make up between 24 percent and 37 percent of their denominations: American Baptist Churches USA (37 percent), Community Church (33 percent), Free Will Baptist Church (32 percent), and Church of Christ (24 percent).
At the other extreme, baby boomers make up 49 percent of the Episcopal Church, 49 percent of United Methodists, 48 percent of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, 48 percent of the National Baptist Convention, 47 percent of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) at 47 percent, 47 percent of the Presbyterian Church USA, 47 percent of the Presbyterian Church of America, and 47 percent of interdenominational churches.
The baby boomers of the Southern Baptists and the Baptist Mission Association are both at 45 percent. The United Church of Christ and the Assemblies of God are both 43 percent baby boomers.
Baby boomers make up 42 percent of nondenominational charismatic churches, 42 percent of the General Association of Regular Baptists, 41 percent of Independent Baptists, and 40 percent of nondenominational evangelicals.
As an overall summary, many baby boomer Christians reflect an aging population in American congregations. This trend, according to Ryan Burge, reflects a future of many funerals and fewer new members—if the trend continues. Baby boomers dominate most large Protestant denominations. The research reflects that, if this trend continues, Christianity in America will greatly disappear over the next few decades. The aging population in many congregations will signal the closure of numerous churches—unless Christians focus on reaching those who are not yet practicing believers. You might call this a spiritual “code red” for congregations—including the one you attend.
Code Red Response
As you read this, it may feel like a wake-up call for you and your church. It should be a signal of urgency for every Christian. Yet that isn’t the real biblical issue. The more important challenge is the opportunity to recapture the mission that Jesus has given to every Christian.
In many churches, the mission to reach others for Jesus is often and subtly viewed as “the pastor’s job” or the “ministry of the staff.” Yet Scripture is clear: Believers are equipped to be missionaries to their unchurched friends, relatives, and neighbors and among those at work or school.
Your church is not simply a country club for aging believers who are on the journey to heaven. That mission includes a passionate lifestyle to reach those in your social network who are not yet followers of Jesus.
Most Christians get “church” partially correct: It’s the pastor’s and staff’s job to preach, teach, visit the sick, and bury the dead. Yet, what is missing? It is the primary calling of every pastor, every Christian parent, every senior citizen—every Christ-follower—to equip others to be missionaries to those in their social networks who are unchurched.
After decades of working with churches, our Church Doctors clearly understand that the multiplication mission of every Christ-follower is to disciple—train, equip, encourage—every believer to reach every unbeliever in his or her social network.
Every Christian has a personal “mission field.” It isn’t so much about “knocking on doors and talking to strangers.” It isn’t about shoving religion down the throats of those in your social network.
It is about being a missionary 24/7. It occurs when every person in your church is equipped to become a loving disciple of Jesus, focused on reaching those who are unchurched, those you already know. It is not “preaching” but sensitively sharing what Jesus has meant to you.
This is not just your pastor’s job. It is your privilege and honor as a Christian. It’s about sharing your story—what your faith means to you, what Jesus has done in your life. It’s about sharing how much your church has shaped your life. It’s not a sermon you preach to those far from God. It’s your enthusiasm about your faith—through good times and also during the challenges of life.
“Enthusiasm” is a concept that literally means “in God-ism.” If God is in you, then God works through you. You are a disciple. You have the power of Christ. That has changed your life. Your changed life changes others around you.
You are a contagious Christian. Your faith is infectious. Sharing that faith sparks the movement that Jesus started. It is called Christianity.
Dr. Kent Hunter is the founder of Church Doctor Ministries, a mission to help local churches renew, revive, and thrive. He is the author of Who Broke My Church? 7 Proven Strategies for Renewal and Revival. He has written more than 40 books aimed at helping Christians to renew the Christian movement and reach our world for Jesus.