This week, The Barna Group published the results of a study investigating what makes today’s American Dream. What I find most intriguing is the growing goal of Americans to be more spiritual. It is not a drastic change, but all three spiritual areas polled in the study grew in support from previous years.
- 75% of American adults in 2008 want to have a close relationship with God in the future
(5th most desired outcome in ‘08)
>> 70% in 2000
>> 74% in 1993
>> 72% in 1991 - 59% of American adults in 2008 want to be deeply committed to the Christian faith in the future
(11th most desired outcome in ‘08)
>> 53% in 2000 - 45% of American adults in 2008 want to be personally active in a church in the future
(14th most desired outcome in ‘08)
>> 42% in 2000
I was pleasantly surprised to see the numbers so high. However, there is a big difference between wanting to do something and actually doing it.
- 3 in 5 Americans (59%) want to be discipled, but they need churches with leaders that can spur them to act on that desire.
- 9 in 20 Americans (45%) want to be involved in church, but they need church leadership that can encourage and motivate them to volunteer, participate, and become personally active in church.
The numbers are very promising, but it is up to church leadership to get these Americans to act on their desires. To see the rankings of the 19 desires that make up the American Dream, read Barna’s full article.
Hmmmm, interesting.
What are the applications for us? Perhaps advertising along those lines - being more clear about how going to this class, or attending our church will help you…: Grow closer to God, make them deeply committed to the Christian faith … actually, I wonder if this is happening at church?
If the REVEAL study is any indication, it may be that it’s not happening as much as we’d like. Perhaps the increasing “desire for the future” is coming from a decreasing fulfillment of that desire by the Church?
@Jesse
I think the key to success lies in church leadership and the culture they create.
I recently read Freiman’s Current Events, Conservative Outcomes and he predicts an increase in conservative values, altruism and church enrollments over the next 20 years as the baby boomers begin to retire and try to figure out the meaning of life. It should be an interesting time period for America. Our generation is looked upon as spoiled by our parents who saw the end of the depression and WWII. I guess time will tell if we are truly spoiled?
It seems to me that the statistics stem back to how effective and engaged the leadership is at a particular church. I think it is remarkable that people are showing an increased interest in discipleship and involvement, and I agree with Kent Shaffer that the key does “lie in church leadership and the culture they create”.
I also believe that church leaders are getting the picture concerning these statistics. With content like the Reveal study that was recently done by Willow Creek Community Church and conferences like the Catalyst Conference, I believe that church leaders are beginning to make a major effort to equip one another to answer this increasing desire of Americans to be discipled and involved.
T H I N K | C H A N G E
I recently started putting myself “out there” to my neighbors, as my wife and I purchased a simple little fire pit for our backyard. We have invited our neighbors over for a fire, drinks, and dessert. It’s been a bit awkward because we don’t know these people too well, but Jesus tells me that I am salt and light, so this is what I do: Love my neighbors.
One of my neighbors recently told me of these girls whom she has baby-sit her kids. The 2 girls are lesbians, and when they come to watch the kids, they bring with them little art projects for the kids to do. They clean the house, wash dishes, and do a lot of things that they were not asked to do. They do it because they love people.
My neighbor went on and on about these two girls, and it hit me that this is what people are after: To be loved without asking for it. I wondered what would have happened if a Jesus follower had done these things, but wasn’t in-your-face about their faith, and just set a track record of loving.
I think this is the kind of stuff that this survey is really getting at: People are seeking Jesus. I do not think clever advertising, another program, or a 5-point sermon is going to do anything but create more distance between “us” and “them.” The Church needs to see folks as not-yet-Christians, and just love them. Let the Spirit guide them, see what happens!
[...] clipped from churchrelevance.com [...]