1. © 2004 by David T. Olson

2. The State of the Church in the Grand Rapids Metro Area 1990-2000
Dave Olson
© 2004 by David T. Olson

3. In 1996,
polls taken immediately after the Presidential election revealed that 58% of people claimed they had voted, when in reality only 49% actually did. This is called the Halo Effect. People tend to over-inflate their participation in activities that create acceptability within their social group.
For many decades, pollsters such as Gallup and Barna have reported that around 45% of Americans attend church every Sunday. But there is a religious Halo Effect. Actual attendance counts have shown that the percentage of people attending church on any given weekend is much lower than was previously thought.
© 2004 by David T. Olson

4. The Intent
of this presentation is to answer and then expand on two key questions:
“How Many People Really Attend Church in the Grand Rapids Metro Area Every Week?”
“Is the Christian Church Going Forwards or Backwards in Influence in the Grand Rapids Metro Area?”
As the data is analyzed county by county assessing a number of factors, a comprehensive picture of the State of the Church in Metropolitan Grand Rapids will begin to take shape.
© 2004 by David T. Olson

5. This study
uses weekend church attendance as a more reliable and more immediate snapshot of Christian influence than membership. The following map shows the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend in all 50 states in Michigan has a weekly attendance percentage of 20.6%. The Grand Rapids metro has a weekly attendance percentage of 24.8%, much higher than the state and the national average (18.7%).
© 2004 by David T. Olson

6. © 2004 by David T. Olson

7. The Next Map
shows the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend in 2000 for each county in the Grand Rapids metro.
© 2004 by David T. Olson

8. 18.5% Grand Rapids MSA Muskegon 26.2% 30.7% Kent Ottawa 18.9% Allegan
2000 Percentage of
Population in Worship
At a Christian Church
on any Given Weekend

9. The Next Graph
shows the attendance numbers for the churches in the Grand Rapids metro in 1990 and Evangelical churches have grown, Mainline churches have stayed the same and Catholic churches have declined slightly. Unfortunately, as overall worship attendance has increased, the population has grown even faster. A more reliable standard for evaluating increasing or declining influence is the percentage of the population attending church on any given weekend, shown in the second graph.
© 2004 by David T. Olson

10. © 2004 by David T. Olson

11. © 2004 by David T. Olson

12. The Next Graph
is a Pie graph visualizing the percentage of the population at churches in each category in The “Absent” category indicates the percentage of the population that is not worshipping at a Christian church on any given weekend. The second graph shows the percentage gain or decline for each category in the Grand Rapids area in 1990 and 2000.
© 2004 by David T. Olson

13. © 2004 by David T. Olson

14. © 2004 by David T. Olson

15. The Next Map
shows the attendance percentage for the Evangelical churches in each county in Grand Rapids in 2000.
© 2004 by David T. Olson

16. 10.6% Muskegon 15.2% 17.0% Kent Ottawa 6.5% Allegan
Grand Rapids Metro Counties
2000 Percentage
of Population at
Worship in
All Evangelical
Churches on
a Given Weekend
Blue = Lowest
Rose = Middle
Beige = Highest

17. The Next Map
shows the growth or decline in the percentage of the population attending a Christian church on any given weekend from 1990 to 2000 for each county. No county grew in attendance percentage, while 4 counties declined.
© 2004 by David T. Olson

18. -9.6% Muskegon -13.5% -12.8% Kent Ottawa -3.5% Allegan
Grand Rapids Metro Counties
Growth or
Decline in Percentage
of the Population at
Worship in All Christian
Churches on a
Given Weekend
Blue = Decline
Rose = Growth

19. The Next Map
shows the growth or decline of attendance percentages for the Evangelical churches in each county in Grand Rapids between 1990 and For evangelicals, no counties grew in attendance percentage, while 4 county declined.
© 2004 by David T. Olson

20. -3.9% Muskegon -9.4% -8.2% Kent Ottawa -0.5% Allegan
Grand Rapids Metro Counties
Growth or
Decline in Percentage
of the Population at
Worship in All Evangelical
Churches on a
Given Weekend
Blue = Decline
Rose = Growth

21. More or Fewer Churches
There was a net gain of 10 churches in the past decade. However, to keep up with the population growth in the Grand Rapids metro, there would have needed to have been a net gain of 69 churches from
© 2004 by David T. Olson

22. The State of the Church in Grand Rapids . . .
Evangelical churches are growing in numbers, Mainline churches are plateaued and Catholic churches are declining. Because of population growth, however, all groups have declined in the percentage of the population attending their churches.
A factor in the decline in percentage attendance is the insufficient net gain in the number of churches in Grand Rapids. If the present decade is to rectify that in the metro area, 59 more churches would need to be started than in the previous decade.
© 2004 by David T. Olson

23. Conversions Per 100 Attenders38
Why We Plant Churches
Conversions Per 100 Attenders 18
2003
GLC
2004-5
GLC
This graphic illustrates the results of repeated studies, which bear out the fact that church planting remains a highly effective means of evangelism today. Lyle Schaller, one of the most respected analysts of church life states that “church planting is the closest thing to a guaranteed method of outreach.”
© 2004 by David T. Olson

24. M-6/Byron Center Corridor
© 2004 by David T. Olson

25. Hearing God
© 2004 by David T. Olson

26. Our Heartbeats A Church Which . . .
loves God with heart, soul, mind, strength.
lives out, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
connects with unchurched people.
grows children to become spiritual champions.
uses small groups as the primary means of discipleship.
is willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of the Gospel.
believes to whom much is given, much is required.
utilizes creativity and learning styles.
© 2004 by David T. Olson

27. Weekend Worship
Weekly challenging people to make spiritual commitments (alter calls, etc.).
Use drama, film, and music as regular means of communication.
Biblical preaching (nothing watered down).
Balance of “family style” and adult specific worship.
Passionate worship.
Multi-generational.
Casual environment.
© 2004 by David T. Olson

28. © 2004 by David T. Olson

29. Need for Partners Parent – ave size after 5 years = 345
Partners – ave size after 5 yrs = 148
Pioneer – ave size after 5 yrs = 45
Community-based – ave size… = 220
We want to combine partnering with Community-based = = 368
Gen Exp of Parent Churches after 5 yrs (ncd)
All chs who parent gain 28 new members per 100
Churches who don’t help plant gain only 16…
Healthy Churches who plant gain 64…
© 2004 by David T. Olson

30. Our Plants Grow Well
© 2004 by David T. Olson

31. What Partners Do Pray People
Phishing Liscence
Mission-Minded people for core
Referrals of those who are seeking
We plant new chs to REACH People for Jesus
Participation in Outreach Events & Help with Previews & Preparatory Worship
“Parts is Parts” – Equipment
Phinances
© 2004 by David T. Olson

32. Acts 17:22,23
So Paul took his stand in the open space at the Areopagus and laid it out for them. “It is plain to see that you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, to the god nobody knows. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you’re dealing with.
The Message
© 2004 by David T. Olson

33. Luke 10:1-3
1 After this, the Lord chose seventy-two others and sent them out in pairs ahead of him into every town and place where he planned to go. 2 He said to them, “There are a great many people to harvest, but there are only a few workers. So pray to God, who owns the harvest, that he will send more workers to help gather his harvest. 3 Go now, but listen! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.
The New Century Version
© 2004 by David T. Olson

34. Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
 NIV
© 2004 by David T. Olson