1. Ebenezer Baptist Church

2. The Heartbeat and Mission of Christ, to save the Lost
The Heartbeat and Mission of Christ, to save the Lost. (Luke 2:49; 9:51;15:1-32; 19:1-10)
The Mission Statement of Christ Begs Some Questions
What does “Lost” mean?
Am I Lost?
Do I have the same mission?

3. Why is the Gospel Essential In America?
61% of churchgoers have not shared their faith with anyone in the past 6 months. The statistical trend is in a free fall.
70% who attend 2 or 3 times a month never share their faith with a stranger.

4. Only 7% of church goers consistently spend time with non-christians for the purpose of sharing Christ with them.
56% of churchgoers don’t believe that sharing their faith is an essential obligation of their Christian life.
Only 2% of church goers invited an unchurched person in the last year.

5. 71% of unchurched say they are likely to accept and invitation from a family member, friend or neighbor to attend church.
Over half of all Americans never attend church.
80% of unchurched are open to the gospel.

6. 70% of unchurched have never been invited to church their whole lives.
45% of people who attend church regularly are not saved.
43% of Americans say they don’t pray every day.
50% of church goers are unsure if people know they are Christians.

7. Only 37% of Americans say they have had a born again experience
Only 37% of Americans say they have had a born again experience. (That leaves approx. 200,000,000)
Only 2% of an average church population has been saved during the last 5 years.
51% of church goers say they have never heard the “great commission”

8. The NONES (religiously unaffiliated) are now the 2nd largest group in the US after evangelicals, that’s ¼ of the adult population.
Only 45% of millennial are confident God exists.

9. The Silent Generation: Born 1928-1945 (73-90 years old)
Baby Boomers: Born (54-72 years old)
Generation X: Born (38-53 years old)
Millennials: Born (22-37 years old)
Post-Millennials: Born 1997-Present (0-21 years old)

10. 62% of Millennials seldom or never go to church.
96 % of Millennials don’t have a biblical worldview.
Almost 1/3 of evangelicals attend church out of obligation.
Only 45% of Millennials are confident God exists.

11. 40% of Millennials believe the Bible is simply a book composed of fables, legends and moral precepts.
70% of all young people who grow up in church leave the church by their 20’s.
62% of Millennials believe the church is hypocritical/judgmental.

12. 59% of Millennials believe that pornography is morally acceptable.
25% of evangelicals are not certain that the physical resurrection of Jesus is a real historical event.
51% of Americans say the Bible was written for each person to interpret as he or she chooses.

13. 46% of evangelicals agree that God accepts worship of all religions.
77% of Americans believe that personal salvation is a result of good works.
51% of evangelicals believe many religions can lead to eternal life, 65% “Christians”-multiple paths to heaven

14. 30% of US adults believe in a cosmic force rather than the eternal God described in the Bible.
69% of church goers believe everyone will go to heaven.
Only 55% of Americans believe in the devil.

15. 49% of Americans don’t believe miracles happen today.
41% of Americans believe there is no God.
46% of Americans don’t believe hell exists.
1/3 of Americans believe God will give them a second chance after death

16. 71% of Americans see nothing morally wrong with sex before marriage.
62% of American adults favor same sex marriage.
45% of young evangelicals(18-29) favor same sex marriage.

17. 44% of U.S. adults say God plays no role whatsoever in their life.
2/3 of all American churches are experiencing (1) no growth or (2) decline in numbers.
At least 2.3 million leave the church every year. (some personal pastoral observations)