I continue to put a great deal of thought into why we are apparently going backward as churches and denominations.

1. The truth, if we use "real numbers," is we are only holding steady in Sunday attendance.

2. My contact with hundreds of churches and leaders each year is that the frequency of attendance has dropped significantly. So could it be we are much larger than we think but a good chunk of the people are gone any given Sunday. Some feel half of a church’s attendees are gone each Sunday.  So could we be growing and it isn’t showing?

3. Our competition is immense today. Eighty percent of the population at the turn of the century was working in fields related to agriculture. And very few were in communication vocations of any kind. Hence the Sunday preacher was a major show and source of input from a communication standpoint. The preacher was the theatre, orator, rock group of his time.

Today 90% of the work force is involved in some level of communication. We are overwhelmed with information. And when Sunday rolls around we are sapped. We have to accept this and strategize to excel despite the challenge.

4. The mobility of our society is a very potent force in secularizing our culture. A close friend or family member brought eiight-five percent of any church’s population. If you move every three years or let’s say eight, these networks fall apart. It makes our job as outreach-oriented people fall to a one at a time mode rather than small people groups.

For us to be effective in reaching our culture we have to find ways to build connections faster and better. Ministries that offer what extended families once contributed will reach people faster and with great long-term health.