PALM SPRINGS - II

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO VOTE IN THE POLL AT LEFT BEFORE IT CLOSES TODAY. THANKS.

Yesterday morning’s session at the Palm Springs A/G TRUST SUMMIT included the following observations from General Superintendant George Wood about our denomination and world …

Over the past five years, the Assemblies of God in the United States has seen 2.2 million people come to faith in Christ … 600,000 people have been baptized in water. That is phenomenal. Yet, there has been a net gain in actual church attendance in the A/G over the past 5 years of only 62,000 people – averaging approximately ONE PERSON PER A/G CHURCH in the United States!

In the past five years, 1,450 new A/G churches have opened … but 1,221 churches have closed – for a net gain of 229 churches.

35% of our A/G churches are under 50 people in attendance. That accounts for 6% of Sunday morning attendance in the A/G nationwide.

29% of churches average 50-99 in attendance – accounting for 27% of Sunday morning attendance.

20% average 100-199 – accounting for 18% of Sunday morning attendance.

15% average 200 – 999 – accounting for 29% of Sunday morning attendance.

1.5% average over 1,000 (KFA would be in this category) – 191 churches in all – accounting for 21% of Sunday morning attendance.

The Assemblies of God is tithing out of its own general budget toward church planting. This is being ‘missional’ at its best. Look at it this way: the National Royal Rangers Department (ministry to boys) has 13 full time people working for it at our A/G headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. There are 150,000 boys enrolled in the program nationwide. Yet, only FOUR people are in the Church Planting Department at headquarters – and THREE of them are support staff. Does that seem somewhat upside down, given the mission of Jesus when He was here?

George O. Wood, Superintendant of the A/G, revealed that he now has 5,000 friends on Facebook (I’m one of them) --- and FACEBOOK has recently shut him down, sending a message to would-be people now wanting to be his friend saying, “George has enough friends.” Apparently there is a quota for ‘friends’ on FACEBOOK.

The A/G COMMISSION ON DOCTRINAL PURITY has published some brand-new and updated position papers on the following topics:
Immigration --- Mental illness/depression --- Worship --- Divorce/remarriage

1/3 of all Assemblies of God Gospel Publishing House orders for materials are now purchased ONLINE.

The A/G is discovering that many churches who have been involved in Saturday night services are cancelling them now in favor of other times, including SUNDAY nights. This is not a throwback to the old Sunday night service. Instead, several churches have designed an environment for 18-29 year olds on Sunday NIGHT – rationale being that it is the time that age group has the most discretionary time. This Sunday night offering often has the very same content as the Sunday MORNING service, with slight tweaks in presentation, hotter music, etc.

P.S. - Because there was a lot of information here, the rest of the Tuesday afternoon and evening presentations by Rick Warren that I referred to yesterday will be unveiled here tomorrow.

And be blessed.