Today's
generation - what a variety of images!
Couples facing the challenges of marriage, parenting and finances.
Career decisions, and the struggles of being single once again.
Young adults sifting through all the garbled messages describing
how they should live. Confused
teens asking, "Why bother?"
They're all seeking. Looking
everywhere and at everything for answers-for that certain something that
will enable them to journey through life successfully.
Historically, people have turned to the church when confronted with life
issues that block them from their destinations.
Today, many who are stuck and unable to cross over and get back on
track no longer see the church as their first option to find answers for
life's questions.
Instead they seek answers from talk show hosts, the Internet, or at local
bookstores. They are asking
legitimate questions about life's meaning and purpose.
They know there is something missing in their lives and the lives
of their children, and they're wanting a genuine spiritual experience.
What they need is "A Bridge."
A way to cross over the barriers they face.
They need others who will assist them in their spiritual search for
life's answers. They need to
connect with fellow travelers willing to walk life's journey with them in
genuine relationship. And
they need to know there is a God who can meet them right where they are
regardless of where they find themselves on life's road.
THE BRIDGE GROUP, are a group of individuals from every walk of life who
have one thing in common: Faith in God and a commitment to help others
walk with Him and journey through life successfully.
"Despite all the activity, the Church in
America is losing influence and adherents faster than any other major
institution in the nation. The world around us is changing at an
unprecedented pace. The core attributes of our society – language,
customs, dress-styles, dominant leisure pursuits, relational emphases,
values, and the like are being substantially reshaped and reconfigured
every few years.
Most American churches, however, are holding
fast to programs and goals established by their charter members years ago.
Many of these ministries have mastered the art of denying the cataclysmic
cultural changes around them, responding with cosmetic changes that make
little differences."
George Barna, The Second Coming of the Church
Current State of the Spiritual Landscape:
- The average church size has declined to 90 adult attendees.
- On any given Sunday only 37% of the population will attend a
Christian church service.
- Of those, the greatest percentage will be over the age of 55.
- Of the non-churched Baby Boomers, only 20% are returning to
church, leaving 80% unchurched.
- Only 28% of those between the ages of 22 to 34 years olds attend
church.
- Spiritual interest of the 18-29 year olds are at the highest level
since the 60’s but only 19% have any contact with organized
religion (the church).
- Children between the ages of 5 to 13 have the highest likelihood
of accepting Christ.
- The higher income, the more education, the least likely one is to
describe themselves as "spiritual."
- Of Born Again Christians, only 53% believe they have any
responsibility to share their faith.
- Most adults do not have confidence in the church. Less than 43%
said they have a lot of confidence in the local church, 37% said
they had some, 13% not much, 4% no, and 3% did not know.
Observations & Conclusions:
The current culture has changed, and is changing at a pace too rapid
for the average church to assess, assimilate, and respond to effectively.
At a time of significant spiritual interest in the culture, the church is
not emerging as the first option individuals seek out for spiritual
answers. The parents of children, who are most prone to coming to faith in
Christ, are of the least represented groups attending Christian services
on Sunday.
With a higher per capita income and education level, the north side of
Indianapolis represents a segment of population with lowest perceived need
in the greater Indianapolis area.
In conclusion, the church needs to be strengthened and given the tools
and insights to better understand and communicate to a culture that finds
itself spiritually interested but lacking confidence in the activities and
ministry located at the church building. The church must break down
negative stereotypes and images within the non-churched community and
discover new ways of getting outside of its walls to effectively influence
those who at this point are unwilling to expose themselves to the ministry
of a local church.
We believe God is raising up the ministry of The Bridge Group for such
a time as this. The Bridge Group seeks to strengthen the local church for
effective outreach and by building cultural bridges into the community,
provide opportunities for the body of Christ to engage nonchurched
individuals with the presence of Christ and the truths of the Scriptures
in their environments.
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