Why Should Churches Start New Churches?

                                                                                                                                                  Vol. X, No. 3, March 1997

1. There are more lost people in the United States than there are in any other nation with the exception of China, Russia, and India. There are simply not enough churches to reach the more than 170 million non-Christians living in our own country.

2. The population-to-church ratio for all churches of any type in the United States is 1:710. That means there is only one congregation to reach every 710 people.

3. The United States now has more than 500 ethnic groups who speak more than 600 languages. We need more congregations that are sensitive to the language and cultural needs of those groups.

4. Starting a new congregation is good for a church. Churches that start new work truly participate in the Great Commission by reaching out to the community. Churches that sponsor new work also experience growth.

[Reprinted from the Accomack Baptist Association newsletter, February 1997.]