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I have some good news and bad news.  Now, if you are like me,  you like the good news last.

According to Pew Research, Christianity is still the largest global religion at 2.3 billion people. The Muslim religion has now grown to 2 billion people and is the fastest growing religion with over 300 million added in recent years.  Without overwhelming the reader with statistics, there has been a tendency to disaffiliate from Christianity of late both globally and in the U.S.   In the last 10 to 15 years, over 100 million people have indicated they are no longer affiliated with a Christian organization in an age group of 24 to 56.

The U.S. still has two-thirds of its population as Christian , but France, the UK, and Australia are examples of countries who are below 50 percent.  

Let’s shift to the good news. There has been a revival since Covid  in the US.  Barna reports that in the past four years there have been 30 million Christians  accept Christ as savior. In an article by Dr. Stephen Crutchins, he writes, “Gen Z men have experienced a 15-point increase in commitment since 2019, while Millennial men have surged by 19 points. For the first time in modern history, young men are outpacing young women in spiritual commitment, flipping a trend that held firm for decades”

Now that is good news. The challenge goes beyond evangelism, though.  Many who choose to follow Jesus, fade away because they are not being discipled.  With so much instant information, division, distractions, political spin from all directions, there can follow confusion, disillusionment and discouragement. At the center is the falling away of the church. “Today, only 6% of self-identifying Christians have a biblical worldview, and only 51% of pastors do. Meanwhile, fewer than 5% of churches in America have a reproducing disciple-making culture. Retention among evangelicals has dropped below 70%, and many churches are producing attenders but not disciple-makers.” (Crutchins)

Recently, I saw where a church in California planned, coordinated and conducted 28,000 baptisms across the country on Pentecost Sunday.  Impressive numbers, great news . .  .who will disciple them? After performing multiple miracles, Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 9, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸ therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

In your prayers, ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest. With the moving away from a Biblical worldview in the mainstream churches, non-traditional means such as small group  discipling and mentoring, has never seen a greater need.  I hope you will join me in praying for opportunities to share the good news (go and make is right out the door), and to make disciples or find ways to support those  who have committed to disciple new Christians – particularly our future leaders, and let them go and make disciples. Amen