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56 posts tagged seattle

May
17

How to Double the # of Christians in Seattle The Association of Religion Data Archives recently released US Congregational Membership reports using the 2010 Census Info. You can also use their reports and GIS maps to zoom in on specific regions, states and cities for highly detailed information. Given the information provided, 5.5% of Seattle is Evangelical Protestant. That number jumps to 11% as you include other groups, including Mainline Protestant, in King County as a whole. There is debate around what it means to be a Christian, but for the sake of argument lets average those numbers in order to broaden the circle to include some slightly outside Evangelicalism, while tightening the circle of the Mainline. That leaves us with: 8.25%. The population of Seattle, per the 2010 US Census, was 608,660. If 8.25% of Seattle is Christian, that would be 50,214. Let’s assume church growth of existing churches is only off-setting current church decline in the area (even that is generous). To double the number of Christians in Seattle, we would need an additional 25 mega churches (defined as 2,000+) or 251 churches with 200 people - that’s just within Seattle city limits. Clearly there is no room for territorialism among existing churches. At times I’m asked, “Why would you plant a church downtown?” How could we not? Look at these numbers. Others have commented, “Well, it seems that ______ church has it pretty well covered.” Look at the graph above. This report says there are 1,204,580 people in King County that claimed no religious affiliation. That’s over 1 million people. Most of them are closest to the City Center. There is not merely “room” for more churches. There is a real, vital, critical need for church revitalization and new church planting in our city and region. If you’re interested in planting in Seattle, give me a shout.

How to Double the # of Christians in Seattle

The Association of Religion Data Archives recently released US Congregational Membership reports using the 2010 Census Info. You can also use their reports and GIS maps to zoom in on specific regions, states and cities for highly detailed information. Given the information provided, 5.5% of Seattle is Evangelical Protestant. That number jumps to 11% as you include other groups, including Mainline Protestant, in King County as a whole. There is debate around what it means to be a Christian, but for the sake of argument lets average those numbers in order to broaden the circle to include some slightly outside Evangelicalism, while tightening the circle of the Mainline. That leaves us with: 8.25%.

The population of Seattle, per the 2010 US Census, was 608,660. If 8.25% of Seattle is Christian, that would be 50,214. Let’s assume church growth of existing churches is only off-setting current church decline in the area (even that is generous). To double the number of Christians in Seattle, we would need an additional 25 mega churches (defined as 2,000+) or 251 churches with 200 people - that’s just within Seattle city limits. Clearly there is no room for territorialism among existing churches.

At times I’m asked, “Why would you plant a church downtown?” How could we not? Look at these numbers. Others have commented, “Well, it seems that ______ church has it pretty well covered.” Look at the graph above. This report says there are 1,204,580 people in King County that claimed no religious affiliation. That’s over 1 million people. Most of them are closest to the City Center. There is not merely “room” for more churches. There is a real, vital, critical need for church revitalization and new church planting in our city and region. If you’re interested in planting in Seattle, give me a shout.

Apr
03

We put this together to celebrate the first birthday of our church this past weekend. Thanks for all of your support, prayers and encouragement. Jesus is just starting his work in, among and through us.

Mar
30

The Northwest and Northeast Remain Least “Religious” Regions of the US

This week Gallup announced the “State of the States” - statistics on the state of “religion” across the United States. Not surprisingly, the Northeast and Northwest remain the least “religious” regions of the country. This is why God has called us to Seattle: to spread the supremacy of Christ from the avenues to the alley ways of this great city - and through the city to the region. (HT: Ed Stetzer)

Feb
18

Feb
09

Whose dog is this? Be sure and wait for the surprise ending.
This is a true slice of the northwest and highlights some of the unique cultural challenges facing the church here.
It’s funny because its true. #loveyourcity

Jan
27

Dec
22

Nov
17

Nov
06