The American Church in Crisis: Groundbreaking Research Based on a National Database of over 200,000 Churches [Hardcover]

David T. Olson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2008

Groundbreaking research based on a national database of over 200,000 churches shows that the overall United States population is growing faster than the church. The director of the American Church Research Project, Dave Olson, has worked to analyze church attendance, showing that it is virtually unchanged from fifteen years ago while our population has grown by fifty-two million people. What does this mean for you, your church, and the future of Christianity in North America? The American Church in Crisis offers unprecedented access to data that helps you understand the state of the church today. 'We live in a world that is post-Christian, postmodern, and multiethnic, whether we realize it or not,' says the author. This book not only gives a realistic picture that confirms hunches and explodes myths, but it provides insight into how the church must change to reach a new and changed world with the hope of the gospel. Readers will find a richly textured mosaic with optimistic and challenging stories. Charts, diagrams, and worksheets provide church leaders and motivated church members with a stimulating read that will provoke much discussion. Questions for discussion accompany the chapters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Dave Olson sheds invaluable insight on the condition, direction, and immediate needs of the American Church. Dave writes with a rare combination of pastoral experience and denominational leadership backed up by rich church research. Thankfully, his message is not the typical, fatalistic, doom-filled prophecy about the imminent demise of the American Church. Instead, this book is packed with valuable insight, priceless research, and years of wisdom, all pointing toward practical answers about how to renew Christ's church. -- Craig Groeschel - Pastor, LifeChurch.tv, Edmund, OK

David Olson has given the American Church the gift of truth and hope in one powerful package. This book is a wonderfully balanced presentation of "just the facts" woven skillfully together with colorful metaphors that lead the reader to a clear understanding of the dangers and the opportunities facing the Body of Christ in the United States. It is a "must read" for Christian leaders determined to develop strategic plans to reach the multitudes of fellow citizens who are currently disconnected from the Church that Jesus is building. -- Steve Pike - Director, Church Planting and Development, Assemblies of God

The American Church in Crisis is a reality check that provides an honest look at the state of the church in America. Employing thorough research that yield eye-opening statistics, Dave Olson gives us a realistic snapshot of the state of the American church. This book is a prophetic call to prepare ourselves for the next phase of the church in America - a dynamic phase that requires a ministry of church planting and church revitalization in an increasingly diverse, multi-ethnic landscape. Every pastor, church leader, denominational leader, or Christian concerned about the future of the church in the United States needs to read this book. -- Soong-Chan Rah - Milton B. Engebretson Assistant Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism, North Park Theological Seminary

Review

'The American Church in Crisis is a monumental work, both in its accurate, near alarming analysis, and its brilliant clarion call to engage our society with the 'full-orbed' gospel of Jesus.' -- Lon Allison, Director, Billy Graham Center, Wheaton College

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; Second Printing edition (February 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310277132
• ISBN-13: 978-0310277132
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great analysis, helpful responses, and easy-to-read for Church leaders, February 16, 2008

By 

Carl H. Nelson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The American Church in Crisis: Groundbreaking Research Based on a National Database of over 200,000 Churches (Hardcover)

This book does an excellent job of bridging a well-researched assessment of the Church in America, with practical responses that the Church must make in order to fulfill the mission of the Kingdom of God.

Olson approaches the reality of an American Church in decline with love and respect for the Body of Christ; while he gives church leaders a loud wake up call, he also offers hope by prescribing that the Church focus on the message and mission of Jesus. As a church-planting leader and pastor, he is committed to growing churches and transforming lives. He holds true to that goal while shaking up the comfortable status quo that much of the American church has settled into.

Pastors & denominational leaders of both mainline and Evangelical churches, particularly those in urban and 1st and 2nd ring suburban churches, should read this book. It will also be helpful for any established church that wishes to remain alive and healthy for at least one more generation.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars comprehensive look @ the church, July 18, 2008

By 

M. McDaniel (Bentonville, AR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The American Church in Crisis: Groundbreaking Research Based on a National Database of over 200,000 Churches (Hardcover)

It was refeshing reading research beyond Barna. Though Olson said the same stuff Barna would have...the American institutional church is in serious trouble. Olson seemed to be a little more broad and deep. Instead of relying solely on his own data, as Barna would, he brought in other sources and gave a comprehensive look at the church.

I loved the pro church planting perspective. American churches need to plant 2,900 churches a year just to keep pace with the growth in population (p 181).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Needed: More New Churches, July 10, 2009

By 

James V. Dougans (Indianapolis, IN EU) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The American Church in Crisis: Groundbreaking Research Based on a National Database of over 200,000 Churches (Hardcover)

The American Church is in crisis. This may not be evident. Some polls report that 40 percent of the population attends church each Sunday. In fact, only 20 percent of the population attends church each Sunday. In addition, church attendance is not keeping up with a growing population.

The American Church in Crisis offers a comprehensive overview of the situation. Author David T. Olson presents a statistical picture of American religious life. He describes how church attendance is stagnant. In 1990 52 million people attended church on any given Sunday. In 2006 this number remains unchanged. Yet during the last 16 years the population of the United States has increased by 52 million people.

Olson wonders if we will experience another Millennium Effect. The years 1000 to 1033 were remarkable for their spiritual fervor. People expected many miracles to occur 1,000 years after Christ's death. As the second millennium begins Catholic churches face a shortage of priests and mainline churches are not starting enough new churches.

The American Church in Crisis offers a look at where churches are growing. The American church is growing fastest in zip codes that are more affluent and also more educated. Younger churches grow fastest. After 40 years most churches start to decline in membership. Churches with younger members also grow faster because more members are in the child bearing years. Surprisingly churches in urban locations showed the most growth, even more than those churches in suburban locations.

Olson asks the question will the church become extinct like the dodo bird or will it rebound from the brink of extinction like the eagle. Olson suggests a key to rebounding is starting 2,900 more new churches each year on top of the 4,000 normally started each year. Each year 6,900 new churches need to be started.

The author does not leave the reader with these troubling statistics. He also offers a way forward.

He notes for example that each new church needs to be given the best chance to achieve expectations. That means spending enough money, employing the parent church model, assessing and selecting gifted pastors, launching with a solid number and supporting the new church with coaching.

He closes with the reminder that Jesus must be at the center of what is preached and proclaimed. Relevance and strategizing are secondary to putting Jesus at the center of the potter's wheel. An encounter with Jesus is what will transform lives and reenergize the church.