Why start a church?
Aug 14
Here we are 11 months into the life of CATGrove and I am asked more than ever, “Why did you start a church?” and “What led you to start a church like CATGrove?”
Over the next month I plan to write some posts reflecting on this first year of CATGrove. I begin with attempting a simple answer to the question, “Why start a Church?”
We can statistically say with certainty, depending on where you live that approximately 80% to 85% of the people in our community do NOT attend church. It is not hard to get a picture of this truth as you drive anywhere on Sunday morning. Contrast the traffic flow and congestion on a Sunday morning with the traffic congestion during the week and you can easily see that MOST people are NOT finding their way to church.
We have determined that those in their 20′s and 30′s are the first generations born and raised in a “post-Christian” American culture. Prior to these generations, a “Judeo-Christian” understanding and ethic prevailed. Most people in earlier generations had a basic understanding of the central message of the Bible, Jesus and Christianity. Although they personally may have not chosen to follow Christ, they were basically familiar with what is meant to follow Christ or “be” a Christian.
Simply put, we felt an “extreme” burden and call to begin a church with these, “disconnected, unchurched, unconvinced” people in mind.
Most church environments are designed and crafted for the “already convinced” in mind. We wanted to create an environment and culture for those ”not yet here”.
The United States is now among the largest mission fields of non-Christian people in the world. We must lead followers of Christ to see their neighborhoods and circles of influence as “villages” of people that need to hear the gospel of Jesus.
Does Jesus CARE about those people in our “villages” that have yet to turn to follow Him!?!
I believe HE DOES! See here…..… and here….… and here….. and here……
That’s WHY!
