OVERVIEW of The State of Church Giving through 2018 Chapters update church member giving and membership data in the U.S., including:--1968-2018 data for a composite set of denominations;--1921-2018 data for 11 denominations;--Future trends;--Denominational overseas ministries support through 2018;--Cost-per-day for various church populations to address global needs;--Potential Catholic giving in ten archdioceses;--An analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2018, and cash contributions to charitable causes; and,--Chapter 8 is the special focus chapter, building on the information in the first seven chapters. The chapter presents an exercise using the question: What if Jesus returns in 2025? Acknowledging that no one knows the date of Jesus' return, the fact that three groups have chosen 2025 as a goal date for their efforts provides a reason to focus on that year. A discussion of missio Dei as a framework for discipleship sets the stage for setting goals for: Bible translations; engaging unengaged unreached people groups; and closing, in Jesus' name, the Promise Gap by reaching the target reduction goal for the global Under-5 Mortality Rate. A discussion follows of possible consequences that may develop if the church does not prepare, and alternatively, if the church does prepare, as if Jesus is coming back in 2025.
The State of Church Giving Through 2018 : What If Jesus Comes Back In 2025?