I have been writing some thoughts that I believe to be important. I have spent the last few days trying to get them down in an understandable manner and have not yet succeeded. So I will continue to get it ready for next week. In the meantime I will leave you a snippet about George Barna. I read many of Barna’s books when I was heavily involved with church growth and cell churches etc (in my former deluded life!). It is fascinating that this incredibly informed man of God is coming to conclusions that many of you have arrived at from viewing your own small part of the Christian landscape. Have a great weekend
Thom works closely with the well-known church researcher, George Barna. Over the years, Barna's research has turned up devastating "big picture" information about traditional church life in the US like:

1. Only 9% of people who say they are "born again" have a Biblical worldview.
2. "...the local church has virtually no discernible influence on people’s lives."
3. One million people leave the traditional church each year.

For 20 years, in book after book, Barna has been delivering this information to the American church. He has now concluded that, in spite of his best efforts, no one was really listening and he has now changed his strategy. Rather than being solely focused on research, he is now committed to actively supporting new forms of church that have the potential for actually seeing lives transformed. (Click on "New Directions" at http://www.barna.org/ )

The new books that Barna and others are writing "will reveal what is happening in the emerging Church – not the postmodern, candles/coffee/couches types of anti-modern ministries, but the Revolutionary ministry that is percolating to the surface of American society through new forms of ministry such as the cyber church, house churches, marketplace ministries, and tribal faith experiences."

Barna continues, "While I will write a few books for the line - the first, "Revolution", is scheduled to release in September 2005 – most of the books will be written by the new generation of spiritual leaders who are propelling the Church into the 21st century with an intense passion for God and a commitment to being the Church rather than worrying about protecting the forms and institutions that have been in place." http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Perspective&PerspectiveID=2