Through conversations I discovered that the average age at the 9am Sunday service is 31, and the average age at the 11am service is 28. As I looked around the 11am service that we attended, I saw a few folks my age. But the vast majority of the congregation (about 800+ on that July 4th weekend) were in their 20’s and 30’s. Attendance has almost doubled since 2007, with adult average Sunday attendance (ASA) currently at 2,000+ and children at about 200+. Giving has increased by 9% annually over the same period, and the budget for 2009-2010 was $4m.<\/p>\n
I believe that fully-functioning, New Testament communities that we call “the local church” are God’s “plan A” for reaching secular people and turning them into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. I believe Acts 2:42-47 is not a one-time accident of Pentecost, but rather the model for what we should be doing as Anglicans planting new churches and re-developing existing ones. If we have the same priorities and commitments that the church had in Acts 2:42-47, I believe “The Lord will add to our number daily those who are being saved.” (Acts 2:47) He will add a new generation, like the one I saw at Park. I’m eager to see our churches attract a new generation – how about you?<\/p>\n