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

by David T. Olson, Craig Groeschel (Foreword by)

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.

Genres: Christian, Church

240 pages, Hardcover

First published February 15, 2008

Reviews

[Brian Taylor]

I recently had the privilege to read David T. Olson's book The American Church in Crisis as part of my ministerial studies in pursuit of my Master's of Divinity. As part of my class's study of the state of the American Church, I found it quite revealing in that it really fit well into some of the things I had already believed and had been committing to writing about, as it pertains to why people do or do not go to church.

In David Olson's presentation, much of his research went into looking at the factual data surrounding church attendance and the reality that in America, it is stagnated or in many cases a decline. Part of what he points out is that much like a seed from a plant, there is a sense of decay that should lead to fruitful growth. It's supposed to be the natural order of life. As such, ministry or growth of the church in America should see such a pattern.

What I found to be interesting about Olson's research was that it dug deeper into the numbers than George Barna's research reveals about church growth between the late 1990's and 2007. He gives a fuller picture of the why's and how's. His book goes through observation, evaluation, and introspection about all of the research regarding the growth of decline of it in the American church.

If you have a heart to understand the American Church and where it stands, David T. Olson gives you a vast amount of information to chew on. If your goal is to be a solution to many of the ills of the American Church, this is a great resource to arm yourself. This book isn't just for pastors or church leaders but it's for anyone who has a heart for the state of the American Church.

[Werner Fourie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olson offers a great overview of the state of the American church and the different up's and down's through the years. He clearly shows some great steps necessary for continued health and growth.

[Ryan Fisher]

This was a crazy good book with a very perceptive present/future look at the church. This should be required reading for anyone concerned with the church and the state of religion in America. I was especially impressed with the author's percecptiveness regarding a lot of sensitive subjects. He pulled no punches in his analysis. There were also a lot of really great church planting applications throughout. - Very good book.

[Tyler Shinnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides an honest look at the state of American churches. It accurately diagnoses the symptoms and some of the causes. It could have, perhaps, done a better job of suggesting cures for these problems.

[John D. Bain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of stats . . . number crunching . . . but you need to know.

[Karla Renee Goforth Abreu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book on the topic of the church and the challenges it faces in the 21st century.

[Preston Rentz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning revelations revealed in this book about the changing dynamics in the American Church.