In George Barna’s latest research he notes that "house churches are moving from the appraisal phase into the acceptance phase." Here are some excerpts from his recent article:
“The house church now appears to have reached ‘critical mass’ in the United States,” commented Barna. “Analysts typically find that once a new tool or institution reaches 15% market penetration, and has evidenced a consistent or growing level of affirmation for at least six years, that entity shifts from fad to trend status. At that point, it becomes a permanent fixture in our society. Today, house churches are moving from the appraisal phase into the acceptance phase. We anticipate house church attendance during any given week to double in the coming decade, and a growing proportion of house church attenders to adopt the house church as their primary faith community. That continued growth and public awareness will firmly establish the house church as a significant means of faith experience and expression among Americans.”
Barna noted that this change is already reorienting the nation’s faith dimension. “By necessity, the transition from a nation exclusively offering a conventional church experience to one that offers a choice between conventional church and other forms of spiritual experience is changing the rules and roles. New leaders are emerging to represent and guide house churches – people whose names are unfamiliar to the bulk of the country, but whose ministries will become more mainstream and well-known as time goes on. A new body of spiritual resources is being developed and utilized by the expanding house church community.
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3 responses to “Barna’s Latest Research: More People Involved in House Churches”
This is an amazing piece of research. While the numbers seem a bit high, there is no denying that this is a rising trend. I expect to hear more and more about house churches in the USA in the coming years as they move into more of a mainstream part of American Christianity.
Barna notes that more men are active in house church than conventional church where women predominate. For years many a Christian woman has lamented that she couldn’t get her man to attend a church service. Well, it seems what was keeping men from attending conventional church is not keeping men from house churches.
It was interesting also to read that of those polled 17 percent have their foot in each camp attending both conventional and house church.
My own experience with both traditional church and house church has also shown that men are far more likely to be involved in the latter (as a percentage of the total). An interesting development!