Decline in Southern Baptist Numbers


Strike the MatchLast week, Baptist Press released the article by Carol Pipes: “ACP: More Churches Reported; Baptisms Decline.” Media sources across the country quickly ran stories on the information found in the article.

The Southern Baptist Convention added 294 churches in 2015. However, our membership declined by more than 200,000 people, with average weekly worship attendance now at 5.6 million. While we should praise the Lord for the 295,000 baptisms, reported baptisms declined. It now takes 52 Southern Baptists to baptize 1 person in 1 year.

In this episode of Strike the Match, I address this article, some concerns about the future of my denomination, and offer missiological reflections to lead us into the future.

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