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"...seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."   - Colossians    

                eLevate Your Perspective...

          

Why Start a Church?

 
 
     In many cities and towns across America one can drive around the neighborhoods and business districts - or look in the yellow pages under "churches" - and get the impression that there is no need for a new church in a particular area.  Maybe there is a church every few miles, or there are 200 listings in the phone book for a city of 200,000.  Whatever the case, it can be easy to come to the conclusion that, "the spiritual need in this city is taken care of - there's no need for a new church."  We would like to present a different view.  We believe that, for at least two good reasons, it's likely every city and town in America needs at least one new church.
     
     First of all, a new church, if it is a true New Testament Christian church, is not about the church - as a building or place or Sunday activity - but instead it is about need.  Not the need to put a new church in the two square miles where there isn't one, but the need that all human beings have to connect with their Creator.  A new church is about the desperate need we all have to be redeemed into a saving relationship with God and restored to His family, by the power of the Holy Spirit through the work of the Gospel.  It's not about a place, though a place is needed, it's about people and their need to apprehend the saving, restoring, transforming power and love of Jesus.  Even if there is a church for every 500 people in a city, odds are that at least 300 of them have yet to be restored to God and saved from Hell by the finished work of Jesus.  It takes new churches to reach the 300.
   
     The second reason that the true condition of existing churches is often dire.  Many of them are just, flat-out, dying.  The reasons vary, so this is not meant to be derogatory at all, but the trend is alarming.  Check out the stats below:
 
-          On average, 3,500 churches in America die and close their doors every year.
-          1,400 pastors in America leave the ministry monthly.
-          Only 15% of churches in the United States are growing and just 2.2% of those are growing by conversion growth.
-          The number of people in America that do not attend church has doubled in the past 15 years.
 
     What does all this mean?  It means that American churches are only keeping up with 1/8 of America's population growth in terms of reaching new people with the Gospel.  Consequently, with roughly 100 million unchurched people, America is now the 4th largest mission field in the world.  If the trend continues, these numbers will get worse and more Americans will go through life without hope.  Starting new churches is the most effective way to reach America's growing unchurched population with the truth of Jesus Christ.
 
why Reno?
 
 
     The City of Reno has experienced rapid growth in the 21st century, and still continues to grow even through the recent housing downturn.  With its moderate climate, diverse landscape, full plate of activities and friendly business environment, Reno attracts young families in pursuit of buying their first home and dreams of living the perfect suburban life.  At the same time, Reno is spiritually dry and disconnected.  In the state of Nevada as a whole, only about 1% of the population attends a church of any kind on a regular basis.  The percentage in the City of Reno is a little higher, with 3 - 4% of the people attending worship services any given week, but it still qualifies as one of the top 5 most "unchurched" cities in America.  With a population rapidly approaching 300,000, we believe the potential for Gospel-driven life transformation in Reno is incredible - and that God is calling new, Gospel-preaching, missional churches, like Elevation, to be His agents of redemption to the City.