While the larger numbers certainly reflect the big getting bigger, I think 50 is also kind of a natural tipping point for most churches inherently.
50, with an average household of 3 gets you 17 households. with an average of 4 gets you 13, and 5 gets you at least 10. Big family-heavy churches that still gets you 6-10 households.
That's enough households with actual tithes to call and pay a pastor at least part time and rent a semi-decent space. Now if you go unpaid or nominally paid, then it's somewhat more sustainable but still basically isn't with less than 25-30 outside of a VERY well-defined group with a long cultural and religious history of being small marginal bodies with few members and limited preaching/Lord's supper, such as found with the stubbornly persistent and antifragile Covenanter communities.
I wish I had whatever it was the people who think Christianity will do well are smoking. Between the multitude of churches dying out, the geriatric average age, and the rate of retention with younger people it's hard to be positive. Do most of the poll-takers live in Moscow, ID?
Aaron, this Putnam/Reeves NYT piece on the need for men's spaces (and comments from Brad Wilcox and Anthony Bradley) seem highly relevant to your interests.
I’m sorry but the post from the woman describing dating in the Bay Area was painful to read and I chose not to finish it. Taking advice from a woman on how to date men from modern day Sodom is like getting advice from a cannibal about a vegan diet.
While the larger numbers certainly reflect the big getting bigger, I think 50 is also kind of a natural tipping point for most churches inherently.
50, with an average household of 3 gets you 17 households. with an average of 4 gets you 13, and 5 gets you at least 10. Big family-heavy churches that still gets you 6-10 households.
That's enough households with actual tithes to call and pay a pastor at least part time and rent a semi-decent space. Now if you go unpaid or nominally paid, then it's somewhat more sustainable but still basically isn't with less than 25-30 outside of a VERY well-defined group with a long cultural and religious history of being small marginal bodies with few members and limited preaching/Lord's supper, such as found with the stubbornly persistent and antifragile Covenanter communities.
I wish I had whatever it was the people who think Christianity will do well are smoking. Between the multitude of churches dying out, the geriatric average age, and the rate of retention with younger people it's hard to be positive. Do most of the poll-takers live in Moscow, ID?
Aaron, this Putnam/Reeves NYT piece on the need for men's spaces (and comments from Brad Wilcox and Anthony Bradley) seem highly relevant to your interests.
https://x.com/drantbradley/status/1956427452252656055
I’m sorry but the post from the woman describing dating in the Bay Area was painful to read and I chose not to finish it. Taking advice from a woman on how to date men from modern day Sodom is like getting advice from a cannibal about a vegan diet.
Yeah, the piece was way too long. Could have been 1/4 as long and lost nothing. I'll admit I skimmed it very quickly and skipped to the comments.